Northern waters trials await new generation hunter-killer submarine

MOSCOW, July 28 (Itar-Tass) - Forerunner of a new generation of super-quiet, multi-role Russian hunter-killer submarines has left the Northern Fleet's Kola Peninsula main base, bound for White Sea testing grounds. The vessel Severodvinsk heads for pre-service manouevres introducing a sea fleet codenamed Yasen, translating as Ashtree, Northern Fleet spokesman Captain First Rank Vadim Serga told Itar-Tass. Severodvinsk was first shown to the public and official guests during a Navy Day sea parade at Severomorsk military base in northern Russia's Murmansk region on July 27. The boat was laid down in 1993 and set afloat in 2010. Trials began in December 2013 and the vessel was entered into the navy's tables of organisation and equipment in 2014. Submarines of the Yasen family have significantly lower noise output levels. Their purpose is to destroy or incapacitate shore-based, surface or underwater targets. They fire supersonic cruise missiles and deepwater torpedoes. Learn more on itar-tass.com