List of Soviet and Russian submarine classes
Encyclopedia
Submarines in the Soviet Navy
were developed by numbered "projects," which were sometimes but not always given names. During the
Cold War
, NATO nations referred to these classes by NATO reporting name
s, based on intelligence data, which did not always correspond perfectly with the projects. See:
The NATO reporting names were based on the British (and later American) habit of naming submarines with a letter of the alphabet indicating the class, followed by a serial number of that class. The names are the radiotelephonic alphabet call sign of a letter of the alphabet. For security purposes, the "pennant numbers" of Soviet submarines were not sequential, any more than those of Soviet surface vessels were.
Most Russian (and Soviet) submarines had no "personal" name, but were only known by a number, prefixed by letters identifying the boat's type at a higher level than her class. Those letters included:
Any of those prefixes could have С (S) added to the end, standing for специальная (spetsialnaya) and meaning "designed for special missions":
Soviet Navy
The Soviet Navy was the naval arm of the Soviet Armed Forces. Often referred to as the Red Fleet, the Soviet Navy would have played an instrumental role in a Warsaw Pact war with NATO, where it would have attempted to prevent naval convoys from bringing reinforcements across the Atlantic Ocean...
were developed by numbered "projects," which were sometimes but not always given names. During the
Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
, NATO nations referred to these classes by NATO reporting name
NATO reporting name
NATO reporting names are classified code names for military equipment of the Eastern Bloc...
s, based on intelligence data, which did not always correspond perfectly with the projects. See:
- List of NATO reporting names for ballistic missile submarines
- List of NATO reporting names for guided missile submarines
- List of NATO reporting names for hunter-killer and experimental submarines
The NATO reporting names were based on the British (and later American) habit of naming submarines with a letter of the alphabet indicating the class, followed by a serial number of that class. The names are the radiotelephonic alphabet call sign of a letter of the alphabet. For security purposes, the "pennant numbers" of Soviet submarines were not sequential, any more than those of Soviet surface vessels were.
Most Russian (and Soviet) submarines had no "personal" name, but were only known by a number, prefixed by letters identifying the boat's type at a higher level than her class. Those letters included:
- К (K) — крейсерская (kreyserskaya, "cruiser")
- ТК (TK) — тяжелая крейсерская (tyazholaya kreyserskaya, "heavy cruiser")
- Б (B) — большая (bolshaya, "large")
- С (S) — средняя (srednyaya, "medium")
- М (M) — малая (malaya, "small")
Any of those prefixes could have С (S) added to the end, standing for специальная (spetsialnaya) and meaning "designed for special missions":
- New weapon, engines and armanent testing,
- Submarines for long-range radio communications,
- Target submarines for anti-submarine training,
- Rescue service submarines,
- Covert operations.
Russo-Japanese War
- DelfinRussian submarine DelfinDelfin was the first Russian battle submarine.She was designed by Naval architect Senior Assistant I.G. Bubnov, Lieutenant M.N. Beklemishev and Lieutenant I.S. Goryunov of the Construction Commission for Submarines , laid down by Baltic plant at St...
- Kasatka class submarineKasatka class submarineThe Kasatka class were a group of submarines built for the Imperial Russian Navy. The six boats were built between 1904 and 1905. They were designed by I.G. Bubnov and were based on the Delfin. The first boat Kasatka experienced significant problems with stability on trials and had to have extra...
- Som class submarineSom class submarineThe Som class were a series of submarines built for the Imperial Russian Navy in 1904-1907. They were designed by the Electric Boat Company and ordered in the 1904 emergency programme at the time of the Russo-Japanese War. The boats were designed to be transportable by train. The first boat, Som,...
- ForelRussian submarine ForelForel was a midget submarine built for the Imperial Russian Navy by Krupp in Kiel, Germany. She was delivered to Russia in May 1904 as a gift fom the Krupp company after an order for 3 submarines for the Russian navy and later shipped to Vladivostok by rail at the time of the Russo-Japanese War...
single unit/one off unit (class of its own) - Karp class submarineKarp class submarineThe Karp Class were a group of submarines built by Krupp Germaniawerft for the Imperial Russian Navy. The boats were ordered in the 1904 emergency programme as a result of the Russo-Japanese War. The design was a twin hull type with 7 ballast tanks and a 16 fathom diving limit. The boats were...
also used as a prototype submarine for Germany's first U-boatU-boatU-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
, , launched in 1906)
World War 1 Era
- PochtovyRussian submarine PochtovyPochtovy was a submarine built for the Imperial Russian Navy. The boat was designed by Drzewiecki and built at the Metal Works St Petersburg in 1908. She was funded by Public subscription....
- MinogaRussian submarine MinogaThe Minoga was a submarine built for the Imperial Russian Navy. She was built by Baltic Yard in St Petersburg and designed by I.G. Bubnov. She was a single hulled boat with a 16 fathom diving depth. While an advance on previous boats the single shaft design was not very manueverable and the...
