Soviet submarine K-68
Sister ship K-77 docked in Providence, Rhode Island
| |
History | |
---|---|
Soviet Union | |
Name | K-68 |
Builder | Krasnoye Sormovo Factory No. 112, Gorky |
Laid down | 25 January 1961 |
Launched | 30 April 1963 |
Commissioned | 25 December 1965 |
Renamed |
|
Stricken | 3 July 1992 |
Fate | Scrapped after 3 July 1992 |
General characteristics | |
Type | Juliett-class 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 |
|
Speed |
|
Range |
|
Test depth | 240 m (790 ft) |
Complement | 78 |
Sensors and processing systems |
|
Electronic warfare & decoys | Nakat-M ESM |
Armament |
|
K-68 was a "Project 651" (
Background and description
In the late 1950s, the Soviet Navy was tasked to neutralize American bases and aircraft carriers and decided that submarines armed with cruise missiles were its best method to accomplishing this. The number of expensive nuclear-powered (Echo-class submarines) that it could afford and build in a timely manner was insufficient to meet its requirements, so it decided to build the Juliett class as it was significantly cheaper and faster to build.[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 were designed to 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 that could be equipped with either a high-explosive or nuclear warhead.[6]
The more traditional armament of the Julietts consisted of six 533-millimeter (21 in)
Fire control and sensors
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] They are also equipped with a Nakat-M Electronic warfare support measures system.[8]
Construction and career
K-68 was
References
- ^ Friedman, p. 344; Vilches Alarcón, pp. 13–14
- ^ Pavlov, p. 60; Vilches Alarcón, p. 13
- ^ a b Hampshire, p. 24
- ^ a b c Pavlov, p. 60
- ^ Friedman, p. 402
- ^ Vilches Alarcón, pp. 12, 18, 22; Polmar & Noot, p. 289
- ^ Polmar & Moore, p. 97; Hampshire, pp. 26–27
- ^ a b Hampshire, p. 25
- ^ Pavlov, p. 60; Vilches Alarcón, p. 18
- ^ Hampshire, pp. 28, 46; Vilches Alarcón, pp. 16, 20
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.