Stern view from what?

[greenman407]

16 missle tubes. What type of submarine could it be?

[Tugfan]

Russian Delta III

[KevinMc]

Nope - this one's a Delta IV. III's have a twin safety track that runs across the missile hatches where the IV's have a single track that runs between the hatches. The detail under the missile hatches is also different between III's and IV's, there's more there on the III.

I'm not sure what the deal is with this particular boat but I know I've seen it before - notice the funny mod to the last four missile doors... I'm not sure why this was done but I'd sure love to know!

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Rivet counter!

Obviously, you get access to the superstructure interior when one or some of the after four muzzle hatches are open on this boat. But that is not likely the reason as (and I'm assuming the Commie's have similar rules as us) opening the muzzle hatches over launchers equipped with war-head laden birds is a very, very big security burden.

By the way, we also see a difference on some of the muzzle hatch fairings over some of the launchers aboard TYPHOON class boats as well. Why?

I was a Launcher Tech. aboard the WEBSTER. So, I'm qualified to comment here: I could not help but note the similarities as to form and function of not only the muzzle hatches, but of the fairings over them -- right down to the articulated clam-shell pieces at the outboard radial edge of the deck.

David,