- AkulaRussian submarine Akula (1908)Akula was a submarine built for the Imperial Russian Navy. The boat was designed by Ivan Bubnov and was an amalgam of the previous Minoga and the Kasatka class submarine designs. The design was presented to the Marine technical committee in late 1905. Initially the boat was to use petrol engines...
- Osetr class submarineOsetr class submarineThe Osetr class were a group of submarines built for the Imperial Russian Navy during the Russo Japanese War. The boats were ordered in the 1904 emergency programme. The boats were designed by American Engineer Simon Lake and had wheels fitted for moving around on the sea bed as well as wet/dry...
- Karp class submarineKarp class submarineThe Karp Class were a group of submarines built by Krupp Germaniawerft for the Imperial Russian Navy. The boats were ordered in the 1904 emergency programme as a result of the Russo-Japanese War. The design was a twin hull type with 7 ballast tanks and a 16 fathom diving limit. The boats were...
- Kaiman class submarineKaiman class submarineThe Kaiman class were a group of submarines built for the Imperial Russian Navy before World War I. They were designed by Simon Lake and built by the Chrichton Yard in Saint Petersburg. The boats had numerous defects resulting in a legal battle between Lake and the Russian Government. The boats...
- Morzh class submarineMorzh class submarineThe Morzh class submarines were built for the Black Sea Fleet of the Imperial Russian Navy shortly before World War I.-Background:The class was constructed as part of an ambitious programme of naval construction devised by the Naval General Staff in 1909. This envisaged, among other things, the...
- Narval class submarine (Russia)Narval class submarine (Russia)The Narval class were a group of submarines built for the Imperial Russian Navy. They were designed by the Electric Boat Company and ordered in the 1911 programme as the "Holland 31A" design. They had advanced features including watertight bulkheads, a crash diving tank and gravitationally filled...
- KrabRussian submarine KrabThe Krab was a submarine built for the Imperial Russian Navy. She was designed by Mikhail Petrovich Nalyotov as the world's first submarine minelayer, although due to construction delays the German UC submarines entered service earlier. The mines were stowed in two horizontal galleries exiting...
- Amerikansky GollandAmerican Holland class submarineThe American Holland Class Submarines, also AG Class or A Class, were Holland 602 type submarines used by the Imperial Russian and Soviet Navies in the early 20th Century...
(Holland 602GF/602L type) - Bars class submarine (1915)Bars class submarine (1915)The Bars class were a group of submarines built for the Imperial Russian Navy during World War I. A total of 24 boats were built between 1914 and 1917-Design:...
World War II Era
| Project | Series | Image | Built | Assignment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dekabrist class submarine Dekabrist class submarine The Dekabrist-class were the first class of submarines built for the Soviet Navy after the October Revolution. They were authorized in the Soviet Naval Shipbuilding Program of 1926.... |
Serie I | 6 | large positional submarine | |
| Leninets class submarine Leninets class submarine The Leninets or L-class were the second class of submarines to be built for the Soviet Navy. They were minelaying submarines and were based on the British L-class submarine, HMS L55, which was sunk during the British intervention in the Russian Civil War. Some experience from the previous... |
Series II, IX, XIII, XIII-1938 | 25 | Mine layers | |
| Shchuka class submarine Shchuka class submarine The Shchuka class submarines , also referred to as Shch or SC class submarines were a medium-sized class of Soviet submarines, built in large numbers and used during World War II... |
Series III, V, V-bis, V-bis-2, X, X-1938 | 86 | Medium-sized patrol submarines. | |
| Pravda class submarine Pravda class submarine The Pravda Class or P class submarines were built for the Soviet Navy in the mid 1930s.They originally served as training ships, then later served in World War II for mainly transport duties. They were intended to operate with the surface fleet but failed to meet specifications, particularly for... |
Serie IV | 3 | Squadron submarines. | |
| Malyutka class submarine Soviet M class submarine The M-class submarines, also Malyutka-class , were a class of small, single-, or 1½-hulled submarines built in the Soviet Union and used during World War II. The submarines were built in sections so they could easily be transported by rail... |
Series VI, VI-bis, XII, XV |  |
110 | Small submarines for coastal patrols. |
| Soviet S class submarine Soviet S class submarine The S-class or Srednyaya submarines were part of the Soviet Navy's underwater fleet during World War II. Unofficially nicknamed Stalinets , boats of this class were the most successful and achieved the most significant victories among all Soviet submarines... |
Series IX,IX-bis |  |
41 | Medium submarines, built using german project (early version of Type VII German Type VII submarine Type VII U-boats were the most common type of German World War II U-boat. The Type VII was based on earlier German submarine designs going back to the World War I Type UB III, designed through the Dutch dummy company Ingenieurskantoor voor Scheepsbouw den Haag which was set up by Germany after... ). |
