Sevmash Shipyards, Severodvinsk, with screening panels, showing a Typhoon Class SSBN, likely TK-208 Dmitriy Donskoy, undergoing work.
Russian Navy / Soviet Navy Submarines 15 submarine classes documented with 34 vessel captures.
Ballistic Missile Nuclear-powered Submarines (SSBN)
Typhoon Class SSBN (1 active, 2 in reserve, 3 scrapped) World’s largest submarines LOA 574′ TDISP 47,000 tons submerged
Typhoon class SSBN 1985 NARA: 330-CFD-DN-SN-86-00733
TK-208 Dmitry Donskoy (1981) In active service with Northern Fleet, upgraded
TK-17 Arkhangelsk (1987) and TK-18 Severstal (1989) Both in reserve since 2006
TK-202 (1983) Scrapped at Severodvinsk 2002-2005 with US aid
The waterline view of the fictional Red October of Tom Clancy’s novel, distinguishable by the teardrop shaped towed sonar housing on the rudder. Warsearcher Collection.
Delta III and IV Classes SSBN LOA 520′ TDISP 18,200 tons submerged (21, approx.7 active)
Delta IV class submarine 1994 NARA: 330-CFD-DN-SC-96-00524
Delta III class based at Northern Fleet 1997 NARA: 330-CFD-DN-SC-97-00214
Delta III submarine 1994 NARA: 330-CFD-DN-SN-96-00405
Podmoskovye BS-64 Special Mission Submarine modified Delta IV Class (1986, modified 2016 – lengthened) new LOA 571′ – science vessel with the ability to berth deep submergence submarines like the Losharik (see bottom of listing for this submersible).
Borei Class SSBN LOA 557′ TDISP 24,000 tons submerged (4-3 active)
Knyaz Vladimir K-549 (2019) – sea trials
View of boat fitting out shows all 8 missile tubes on starboard side open.
Yuriy Dolgorukiy K-535 (2013)
Alexander Nevsky K-550 (2013)
Yankee Class SSBN LOA 433′ – 520′ (several variants) TDISP 9,400 tons submerged (34, 1, K-219, lost, rest retired and scrapped)
K-219 on the surface after having been damaged by a missile propellant fire October 1986, before it sank NARA: 330-CFD-DN-ST-87-00760
K-403 Kazan “Big Nose” – Project 09780 Akson-2 – (1971 – ca. 2008) LOA ca. 505′ one of last Yankees, experimental boat for trials of new Irtysh sonar, dismantled 2010 at Severodvinsk.
Identification of K-403 based on wikipedia article on Yankee Class, which lists this boat as dismantled in the nearby drydock, in 2010. This boat was in multiple Severodvinsk captures 2004-2010.
Cruise Missile Nuclear-powered (SSGN) and conventionally-powered (SSG) submarines
Oscar II Class SSGN LOA 508′ maximum TDISP 19,400 tons submerged (12 built: 8 active, 1 fitting out as special mission variant, 2 scrapped, 1 lost)
Oscar II class submarine, showing the distinctive wide body, 1994 NARA: 330-CFD-DN-SN-96-00408
Belgorod K-329 (launched 2019, projected to enter service 2020) Heavily modified research “science” submarine derived from an uncompleted Oscar II Class – World’s longest submarine LOA ca. 580′ TDISP unknown, likely around 24,000 tons submerged (identification from HI Sutton’s site Covert Shores).
According to HI Sutton’s website, this is Belgorod, the modified Oscar II class sub that has raised a lot of attention. It does appear consistent – a lengthened Oscar II hull with the cruise missile compartments removed, giving the hull a much narrower look. The sail is about the right size and the rudder like other Oscar boats. Oscars have more length below the water aft for the propellers than a Typhoon class, making a length of 580′ possible (indicated in yellow). The identification is mostly a case of elimination – it is clearly not a Typhoon and no other submarine (in the World) is this length
Oscar I class SSGN LOA 469′ TDISP 16,500 tons submerged (2, both scrapped)
K-206 Murmansk (1983) and K-525 (1980) Arkhangelsk, both scrapped 2004-2011 Severodvinsk, with British financial assistance.
Juliett Class SSG LOA 298′ TDISP 4,100 tons submerged (16, all retired, 1 preserved)
K-24 (1965 – 1994) museum boat Peenemünde, Germany, U-boat Museum as “U-461”
K-77 (1965 – 1992) – museum submarine Providence RI, USA, used as “K-19” in the movie Widowmaker, starring Harrison Ford, in Halifax NS. Purchased by Saratoga Museum and towed to Collier Point Park, displayed 2002-2007 . Sank 2007 at its moorings and was scrapped by 2009 after US navy divers raised most of the deteriorated sub.
Capture is annotated to highlight location of the K-77 during scrapping
Capture is annotated to highlight location of the K-77 during scrapping
Attack Submarines (SSN) Nuclear powered and (SS) conventional
Akula II or III Class SSN LOA 372′ TDISP 13,500 tons submerged (15 built over several variants, about 10 in service or refitting)
Kilo Class SS LOA 230 – 242′ TDISP 3,000 – 3,900 tons submerged (70 built, about 60 still in service with many navies)
Tango Class SS LOA 299′ TDISP 3,800 tons submerged (18, all retired, 3 preserved)
B-307 (1980 – 2001) Toyiatti Museum, Samara
Note torpedo positioned half in one of the bow tubes.
B-396 (1980 – 2003) Moscow Naval Museum
B-515 (1976 – 2002) preserved in Hamburg U-boat museum
Foxtrot Class SS LOA 299′ TDISP 4,500 tons submerged (74, 7 preserved, 1 lost)
B-427 Scorpion (1971) – was a museum submarine beside the RMS Queen Mary, 1998-ca. 2012, but will now likely be scrapped
B-39 (1967) museum submarine since 2005 at San Diego CA
B-49 (1967) waiting for restoration near Strood on Medway River, UK, since 2003
Zulu Class SS LOA 295′ TDISP 2,400 tons submerged (26 built, 1 known to still exist) 6 boats modified to take missiles (5 of which are called Zulu V boats)
The B-80 as it exists in 2019. Photo courtesy of Tom Smyth.
B-80 Zulu Class boat, Amsterdam, 2008. Courtesy Anrie [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]
Whiskey Class SS LOA 249′ TDISP 1,300 submerged (236 built-21 in China, 2 preserved)
Whiskey Class patrol submarine, 1983 NARA: 330-CFD-DN-SN-84-01499
Ex-S-290 transferred to Indonesia as KRI Pasopati (1952 – 1994) museum boat since 1998, Surabaya.
K-Class SS LOA 320′ TDISP 2,600 submerged (12, 5 sunk during Second World War, 1 preserved)
K-21 (1941 – 1959) training boat ca. 1960 – 1980, Memorial boat in Severomorsk since 1983
Deep Submergence nuclear powered submarine
Losharik unique deep diving nuclear-powered submarine (2003) LOA 240′ TDISP 2,100 tons submerged. For special missions, can be fitted to both Podmoskovye and Belgorod submarines (see above). This boat was extensively damaged and 14 crew members killed 1 July 2019, reportedly in Ura Bay. It appears to have been operating near a mothership at the time.
