Russian submarine Nerpa (K-152)

For other ships with the same name, see Russian submarine Nerpa and INS Chakra.

INS Chakra
History
Russia
NameK-152 Nerpa
NamesakeBaikal seal
BuilderAmur Shipbuilding Plant, Komsomolsk-on-Amur
Laid down1993
LaunchedOctober 2008
Commissioned2009
FateLeased to the Indian Navy for 10 years in 2012, returned in June 2021
India
NameChakra
NamesakeSudarshana Chakra
Commissioned4 April 2012
HomeportVisakhapatnam
StatusReturned to Russia, June 2021
General characteristics
TypeNuclear-powered attack submarine
Displacement8,140 tonnes (8,010 long tons) surfaced
Length108.0–111.7 m (354.3–366.5 ft) (sources vary)
Beam13.5 m (44 ft 3 in)
Draught9.6 m (31 ft 6 in)

Nerpa (renamed INS Chakra in Indian Navy service) is a 8,140-tonne (8,010-long-ton) Project 971 (or Project 518;[1] NATO: Akula-class) nuclear-powered attack submarine. The construction of the submarine was started in Russia in 1993, but was suspended due to lack of funding. India then sponsored further construction[2] and sea trials of the submarine provided it was leased to the Indian Navy for 10 years. It was launched as K-152 Nerpa in October 2008 and entered service with the Russian Navy in late 2009. The submarine was leased to the Indian Navy in 2011 after extensive trials, and was formally commissioned into service as INS Chakra with the Eastern Naval Command at a ceremony in Visakhapatnam on 4 April 2012.[3] In June 2021 Chakra was spotted on the surface escorted by Indian and Russian warships in the Singapore Strait while presumably heading towards the Russian naval base in Vladivostok; some media speculated that she was returning to Russia before the expiry of the lease term.[4]

While Nerpa was undergoing sea trials in the Sea of Japan on 8 November 2008, a fire suppression system was accidentally activated, killing 20 civilian specialists and navy crew members and injuring 41 others.

  1. ^ "Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has a working meeting with Roman Trotsenko, President of the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC)". The Russian Government. 2010. Archived from the original on 9 July 2012.
  2. ^ Sen, Sudhi Ranjan (6 April 2012). "INS Chakra: Top 10 must-know facts". NDTV.com.
  3. ^ "Russian-built nuclear submarine joins Indian Navy". BBC News. 4 April 2012. Archived from the original on 4 April 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  4. ^ Som, Vishnu (4 June 2021). "Navy's Only Nuclear Attack Submarine Returns To Russia Before Lease Expires". NDTV.com.