| K class submarine (Soviet) K class submarine (Soviet) The K class were the largest submarines built for the Soviet Navy in the World War II era.-Design:The design was approved in 1936 as a long range "cruiser submarine" with a heavy torpedo and gun armament... |
Serie XIV |  |
11 | Cruiser submarines with combined arms. |
Post War Attack submarines
| Project | NATO reporting name | Silhouette |
|---|---|---|
| 611, AB611 Zulu class submarine The Soviet Navy's Project 611, NATO reporting name Zulu class, were one of the first Soviet post-war attack submarines. They were roughly as capable as the American GUPPY fleet-boat conversions. They were a contemporary of the Whiskey class submarines and shared a similar sonar arrangement... |
Zulu Zulu class submarine The Soviet Navy's Project 611, NATO reporting name Zulu class, were one of the first Soviet post-war attack submarines. They were roughly as capable as the American GUPPY fleet-boat conversions. They were a contemporary of the Whiskey class submarines and shared a similar sonar arrangement... |
|
| 613 Whiskey class submarine Whiskey-class submarines are a class of naval submarines that the Soviet Union built in the early Cold War period.-Design:... |
Whiskey Whiskey class submarine Whiskey-class submarines are a class of naval submarines that the Soviet Union built in the early Cold War period.-Design:... |
|
| 615 Quebec class submarine The Quebec-class submarine was the NATO reporting name of the Soviet Project 615 submarine class, a small coastal attack submarine of the late 1950s.-Background:... |
Quebec Quebec class submarine The Quebec-class submarine was the NATO reporting name of the Soviet Project 615 submarine class, a small coastal attack submarine of the late 1950s.-Background:... |
|
| 633 Romeo class submarine The Romeo class is a class of Soviet diesel-electric submarine, built in 1950s. The origin of the Romeo class can be traced to the World War II German Type XXI Elektroboot U-boat. At the end of World War II, the Soviets obtained several Type XXIs, from which they were able to obtain certain key... |
Romeo Romeo class submarine The Romeo class is a class of Soviet diesel-electric submarine, built in 1950s. The origin of the Romeo class can be traced to the World War II German Type XXI Elektroboot U-boat. At the end of World War II, the Soviets obtained several Type XXIs, from which they were able to obtain certain key... |
|
| 641 Foxtrot class submarine The Foxtrot class was the NATO reporting name of a class of diesel-electric patrol submarines that were built in the Soviet Union. The Soviet designation of this class was Project 641.... |
Foxtrot Foxtrot class submarine The Foxtrot class was the NATO reporting name of a class of diesel-electric patrol submarines that were built in the Soviet Union. The Soviet designation of this class was Project 641.... |
|
| 641Б Cом Tango class submarine The Russian Tango class submarines were the successors to the Foxtrot class submarine based in the Black Sea and Northern Fleet areas. The first of the class was completed in 1972 at Gorky. A total of 18 were built in two slightly different versions... (Som, catfish Catfish Catfishes are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the heaviest and longest, the Mekong giant catfish from Southeast Asia and the second longest, the wels catfish of Eurasia, to detritivores... ) |
Tango Tango class submarine The Russian Tango class submarines were the successors to the Foxtrot class submarine based in the Black Sea and Northern Fleet areas. The first of the class was completed in 1972 at Gorky. A total of 18 were built in two slightly different versions... |
|
| 690 Кефаль Bravo class submarine The Project 690 Kefal class was a design of military submarines that were built in the Soviet Union. The boats were designed for use in ASW exercises, but could also be employed in a combat role. Four vessels were built, which were commissioned into the Soviet Navy between 1967 and 1970... (Kefal, mullet Mullet (fish) The mullets or grey mullets are a family and order of ray-finned fish found worldwide in coastal temperate and tropical waters, and in some species in fresh water. Mullets have served as an important source of food in Mediterranean Europe since Roman times... ) |
Bravo Bravo class submarine The Project 690 Kefal class was a design of military submarines that were built in the Soviet Union. The boats were designed for use in ASW exercises, but could also be employed in a combat role. Four vessels were built, which were commissioned into the Soviet Navy between 1967 and 1970... |
|
| 877, 877Э, 877ЭКМ, 877В, 877ЛПМБ, 877ЭК Paltus Kilo class submarine The Kilo class is the NATO reporting name for a naval diesel-electric submarine that is made in Russia. The original version of the vessels were designated Project 877 Paltus in Russia. There is also a more advanced version, designated as Improved Kilo in the west, and Project 636 Varshavyanka in... (turbot Turbot The turbot is a species of flatfish in the family Scophthalmidae. It is native to marine or brackish waters of the North Atlantic, Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.-Etymology:... ) |
Kilo Kilo class submarine The Kilo class is the NATO reporting name for a naval diesel-electric submarine that is made in Russia. The original version of the vessels were designated Project 877 Paltus in Russia. There is also a more advanced version, designated as Improved Kilo in the west, and Project 636 Varshavyanka in... |
