Like the United States Navy and other first-rate submarine powers of the Cold War period (1947-1991), the Soviet Navy ultimately transitioned its undersea force into the nuclear age with its first nuclear-powered attack submarine, the November-class (Project 627). The class was constructed from the period spanning 1957 to 1963 and encompassed thirteen total boats. The group was eventually succeeded by the improved nuclear-powered Victor-class of 1967 (48 boats completed) detailed elsewhere on this site.
As designed, the November boats held a displacement between 3,065 and 3,415 tons when surfaced and between 4,000 to 4,750 tons submerged. Overall length measured up to 109 meters and the beam was up to 8.3 meters with a draught down to 5.6-6.4 meters. The differences between the boats were largely due to slight revisions encountered between the Project 627 and Project 627A / Project 645 boats.
Power was from 2 x Water-cooled nuclear reactor units and also involved steam generators, turbogear assemblies (collectively outputting 35,000hp), turbine generators, a pair of diesel generators and 2 x Auxiliary electric motors (rated at 450hp each) . All this drove power to 2 x shafts mounted at the stern. Surfaced speeds reached between 14.5 and 15.5 knots and submerged speeds peaked at near 30 knots. The double-hulled design was tested to depths of 340 meters.
Design work on the class began as soon as 1952 even as several major diesel-electric attack platforms were still entering service with the Soviet Navy. Work on the new group of fighting boats took most of the decade before the complexity of their design could be cleared for construction and eventual service. The boats were originally intended as infiltrating attacker meant to tackle American submarines while they were still berthed -destroying them before the enemy force could get underway. However, this soon changed to completing the class as a traditional ship-hunter going forward. The shift resulted in slight changes centered on capabilities (reduced) and armament (increased).
In profile, the November boats has a unique silhouette with their rounded bows (bulging at the keel), finned aft section and forward-set sail. The sail had a tapered appearance along its aft end and various comms, sensors and the like were seated atop it. The either torpedo vents were all in the extreme end of the bow, fitted in a paired group of four. The rudder took its usual place at the rear of the boat and the twin propeller units straddled the rear section of the vessel.
K-3 was the first boat of the class and was launched on July 4th, 1958. It suffered a fatal fire on a patrol in September of 1967 in which thirty-nine of its crew died before the boat could return home. Despite this, the boat managed a career into the late 1980s. From the base Project 627 design was formed the modified Project 627A which encompassed K-3, K-5, K-8, K-14, K-52, K21, K-11, K-133, K-181, K-115, K-159, K-42 and K-50. Changes included a hydrophone antenna added near the torpedo vents and a sonar dome fitted at the bow. K-27 was formed under Project 645 and this entry relied on a VT-1 series paired nuclear reactor (liquid-metal cooling). The design had a slightly revised hull, modified internal arrangement and quick-reloading mechanisms installed for the torpedo tubes.
Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work.
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Submerged Attack
Traveling under the surface to search, track, and / or engage or reconnoiter areas.
✓Maritime Patrol
Active patroling of vital waterways and maritime areas; can also serve as local deterrence against airborne and seaborne threats.
✓Fleet Support
Serving in support (either firepower or material) of the main surface fleet in Blue Water environments.
Length
352.4 ft 107.40 m
Beam
25.9 ft 7.89 m
Draught
18.4 ft 5.60 m
Displacement
3,065 tons
Disp.Submerged
4,750 tons
Installed Power:
2 x Water-cooled nuclear reactors coupled to steam generators developing 35,000 horsepower; 2 x Turbine generators; 2 x DG-400 diesel generators of 460 horsepower each; 2 x PG-116 auxiliary electric motors of 450 horsepower each; 2 x Shafts.
Surface Speed
15.2 kts (17.5 mph)
Submerged Speed
30.0 kts (34.5 mph)
Range
Essentially Unlimited
kts = knots | mph = miles-per-hour | nm = nautical miles | mi = miles | km = kilometers
1 kts = 1.15 mph | 1 nm = 1.15 mi | 1 nm = 1.85 km
8 x 533mm torpedo tubes (bow facing) with 20 reloads.
Supported Types
(Not all weapon types may be represented in the showcase above)
None.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective naval campaigns / operations / periods.
Images Gallery
1 / 1
Image copyright www.MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.
The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content; site is 100% curated by humans.
Soviet Union (retired)
