Project 651 submarines ("Kasatka", known by NATO designation as "Juliett") were a series of Soviet diesel-electric cruise-missile submarines built from the early 1960s. The first vessels of the series entered service in 1963, and 16 submarines were built in total. Some of them were launched from the Krasnoye Sormovo Plant in Gorky (now Nizhny Novgorod). They were the first and only diesel submarines in the Soviet Navy built specifically to carry cruise missiles with nuclear warheads.[2]
History of development
The submarines were designed in the late 1950s. Unlike the Project 627 nuclear submarines, which were fitted with existing land-based cruise missiles adapted for the purpose, Project 651 was designed from the outset around the P-5 missiles developed by the Chelomey Design Bureau — missiles created specifically for submarines and equipped with the "ARK-5" folding-wing system. This made it possible to launch the missile from a compact, small-diameter launcher suited to the cramped conditions of a submarine.[2]
The initial order was for 36 units. However, after the appearance of the Project 675 diesel-electric submarines — a further development of Project 651 that carried 8 missiles instead of 4 — the series was cut to 16 submarines.[2]
Design and armament
Project 651 submarines had a surfaced displacement of 3,174 tons and a submerged displacement of 4,137 tons, a length of 90 m, a beam of 10 m, and a draft of 7 m. The crew numbered 82, including 12 officers. The propulsion plant comprised two diesel engines of 4,000 hp each, two main electric motors of 6,000 hp each, a diesel generator of 1,720 hp, and two auxiliary electric motors of 150 hp each. Maximum speed was 19 knots on the surface and 14 knots submerged; range was 9,000 miles at 8 knots on the surface. Normal operating depth was 240 m, and maximum depth was 360 m. Endurance was 90 days.[2]
The missile armament consisted of four cruise missiles of two types:
- P-5 — intended for destroying stationary coastal targets. It carried an RDS-4 warhead weighing 930 kg; the circular error probable was about 3 km at a range of 500 km.
- P-6 — a guided missile for engaging maneuvering naval targets, above all aircraft carriers. Its trajectory could be corrected by the submarine's crew, as well as by the crews of Tu-16RTs and Tu-95RTs reconnaissance aircraft or a Ka-25RTs helicopter.
The torpedo armament included six 533-mm bow torpedo tubes (18 torpedoes, including nuclear-armed ones) and four 400-mm stern torpedo tubes (4 torpedoes). The first eight boats of the series were built with hulls of ordinary steel.[2]
The Nizhny Novgorod connection: the Krasnoye Sormovo Plant
Some of the Project 651 submarines were built at the Krasnoye Sormovo Plant in Gorky. The enterprise was one of the leading Soviet submarine builders; part of the serial order for the "Juliett" class was placed at its facilities.[2]
Service
Project 651 submarines remained in the Soviet Navy until the early 1990s. At the time of their creation, the P-5 and P-6 missiles were considered capable of penetrating the American air defense system, both land-based and naval. As the boats aged, they were withdrawn from the fleet's combat strength.[2]
Sources
- wiki.lesta.ru — Project 651 Submarines
- tech.wikireading.ru — PROJECT 651 JULIETT CLASS. Soviet Diesel-Electric Submarines of Postwar Construction
- deepstorm.ru — Submarines. Project 651
- postila.ru — Project 651 "Kasatka" Submarines — Military Weapons and Armies of the World — Navy — Postila