|
| 636, 636М Kilo class submarine The Kilo class is the NATO reporting name for a naval diesel-electric submarine that is made in Russia. The original version of the vessels were designated Project 877 Paltus in Russia. There is also a more advanced version, designated as Improved Kilo in the west, and Project 636 Varshavyanka in... (Varshavyanka) |
Improved Kilo Kilo class submarine The Kilo class is the NATO reporting name for a naval diesel-electric submarine that is made in Russia. The original version of the vessels were designated Project 877 Paltus in Russia. There is also a more advanced version, designated as Improved Kilo in the west, and Project 636 Varshavyanka in... |
|
| 677 Лада Lada class submarine The Russian Navy's Project 677 Лада is a submarine class designed by the Russian Rubin Design Bureau. The class is also referred to as the Petersburg class, after the lead ship... (Lada, harmony Harmony In music, harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches , or chords. The study of harmony involves chords and their construction and chord progressions and the principles of connection that govern them. Harmony is often said to refer to the "vertical" aspect of music, as distinguished from melodic... ) |
||
| 1650 Амур Amur class submarine The Amur class submarine, designated as the project 950 Амур, , is one of the latest Russian submarine class which are advertised as the export version of the Lada class, a highly improved version of the with much better quieting, new combat systems, and an option for air-independent... (the Amur River) |
||
| 865 Пиранья Losos class submarine Project 865 Piranha is a type of Russian midget submarine. The NATO reporting name for the class is Losos, which means "salmon" in the Russian language.... (Piran'ya, piranha Piranha A piranha or piraña is a member of family Characidae in order Characiformes, an omnivorous freshwater fish that inhabits South American rivers. In Venezuela, they are called caribes... ) |
Losos Losos class submarine Project 865 Piranha is a type of Russian midget submarine. The NATO reporting name for the class is Losos, which means "salmon" in the Russian language.... |
Guided missile submarines
| Project | NATO reporting name |
|---|---|
| P613 Whiskey class submarine Whiskey-class submarines are a class of naval submarines that the Soviet Union built in the early Cold War period.-Design:... |
Whiskey Single Cylinder Whiskey class submarine Whiskey-class submarines are a class of naval submarines that the Soviet Union built in the early Cold War period.-Design:... |
| 644 Whiskey class submarine Whiskey-class submarines are a class of naval submarines that the Soviet Union built in the early Cold War period.-Design:... |
Whiskey Twin Cylinder Whiskey class submarine Whiskey-class submarines are a class of naval submarines that the Soviet Union built in the early Cold War period.-Design:... |
| 665 Whiskey class submarine Whiskey-class submarines are a class of naval submarines that the Soviet Union built in the early Cold War period.-Design:... |
Whiskey Long Bin Whiskey class submarine Whiskey-class submarines are a class of naval submarines that the Soviet Union built in the early Cold War period.-Design:... |
| 651 Juliett class submarine The Project 651, known in the West by its NATO reporting name Juliett class, was a class of Soviet diesel-electric submarines armed with cruise missiles. They were designed in the late 1950s to provide the Soviet Navy with a nuclear strike capability against targets along the east coast of the... |
Juliett Juliett class submarine The Project 651, known in the West by its NATO reporting name Juliett class, was a class of Soviet diesel-electric submarines armed with cruise missiles. They were designed in the late 1950s to provide the Soviet Navy with a nuclear strike capability against targets along the east coast of the... |
Ballistic missile submarines
| Project | NATO reporting name |
|---|---|
| 629, 609, 601, 605, 619 Golf class submarine Project 629, also known by the NATO reporting name of Golf class, were diesel electric ballistic missile submarines of the Soviet Navy. They were designed after six Zulu class submarines were successfully modified to carry and launch Scud missiles... ; in service: 1958–1990 |
Golf Golf class submarine Project 629, also known by the NATO reporting name of Golf class, were diesel electric ballistic missile submarines of the Soviet Navy. They were designed after six Zulu class submarines were successfully modified to carry and launch Scud missiles... |
Auxiliary submarines
| Project | NATO reporting name |
|---|---|
| 940 Ленок India class submarine The Project 940 Lenok class was a military submarine design of the Soviet Union.... (Lenok, salmon Salmon Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true... ) |
India India class submarine The Project 940 Lenok class was a military submarine design of the Soviet Union.... |
| 1710 Макрель (Makrel, mackerel Mackerel Mackerel is a common name applied to a number of different species of fish, mostly, but not exclusively, from the family Scombridae. They may be found in all tropical and temperate seas. Most live offshore in the oceanic environment but a few, like the Spanish mackerel , enter bays and can be... ) |
Belouga |
