Russian SSN submarine Nerpa in Indian naval service as INS Chakra

According to a news item published today by Novum/AP was the Russian nuclear submarine Nerpa leased by the Indian navy as announced by the Russian press office Interfax en Ria Novosti. She left with an Indian crew to India. 9 November 2008 was the ship involved in an accident when 20 of crewmembers were killed and several others 21 wounded by Freon gas which came free caused by an accidentally activated fire-extinguishing system. According to other sources the lease will be for a period of 10 years.

The K-142 is laid down at the Amur Shipyard, Komsomolsk 1993, launched 4 July 2006 and commissioned 28 December 2009. She is a improved version of the Poject 971Shchuka-B attack submarines (SSN) called by the NATO Akula and indicated as a Akula II. General details of the Akula’s is : displacement .5,700-8,140 tons while surfaced and 7,900-12,770 tons while submerged and as dimensions 108’0-111,7 x 13,6 x 9,7m and with a speed of 11,6 knots while surfaced and 33 knots while submerged. The diving depth during trials was 600m while the operational diving depth would be 480m. In Russian service the crew numbered73 men and she was armed with 10-533mm torpedo tubes and 1-3x SA-N Igla-M surface to air launcher. She was fitted out with 28 nuclear-capable cruise missiles with a operational range while in Russian service but in Indian service this will be decreased to just 300 km.