Soviet SSGN: K-222 1970-1988 K-222 was the unique Project 661 “Anchar” (NATO “Papa class”), a nuclear-powered cruise-missile submarine developed and bult by the Soviet Navy during the Cold War. She was developed before the Alfa class SSNs as a new generation titanium-built record speed submarine. Development and construction took a decade, but she was successful … Read more
Nuclear attack submarine: Prototype K-278 Komsomolets completed 1983. K-278 Komsomolets was the sole boat built in the Project-685 Plavnik (“fin”) class, NATO reporting “Mike”-class. This was a rather large nuclear-powered attack submarine of the Soviet Navy, unique for her record depth rating. She had been built to experiment dives deep enough to make classic torpedo … Read more
Project 971 Shchuka-B (NATO “Akula”) Nuclear attack submarines: 20 planned, 15 completed 1983-1999, 4 active, 6 modernized. The Soviet Project 971 Shchuka-B (“Pike-B”, NATO reporting name Akula) were fourth generation nuclear-powered attack submarines deployed from 1986 and arguably the last of the cold war. Given the way the program evolved and was hit by the … Read more
Project 949 Granit (NATO OSCAR I) Project 949A Antey (NATO OSCAR II) Missile Launching Nuclear powered Attack Submarines (SSGN): 20 planned, 14 completed 1979-1992, 6 active. In the top tier of Soviet most outstanding submarines, are probably the Alfa class SSNs, Typhoon class SSBNs and Oscar class SSGNs. The latter, known as the Project 949 … Read more
Project 945 Barrakuda (NATO SIERRA I) Project 945A Kondor (NATO SIERRA II) Nuclear attack submarines: 5 planned, 4 completed 1979-1992, partly active. On this last leg on our long trip on Cold War soviet submarines ending this year, are submarines currently in service. These are 3rd generation soviet SSNs, and arguably among the best overall, … Read more
Project 877 Paltus (NATO “KILO”) conventional attack submarines 44 Pr.877 (75 total) submarines, 1980-today. The Kilo class was for USSR, which engaged in the construction of SSNs since 1960, a counterpoint to the US that chose the path of “only SSNs” since the 1950s. These boats made sense for USSR at several levels, notably to … Read more
Project 671RTM/RTMK Shchuka (NATO “VICTOR III”) nuclear attack submarines 25 submarines: К-524, К-254, К-502, К-527, К-298, К-358, К-299, К-244, К-247, К-507, К-251, К-255, К-324, К-355, К-360, К-218, К-242, К-492, К-412, К-305, К-264, К-315, К-292, К-388, К-138, К-414, B-448. Built 1976-1991, 2 active 2025 The Victor III Class (Project 671RTM/RTMK Shchuka Class) are the last, most … Read more
Project 671RT Syomga (NATO “VICTOR II”) nuclear attack submarines 7 nuclear attack submarines (SSN): B-387, 371, 467, 488, 495, 513, 517: 1972-1997 VICTOR II development and story The Victor II (NATO name) were a follow-up of the Project 671, a revolution as far as SSN design went in USSR. These are largely considered as the … Read more
Project 671 Yorsh (NATO “VICTOR I”) nuclear attack submarines 15 submarines: K-38, 69, 147, 53, 306, 323, 370, 438, 367, 314, 454, 469, 481. The Soviet Project 671 Yorsh, Project 671RT Syomga and Project 671RTM/RTMK Shchuka, are better known under their NATO reporting names Victor I, Victor II and Victor III, respectively. These represented forty … Read more
Project 705 Lira (NATO “ALFA”) nuclear attack submarines 7 submarines: K-64, K-123, K-316, K-432, K-373, K-493, K-463 The world’s fastest SSN was already in 1960 a Soviet submarine, the first with two nuclear reactors, with a tested underwater speed of 31 knots: Project 627 “Kit” (NATO “November”). In the mid-1960s it was clear that the … Read more