| 1840 Lima class submarine Project 1840 is the name of a Soviet diesel-electric submarine design of which only one vessel was built. The design is known in the west by its NATO reporting name Lima. The submarine, which was assigned hull number БС-555 , was completed in 1979, and used by the Black Sea Fleet... |
Lima Lima class submarine Project 1840 is the name of a Soviet diesel-electric submarine design of which only one vessel was built. The design is known in the west by its NATO reporting name Lima. The submarine, which was assigned hull number БС-555 , was completed in 1979, and used by the Black Sea Fleet... |
| See also "Project 20120" below. |
First generation
| Project | NATO reporting name |
|---|---|
| 627 Кит, 645 Кит-ЖМТ November class submarine The Project 627 class submarine was the Soviet Union's first class of nuclear-powered submarines. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization used the standard radio communication phonetic alphabet to denote submarine classes... (Kit, whale Whale Whale is the common name for various marine mammals of the order Cetacea. The term whale sometimes refers to all cetaceans, but more often it excludes dolphins and porpoises, which belong to suborder Odontoceti . This suborder also includes the sperm whale, killer whale, pilot whale, and beluga... ) |
November November class submarine The Project 627 class submarine was the Soviet Union's first class of nuclear-powered submarines. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization used the standard radio communication phonetic alphabet to denote submarine classes... |
Second generation
| Project | NATO reporting name |
|---|---|
| 671, 671B, 671K, 671R Ёрш Victor class submarine The Victor class is the NATO reporting name for a type of nuclear-powered submarine that was originally put into service by the Soviet Union around 1967. In the USSR, they were produced as Project 671. Victor-class subs featured a teardrop shape, which allowed them to travel at high speed... (Yorsh, Ruffe Ruffe The Eurasian Ruffe or simply Ruffe is a freshwater fish found in temperate regions of Europe and northern Asia. It has been introduced into the Great Lakes of North America, reportedly with unfortunate results... ) |
Victor I Victor class submarine The Victor class is the NATO reporting name for a type of nuclear-powered submarine that was originally put into service by the Soviet Union around 1967. In the USSR, they were produced as Project 671. Victor-class subs featured a teardrop shape, which allowed them to travel at high speed... |
| 671RT Victor class submarine The Victor class is the NATO reporting name for a type of nuclear-powered submarine that was originally put into service by the Soviet Union around 1967. In the USSR, they were produced as Project 671. Victor-class subs featured a teardrop shape, which allowed them to travel at high speed... |
Victor II Victor class submarine The Victor class is the NATO reporting name for a type of nuclear-powered submarine that was originally put into service by the Soviet Union around 1967. In the USSR, they were produced as Project 671. Victor-class subs featured a teardrop shape, which allowed them to travel at high speed... |
| 671RTM Щука Victor class submarine The Victor class is the NATO reporting name for a type of nuclear-powered submarine that was originally put into service by the Soviet Union around 1967. In the USSR, they were produced as Project 671. Victor-class subs featured a teardrop shape, which allowed them to travel at high speed... (Shchuka, pike Esox Esox is a genus of freshwater fish, the only living genus in the family Esocidae — the esocids which were endemic to North America, Europe and Eurasia during the Paleogene through present.The type species is E. lucius, the northern pike... ) |
Victor III Victor class submarine The Victor class is the NATO reporting name for a type of nuclear-powered submarine that was originally put into service by the Soviet Union around 1967. In the USSR, they were produced as Project 671. Victor-class subs featured a teardrop shape, which allowed them to travel at high speed... |
Third generation
| Project | NATO reporting name |
|---|---|
| 705, 705K Лира Alfa class submarine The Soviet Union/Russian Navy Project 705 was a class of hunter/killer nuclear powered submarines. The class is also known by the NATO reporting name of Alfa... (Lyra, the constellation Lyra Lyra is a small constellation. It is one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy, and remains one of the 88 modern constellations recognized by the International Astronomical Union. Its principal star, Vega — a corner of the Summer Triangle — is one of the brightest... ) |
Alfa Alfa class submarine The Soviet Union/Russian Navy Project 705 was a class of hunter/killer nuclear powered submarines. The class is also known by the NATO reporting name of Alfa... |
| 945 Sierra class submarine The Sierra I class or Project 945 nuclear submarine was the Soviet Union's successor class to the partly successful Project 705 Lira class submarine... Барракуда (Barrakuda, barracuda Barracuda The barracuda is a ray-finned fish known for its large size and fearsome appearance. Its body is long, fairly compressed, and covered with small, smooth scales. Some species could reach up to 1.8m in length and 30 cm in width... ) |
