Juliett-class submarine
![]() K-77, a Juliett-class submarine
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Class overview | |
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Operators | ![]() |
Preceded by | Echo I class |
Succeeded by | Charlie class |
Subclasses | 1960–1968 |
In commission | 1963–1994 |
Planned | 35 |
Completed | 16 |
Cancelled | 19 |
Retired | 16 |
Preserved | 1 |
General characteristics | |
Type | Submarine |
Displacement | |
Length | 85.9 m (281 ft 10 in) |
Beam | 9.7 m (31 ft 10 in) |
Draft | 3.29 m (10 ft 10 in) |
Propulsion |
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Speed |
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Range |
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Test depth | 240 m (790 ft) |
Complement | 78 |
Sensors and processing systems |
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Electronic warfare & decoys | Nakat-M ESM |
Armament |
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Project 651, known in the West by its
Background and description
In the late 1950s, the Soviet Navy was tasked to neutralize American bases and aircraft carriers. It began construction of a large number of expensive nuclear-powered (Echo-class submarines) to accomplish this, but could not build enough nuclear reactors to equip them promptly. Even though the Juliett class was inferior to the Echos, it was ordered into production because it did not require resources needed for the nuclear boats.[1]
The Juliett-class boats are a
Propulsion and performance
The Juliett class is powered by a
On the surface, the submarines have a maximum speed of 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph). Using their diesel-electric system while snorkeling gives the Julietts a range of 18,000 nautical miles (33,000 km; 21,000 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). Using just the electric motors underwater, they have a maximum range of 810 nmi (1,500 km; 930 mi) at 2.74 knots (5.07 km/h; 3.15 mph). Their best submerged speed on electric motors is 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph), although it reduces their range to 27.8 nmi (51.5 km; 32.0 mi). They could carry enough supplies for 90 days of operation.[4][5]
Armament
To carry out the Julietts' mission of destroying American carrier battle groups and bases, they were fitted with two pairs of missile launchers, one each fore and aft of the sail. The launchers were used by the surface-launched SS-N-3 Shaddock family of long-range, turbojet-powered, cruise missiles. The P-5D version was codenamed SS-N-3c by NATO and was a dedicated land-attack missile that could be equipped with either a high-explosive or nuclear warhead; it was withdrawn from service in 1965–1966. The P-6 (SS-N-3a) variant was a radar-guided anti-ship missile that could also be fitted with high-explosive and nuclear warheads.[6]
The more traditional armament of the Julietts consisted of six 533-millimeter (21 in)
Fire control and sensors
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/U_461_2592x1944.jpg/220px-U_461_2592x1944.jpg)
The submarines relied upon aircraft for their long-range anti-ship targeting which they received via the Uspekh-U
The boats are fitted with Artika-M (MG-200) and Herkules (MG-15) sonars, Feniks-M (MG-10) and MG-13 hydrophones and an Albatros RLK-50 search radar[3] (NATO reporting name: Snoop Tray). They are also equipped with a Nakat-M Electronic warfare support measures system.[8]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Juliett-US-Navy-Photo.jpg/220px-Juliett-US-Navy-Photo.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/U_461_2592x1944.jpg/220px-U_461_2592x1944.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/Juliett_484_sub.jpg/220px-Juliett_484_sub.jpg)
Initial plans called for 35 submarines of this class but only 16 were built, two - including the lead sub, by the Baltic Shipyard,
The Juliett class was built due to expected delays in the continued production of the nuclear-powered Project 659
Units
Name | Shipyard | Laid down
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Launched
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Commissioned | Fate |
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K-156 | Leningrad
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November 16, 1960 | July 31, 1962 | December 10, 1963 | Decommissioned September 1991 for scrapping[9] |
K-85 | October 25, 1961 | January 31, 1964 | December 30, 1964 | Decommissioned for scrapping[9] | |
K-70 | Krasnoye Sormovo Shipyard, Gorky
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August 25, 1962 | February 6, 1964 | December 31, 1964 | Decommissioned in 1994 for scrapping[9] |
K-24 | October 15, 1961 | December 15, 1962 | October 31, 1965 | Decommissioned in 1994, sold to Germany as maritime museum exhibit[9] | |
K-68 | January 25, 1962 | April 30, 1963 | December 28, 1965 | Decommissioned in 1990 for scrapping[9] | |
K-77 | January 31, 1963 | March 11, 1965 | October 31, 1965 | Decommissioned in April 1992 and sold as museum exhibit in U.S.[9] Sank after a storm in 2007 and subsequently scrapped.[10] | |
K-81 | November 20, 1963 | August 7, 1964 | December 14, 1965 | Decommissioned in 1994 for scrapping[9] | |
K-63 | March 25, 1962 | July 26, 1963 | June 12, 1966 | Decommissioned in September 1991 for scrapping[9] | |
K-58 | July 15, 1963 | February 2, 1966 | September 23, 1966 | Decommissioned 1990 for scrapping[9] | |
K-73 | August 1, 1964 | May 31, 1966 | December 15, 1966 | Decommissioned in 1990 for scrapping[9] | |
K-67 | January 31, 1965 | October 29, 1966 | September 30, 1967 | Decommissioned in 1994 for scrapping[9] | |
K-78 | July 25, 1965 | March 30, 1967 | November 1, 1967 | Decommissioned in September 1991 for scrapping[9] | |
K-203 | December 23, 1965 | June 30, 1967 | December 2, 1967 | Decommissioned in September 1992 for scrapping[9] | |
K-304 | August 6, 1966 | November 24, 1967 | August 21, 1968 | Decommissioned in September 1991 for scrapping[9] | |
K-318 | March 29, 1967 | March 29, 1968 | September 29, 1968 | Decommissioned in 1994 for scrapping[9] | |
K-120 | March 25, 1967 | July 11, 1968 | December 26, 1968 | Decommissioned in April 1991 for scrapping[9] |
References
- ^ Friedman, p. 344; Vilches Alarcón, pp. 13–14
- ^ Pavlov, p. 60; Vilches Alarcón, p. 13
- ^ a b Hampshire, p. 24
- ^ a b Pavlov, p. 60
- ^ Friedman, p. 402
- ^ Vilches Alarcón, pp. 12, 18, 22; Polmar & Noot, p. 289
- ^ Polmar & Moore, p. 97; Hampshire, pp. 26–27
- ^ Hampshire, p. 25
- ^ ISBN 5-8172-0072-4
- ^ "Juliett 484 - News". Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2009-06-01.
Bibliography
- ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
- Hampshire, Edward (2018). Soviet Cruise Missile Submarines of the Cold War. London: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-47282-499-8.
- Pavlov, A. S. (1997). Warships of the USSR and Russia 1945–1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-671-X.
- ISBN 978-1-57488-594-1.
- Polmar, Norman & Noot, Jurrien (1991). Submarines of the Russian and Soviet Navies, 1718–1990. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-570-1.
- Vilches Alarcón, Alejandro A. (2022). From Juliettes to Yasens: Development and Operational History of Soviet Cruise-Missile Submarines. Europe @ War (22). Warwick, UK: Helion & Co. ISBN 978-1-915070-68-5.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- article in English from FAS
- Article in Russian Archived 2008-02-06 at the Wayback Machine