Charlie Class Submarine

A Charlie class submarine (Project 670 Skat) was one of a series of seventeen Soviet, cruise missile submarines, which were powered by one nuclear reactor. The first boat of the class, the K-43, was launched in 1966 and commissioned in 1967. She was the world's first submarine with an underwater-launch cruise missile capability. The last one, the K-209, entered service in 1980. All boats were built at the State-run Krasnoye Sormovo Shipyard No. 112 (Gorkiy) on the Volga River.

The last six boats of the series were improved subs and they were designated Project 670M by the Soviet Navy. NATO called them "Charlie II class". They were built from 1973 and 1980. The upgrade included a longer hull for the incorporation of electronic equipment and a new launch system to be able to use the P-120 Malakhit anti-ship missile, thus posing a major threat to NATO warships. All seventeen boats of the class were phased out from 1990 to 1994.

A Charlie class submarine cruising in the South China Sea in 1974.

Technical Description

The Project 670 submarine was developed and built exclusively as a cruise missile boat. She had a streamlined, double-hull design, which consisted of seven compartments. The inner and the outer hull were made of steel. The sail was of aluminum construction to save weight. The eight missile tubes were built in the bow section between the inner and outer hull, with four on each side; they lay slantingly, with a 32 degrees angle of inclination. The six torpedo tubes, on the other hand, were horizontally arranged; four 533-mm, and two 400-mm in diameter.

Compared to other cruise missile submarine designs, the Charlie class was a relatively smaller and compact boat. However, the Project 670M was 8 m (26 feet, 3 inches) longer. She was powered by one pressurized, water-cooled VM-4 nuclear reactor. Her OK-350 steam turbine generated 18,800 horsepower to drive a single shaft propeller. She had a test depth of 350 m (1,150 feet) and could sail at the maximum speed of 26 knots (submerged).

Specification

Type: nuclear-powered, cruise missile submarine.

Displacement: 4,900 tons (submerged); 4,300 tons (surfaced).

Length:  95 m (312 feet); Charlie II: 103 m (338 feet)

Beam: 10 m (32 feet, 10 inches)

Draft: 8 m (26 feet, 3 inches)

Propulsion: one VM-4 nuclear reactor; one OK-350 steam turbine, with one shaft.

Maximum Speed: 26 knots (submerged); 20 knots (surfaced.

Range: unlimited, but she had to moor after 80 days for food supply.

Crew: 100 sailors and officers.

Armament: 8 P-70 Amethyst anti-ship, cruise missiles; Charlie II: 8 P-120 Malhkit anti-ship missiles. Six torpedo tubes.

Below, a Charlie II class submarine (Project 670M) sailing in the Atlantic Ocean in 1984.