Sierra I Sierra class submarine The Sierra I class or Project 945 nuclear submarine was the Soviet Union's successor class to the partly successful Project 705 Lira class submarine... |
| 945A Sierra class submarine The Sierra I class or Project 945 nuclear submarine was the Soviet Union's successor class to the partly successful Project 705 Lira class submarine... Кондор (Kondor, condor Condor Condor is the name for two species of New World vultures, each in a monotypic genus. They are the largest flying land birds in the Western Hemisphere.They are:* The Andean Condor which inhabits the Andean mountains.... ) |
Sierra II Sierra class submarine The Sierra I class or Project 945 nuclear submarine was the Soviet Union's successor class to the partly successful Project 705 Lira class submarine... |
| 685 Плавник Soviet submarine K-278 Komsomolets K-278 Komsomolets was the only Project 685 Плавник nuclear-powered attack submarine of the Soviet Navy. The boat sank in 1989 and is currently resting on the floor of the Barents Sea, one mile deep, with its nuclear reactor and two nuclear warheads still on board... (Plavnik, fin) |
Mike Soviet submarine K-278 Komsomolets K-278 Komsomolets was the only Project 685 Плавник nuclear-powered attack submarine of the Soviet Navy. The boat sank in 1989 and is currently resting on the floor of the Barents Sea, one mile deep, with its nuclear reactor and two nuclear warheads still on board... |
Fourth generation
| Project | NATO reporting name |
|---|---|
| 971 Shchuka-B Akula class submarine Project 971 Щука-Б , is a nuclear-powered attack submarine first deployed by the Soviet Navy in 1986... (pike Esox Esox is a genus of freshwater fish, the only living genus in the family Esocidae — the esocids which were endemic to North America, Europe and Eurasia during the Paleogene through present.The type species is E. lucius, the northern pike... ) |
Akula Akula class submarine Project 971 Щука-Б , is a nuclear-powered attack submarine first deployed by the Soviet Navy in 1986... |
First generation
| Project | NATO reporting name |
|---|---|
| 659 Echo class submarine The Echo class submarines were nuclear cruise missile submarines of the Soviet Navy built during the 1960s. Their Soviet designation was Project 659 class for the first five vessels, and Project 675 for the following twenty-nine... |
Echo I Echo class submarine The Echo class submarines were nuclear cruise missile submarines of the Soviet Navy built during the 1960s. Their Soviet designation was Project 659 class for the first five vessels, and Project 675 for the following twenty-nine... |
| 675 Echo class submarine The Echo class submarines were nuclear cruise missile submarines of the Soviet Navy built during the 1960s. Their Soviet designation was Project 659 class for the first five vessels, and Project 675 for the following twenty-nine... |
Echo II Echo class submarine The Echo class submarines were nuclear cruise missile submarines of the Soviet Navy built during the 1960s. Their Soviet designation was Project 659 class for the first five vessels, and Project 675 for the following twenty-nine... |
Second generation
| Project | NATO reporting name |
|---|---|
| 661 Анчар Papa class submarine Soviet submarine K-162 was the world's fastest submarine. The first submarine constructed with a titanium hull, she was the only vessel of the Soviet Union's Project 661 Anchar nuclear-powered attack submarine design. The boat is best known in the West by its NATO reporting name Papa class... (Anchar, upas) |
Papa Papa class submarine Soviet submarine K-162 was the world's fastest submarine. The first submarine constructed with a titanium hull, she was the only vessel of the Soviet Union's Project 661 Anchar nuclear-powered attack submarine design. The boat is best known in the West by its NATO reporting name Papa class... |
| 667AT Груша Yankee class submarine The Yankee class is the NATO classification for a type of nuclear-powered submarine that was constructed by the Soviet Union from 1968 onward. 34 units were produced under Project 667A Navaga and Project 667AU Nalim... (Grusha, pear Pear The pear is any of several tree species of genus Pyrus and also the name of the pomaceous fruit of these trees. Several species of pear are valued by humans for their edible fruit, but the fruit of other species is small, hard, and astringent.... ) |
Yankee Notch Yankee class submarine The Yankee class is the NATO classification for a type of nuclear-powered submarine that was constructed by the Soviet Union from 1968 onward. 34 units were produced under Project 667A Navaga and Project 667AU Nalim... |
| 667M Андромеда Yankee class submarine The Yankee class is the NATO classification for a type of nuclear-powered submarine that was constructed by the Soviet Union from 1968 onward. 34 units were produced under Project 667A Navaga and Project 667AU Nalim... (Andromeda, the constellation Andromeda (constellation) Andromeda is a constellation in the northern sky. It is named after Andromeda, the princess in the Greek legend of Perseus who was chained to a rock to be eaten by the sea monster Cetus... ) |
Yankee Sidecar Yankee class submarine The Yankee class is the NATO classification for a type of nuclear-powered submarine that was constructed by the Soviet Union from 1968 onward. 34 units were produced under Project 667A Navaga and Project 667AU Nalim... |
