Papa-class

Summary

Description

K-222 was an exceptional submarine built for the Soviet Navy during the Cold War under Project 661, also known by its NATO reporting name as the Papa class. It stood out as the first and only one of its kind, setting records as the world's fastest submarine equipped with a revolutionary titanium hull. Despite its innovations, the Soviet Navy ultimately deemed K-222 an unsuccessful design.

Initially labeled K-18 and later as K-162 during its construction phase, the submarine received the designation K-222 in 1978. The Soviet dissatisfaction with the previous Echo class, due to their need to surface for missile launches, led to the ambitious undertaking in 1958 to create a very fast, submerged-launch-capable missile submarine. The design process, headed by TsKB-16 and Chief Designer N. N. Isanin, was challenging, particularly due to the complexities of working with titanium, which was selected for its strength and corrosion resistance. The construction, which began in 1963, involved innovations but also encountered quality control issues, particularly concerning the submarine's detectability at high speeds.

Commissioned in 1969, K-222 was armed with 10 anti-ship cruise missiles and four torpedo tubes designed primarily for engaging American aircraft carriers. While capable of both conventional and nuclear strikes, K-222 had a brief operational history with the Soviet Red Banner Northern Fleet, including an encounter trailing the USS Saratoga in 1971. However, the discovery of hull cracks and a nuclear reactor accident in 1980 limited its service; the submarine was decommissioned in 1988 and eventually scrapped in 2010.

K-222, with an underwater speed of 38 knots, reached a top speed of 44.7 knots under trial, making it the fastest underwater manned object. Its power came from two VM-5M reactors, generating significant propulsion and aided by two turbogenerators. Despite its speed advantage, K-222's noise at high speeds rendered its sonar less effective.

The missile subsystem of K-222 featured a P-70 missile configuration capable of submerged launches and a sophisticated Rubin MGK-300 sonar system for long-range target detection. Equipped with both an Albatros search radar and a Molniya satellite-communications system, the K-222 was well-fitted for its intended missions.

Constructing K-222 demanded the development of new techniques for working with titanium, which had initially slowed progress and proved extremely costly. These technological advancements later facilitated the construction of other Soviet titanium-hulled submarines, although the subsequent classes addressed some issues inherent to K-222. Despite its groundbreaking design and capabilities, the high costs, extended construction times, and operational challenges led to the decision not to mass-produce the Project 661 submarines.

Technical specifications

Silhouette