Echo Class Submarine

Project 659

Manufacturer:

Komsomolsk Shipyard

Role:

Missile submarine, but later converted into an attack submarine.

Year Adopted:

1961

5 built (1961 - 1962)

4,500 Tons Surfaced
5,500 Tons Submerged

Operational Status:

Russia - No longer in active service.
(All phased out of service in early 1990's)

Armament:

6x 533mm (21 inch) torpedo tubes, in ship's bow
2x 406mm (16 inch) torpedo tubes in stern
4x SS-N-3 'Shaddock' launchers (Echo II only)*

*About a dozen of these were converted to fire newer  SS-N-12 'Sandbox' missiles.

16 x 533mm torpedoes with high explosive warheads
4 x 533mm torpedoes armed with 15 kiloton warheads
2 x 406mm torpedoes with high explosive warheads

Echo II's carried these additional missiles...
4 x SS-N-3 'Shaddock' 350 kiloton nuclear missiles
4 x SS-N-3 'Shaddock' high explosive missiles

-or-

4x SS-N-12 'Sandbox' high explosive missiles
4x SS-N-12 'Sandbox' 350 kiloton nuclear missiles

Sensor Suite:

1x 'Snoop Tray' surface search radar
1x 'Front Piece' SS-N-3 fire control radar*
1x 'Front Door' SS-N-3 fire control radar*
1x High frequency 'Hercules' bow sonar
1x Medium frequency 'Fenik' sonar
1x 'Stop Light' ESM system
1x underwater telephone

*On Echo II submarines only

Engine:

One pressurized-water nuclear reactor, powering two steam  turbines delivering a total of 24,000 shp to two shafts.

Crew:

90 Officers and Sailors

Length:

364 feet, 4 inches
(111.0 meters)

Draught:

24 feet, 7 inches
(7.5 meters)

Beam:

29 feet, 6 inches
(9.0 meters)

Maximum Speed:

20 knots surfaced
23 knots submerged

Operating Depth:

Operational: 300 meters (984 feet)
Maximum: 500 meters (1,640 feet)