| 670 Скат Charlie class submarine The Charlie class submarine is a nuclear powered cruise missile submarine built for the Soviet Navy and later operated by the Russian Navy.-Background:... (Skat, ray Batoidea Batoidea is a superorder of cartilaginous fish commonly known as rays and skates, containing more than 500 described species in thirteen families... ) |
Charlie I Charlie class submarine The Charlie class submarine is a nuclear powered cruise missile submarine built for the Soviet Navy and later operated by the Russian Navy.-Background:... |
| 670M Скат-М Charlie class submarine The Charlie class submarine is a nuclear powered cruise missile submarine built for the Soviet Navy and later operated by the Russian Navy.-Background:... (Skat-M, ray Batoidea Batoidea is a superorder of cartilaginous fish commonly known as rays and skates, containing more than 500 described species in thirteen families... ) |
Charlie II Charlie class submarine The Charlie class submarine is a nuclear powered cruise missile submarine built for the Soviet Navy and later operated by the Russian Navy.-Background:... |
| 06704 Чайка-Б Charlie class submarine The Charlie class submarine is a nuclear powered cruise missile submarine built for the Soviet Navy and later operated by the Russian Navy.-Background:... (Chaika-B, seagull) |
Charlie Charlie class submarine The Charlie class submarine is a nuclear powered cruise missile submarine built for the Soviet Navy and later operated by the Russian Navy.-Background:... |
Third generation
| Project | NATO reporting name |
|---|---|
| 949 Гранит Oscar class submarine The Project 949 and Project 949A Soviet Navy/Russian Navy cruise missile submarines .... (Granit, granite Granite Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic... ) |
Oscar I Oscar class submarine The Project 949 and Project 949A Soviet Navy/Russian Navy cruise missile submarines .... |
| 949A Антей Oscar class submarine The Project 949 and Project 949A Soviet Navy/Russian Navy cruise missile submarines .... (Antey, Antaeus Antaeus Antaeus in Greek and Berber mythology was a half-giant, the son of Poseidon and Gaia, whose wife was Tinjis. Antaeus had a daughter named Alceis or Barce.-Mythology:... ) |
Oscar II Oscar class submarine The Project 949 and Project 949A Soviet Navy/Russian Navy cruise missile submarines .... |
Fourth generation
| Project | NATO reporting name |
|---|---|
| 885 Ясень Graney class submarine The Yasen-class submarine , also known in the literature as the Graney class and Severodvinsk class, is a new Russian nuclear multipurpose attack submarine class... (Yasen, Ash Ash tree Fraxinus is a genus flowering plants in the olive and lilac family, Oleaceae. It contains 45-65 species of usually medium to large trees, mostly deciduous though a few subtropical species are evergreen. The tree's common English name, ash, goes back to the Old English æsc, while the generic name... ) |
Graney Graney class submarine The Yasen-class submarine , also known in the literature as the Graney class and Severodvinsk class, is a new Russian nuclear multipurpose attack submarine class... |
First generation
| Project | NATO reporting name |
|---|---|
| 658, 701 Hotel class submarine The Hotel class is the general NATO classification for a type of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine that was originally put into service by the Soviet Union around 1959. The Soviet designation is Project 658.-Design:... |
Hotel Hotel class submarine The Hotel class is the general NATO classification for a type of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine that was originally put into service by the Soviet Union around 1959. The Soviet designation is Project 658.-Design:... |
Second generation
| Project | NATO reporting name |
|---|---|
| 667A Навага, 667AУ Налим Yankee class submarine The Yankee class is the NATO classification for a type of nuclear-powered submarine that was constructed by the Soviet Union from 1968 onward. 34 units were produced under Project 667A Navaga and Project 667AU Nalim... (Navaga Navaga Navaga is a relatively small species of fish in the cod family Gadidae. It inhabits the European arctic and subarctic waters of the Barents, White and Kara Seas, from the Kola Bay to the Ob river estuary.... ; Nalim, burbot Burbot The burbot is the only gadiform fish inhabiting freshwaters. It is also known as mariah, the lawyer, and eelpout. It is closely related to the marine common ling and the cusk... ) |
Yankee I Yankee class submarine The Yankee class is the NATO classification for a type of nuclear-powered submarine that was constructed by the Soviet Union from 1968 onward. 34 units were produced under Project 667A Navaga and Project 667AU Nalim... |
| 667AM Навага-М Yankee class submarine The Yankee class is the NATO classification for a type of nuclear-powered submarine that was constructed by the Soviet Union from 1968 onward. 34 units were produced under Project 667A Navaga and Project 667AU Nalim... (Navaga-M) |
Yankee II Yankee class submarine The Yankee class is the NATO classification for a type of nuclear-powered submarine that was constructed by the Soviet Union from 1968 onward. 34 units were produced under Project 667A Navaga and Project 667AU Nalim... |
| Delta class Delta class submarine The Delta class is a class of submarines which formed the backbone of the Soviet and Russian strategic submarine fleet since its introduction in 1973... , comprising: |
|
