Russian submarine Tula (K-114)
K-114" Tula" (К-114 "Тула") is a Project 667BDRM "Delfin"-class (NATO reporting name: Delta-IV) nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN). As such, she carries a complement of R-29RM "Shtil" and R-29RMU "Sineva" nuclear submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) as her primary deterrent mission, along with anti-ship missiles and torpedoes, the latter for self-defense. Built in Severodvinsk during the late 1980s, she served with the Soviet Navy before being transferred to the Russian Navy following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. "Tula" underwent an extensive overhaul during 2000–2004 and was fitted with upgraded "Shtil" SLBMs , several of which were launched from her during her later operational life. She was sponsored by the city of Tula, and is homeported in Gadzhiyevo. Construction. Construction of the nuclear submarine "Tula" (K-114) began at the Northern Machinebuilding Enterprise (Sevmash) in Severodvinsk on 22 February 1984, before being commissioned into the Soviet Navy on 30 October 1987. She was the fourth of the seven-boat Project 667BDRM "Delfin" class, which was developed at the Rubin Design Bureau in September 1975. A ballistic missile submarine, she was designed primarily to carry up to 16 R-29RM "Shtil" (NATO designation: SS-N-23 Skiff ) SLBM for use against military and industrial facilities in the case of a nuclear war. Each "Shtil" missile carries ten 100 kt multiple independently targeted reentry vehicles, and has a circular error probable of . She is also equipped with RPK-7 "Veter" (NATO designation: SS-N-16 Stallion) anti-ship missile for use against large surface vessels, and self-defense torpedoes. Operational history. Due to her nature as an SSBN, and like most submarines, the operation of "Tula" is mostly classified. During 1987–1988, the boat conducted seven patrols, including five in the Arctic, 17 combat duties, and firing of twelve missiles. In  October 1990, Soviet Deputy Minister of Defense General V. M. Kochetov visited "Tula"; this happened shortly before the collapse of the Soviet Union, when the boat was transferred to the Russian Navy. Until 2000, she logged in total distance travelled, of which was submerged. From June 2000 until 21 April 2004, "Tula" underwent overhaul at the Zvezdochka shipyard, Severodvinsk, the third boat after "Verkhoturie" (K-51) and "Ekaterinburg" (K-84). The overhaul extended her service life by ten years, and allowed her to carry R-29RMU "Sineva" missiles. She conducted sea trials in early 2006 and re-entered service shortly thereafter, despite plans  to do so in 2005. "Tula" post-overhaul operational history is characterised by a number of missile launches, the first of which occurred on 17 December 2007, when she launched a "Sineva" missile aimed at the Kura Test Range in the Kamchatka Peninsula. Within eight days, "Tula" launched another missile, again aimed at Kura; both tests were successful. Another four launches took place during 2008–2011, mostly from the Barents Sea. On 11 October 2008, "Tula" launched a "Sineva" while submerged. The missile reached the equatorial Pacific region after having flown for , a record for the missile. The launch was part  of the bigger "Stabilnost 2008" exercise, which comprised eight surface ships, five submarines, 11 aircraft and 5,000 sailors. "Tula" launched the "Sineva" again on 4 March 2010 after an unremarkable 2009. The test was successful, as was another launch of two more missiles, on 6 August 2010, aimed at the Kura Test Range. On 29 September 2011, "Tula" conducted the latest launch of the "Sineva" missile aimed at Kura from the Barents Sea. "Tula" received a second major overhaul in 2014 by the Ship Repair Center "Zvezdochka" and returned to active service in December 2017. Russian submarine Tula (K-114) K-114