| 667Б Мурена Delta class submarine The Delta class is a class of submarines which formed the backbone of the Soviet and Russian strategic submarine fleet since its introduction in 1973... (Murena, eel Eel Eels are an order of fish, which consists of four suborders, 20 families, 111 genera and approximately 800 species. Most eels are predators... ) |
Delta I Delta class submarine The Delta class is a class of submarines which formed the backbone of the Soviet and Russian strategic submarine fleet since its introduction in 1973... |
| 667БД Мурена-М Delta class submarine The Delta class is a class of submarines which formed the backbone of the Soviet and Russian strategic submarine fleet since its introduction in 1973... (Murena-M, eel Eel Eels are an order of fish, which consists of four suborders, 20 families, 111 genera and approximately 800 species. Most eels are predators... ) |
Delta II Delta class submarine The Delta class is a class of submarines which formed the backbone of the Soviet and Russian strategic submarine fleet since its introduction in 1973... |
| 667БДР Кальмар Delta class submarine The Delta class is a class of submarines which formed the backbone of the Soviet and Russian strategic submarine fleet since its introduction in 1973... (Kal'mar, squid Squid Squid are cephalopods of the order Teuthida, which comprises around 300 species. Like all other cephalopods, squid have a distinct head, bilateral symmetry, a mantle, and arms. Squid, like cuttlefish, have eight arms arranged in pairs and two, usually longer, tentacles... ) |
Delta III Delta class submarine The Delta class is a class of submarines which formed the backbone of the Soviet and Russian strategic submarine fleet since its introduction in 1973... |
| 667БДРМ Дельфин Delta class submarine The Delta class is a class of submarines which formed the backbone of the Soviet and Russian strategic submarine fleet since its introduction in 1973... (Del'fin, dolphin Dolphin Dolphins are marine mammals that are closely related to whales and porpoises. There are almost forty species of dolphin in 17 genera. They vary in size from and , up to and . They are found worldwide, mostly in the shallower seas of the continental shelves, and are carnivores, mostly eating... ) |
Delta IV Delta class submarine The Delta class is a class of submarines which formed the backbone of the Soviet and Russian strategic submarine fleet since its introduction in 1973... |
Third generation
| Project | NATO reporting name |
|---|---|
| 941 Акула Typhoon class submarine The Project 941 or Akula, Russian "Акула" class submarine is a type of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine deployed by the Soviet Navy in the 1980s... ; (Akula, shark Shark Sharks are a type of fish with a full cartilaginous skeleton and a highly streamlined body. The earliest known sharks date from more than 420 million years ago.... ) |
Typhoon Typhoon class submarine The Project 941 or Akula, Russian "Акула" class submarine is a type of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine deployed by the Soviet Navy in the 1980s... |
Fourth generation
| Project | NATO reporting name |
|---|---|
| 955 Борей Borei class submarine The Borei class is a class of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine produced and operated by the Russian Navy. The class is intended to replace the Delta III, Delta IV and Typhoon classes now in Russian Navy service... (Borei);in development |
Borei Borei class submarine The Borei class is a class of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine produced and operated by the Russian Navy. The class is intended to replace the Delta III, Delta IV and Typhoon classes now in Russian Navy service... |
Auxiliary submarines
| Project | NATO reporting name |
|---|---|
| 1910 Кашалот (Kashalot, cachalot) | Uniform |
| 885 Ясень Graney class submarine The Yasen-class submarine , also known in the literature as the Graney class and Severodvinsk class, is a new Russian nuclear multipurpose attack submarine class... (Yasen, ash) |
Graney Graney class submarine The Yasen-class submarine , also known in the literature as the Graney class and Severodvinsk class, is a new Russian nuclear multipurpose attack submarine class... |
| 977.4 Аксон Yankee class submarine The Yankee class is the NATO classification for a type of nuclear-powered submarine that was constructed by the Soviet Union from 1968 onward. 34 units were produced under Project 667A Navaga and Project 667AU Nalim... (Akson) |
Yankee Pod Yankee class submarine The Yankee class is the NATO classification for a type of nuclear-powered submarine that was constructed by the Soviet Union from 1968 onward. 34 units were produced under Project 667A Navaga and Project 667AU Nalim... |
| 978 Yankee class submarine The Yankee class is the NATO classification for a type of nuclear-powered submarine that was constructed by the Soviet Union from 1968 onward. 34 units were produced under Project 667A Navaga and Project 667AU Nalim... |
Yankee Stretch Yankee class submarine The Yankee class is the NATO classification for a type of nuclear-powered submarine that was constructed by the Soviet Union from 1968 onward. 34 units were produced under Project 667A Navaga and Project 667AU Nalim... |
| 20120 (Kalitika or "Sargan-mod"?); in development? Unconfirmed. |
Footnotes
- Showell, Jak M. U-Boat Century, German Submarine Warfare 1906-2006. Chatham Publishing, Great Britain (2006). ISBN 1861-7624—10.