History, Development, and Use of the
Kilo Class / Project 877
Attack Submarine

This section will cover the history, development, and use of the 'Kilo' attack submarine.  In this section you will find where the submarine has been used, when it was designed, its limitations and abilities, and how it functions.

 

Brief Operational History

The Kilo class submarines represented the continued Soviet commitment to modern diesel submarines.  It is a short, compact boat with a single propeller.  Its well rounded bow and double-hull design allow the submarine to be quiet and durable.  These characteristics make the vessel particularly dangerous in shallow or coastal waters.  It was also equipped with two small back-up propellers tucked within the hull and powered by electric motors.  These can move the submarine at up to 3 knots in port or in confined sea areas.

The first Kilo was built at the Komsomolsk shipyard in the Soviet Far East and launched in 1980.  Its was built specifically for testing purposes.  Over the next two years many changes and modifications were incorporated into the design of the submarine.  Series production began in 1982 at the Gorki shipyard, these were to be known as Project 877M.  Twelve of these boats were soon built for the Soviet navy.  Seven were transferred to the Pacific fleet, three went to the Black Sea fleet, and two others were sent to the Baltic.  Soon after two additional boats were also built.  By August 1983 the first operational Kilo was seen visiting Cam Rahn Bay in Vietnam.

Export production of the submarine, now known as Project 877EM, began in 1985 at Sudomekh.  Poland and India were the first nations to express interest in the boat, ordering two and six respectively.  Later that year the Royal Australian navy sighted an Indian Kilo operating in the Indian Ocean.  By 1987 both of the Polish boats and two of the Indian boats had been delivered.  Seven more of the 877EM boats were eventually built and delivered to Algeria, China, and Romania.

Sometime in the mid-1980's the Kilo was fitted with an improved command/communications system.  Seven of these boats, known as Project 877MK, were built for the Soviet navy.  An export version fitted with the improved systems was also made (Project 877EMK).  Two of these boats were built and retained by the Soviets for the training of foreign crews.  The only buyer of this version was Iran who bought three in the mid-1990's.

Soon after the unveiling of the 977MK, the Soviets embarked on a plan to improve the basic Kilo design.  It was to be called Project 636.  These boats were to be made much quieter than their predecessors.  This would be accomplished by increasing the amount of automated equipment, removing all noisemaking equipment from the forward compartment, and by changing the forward hull shape.  Anechoic tiles were also added along with more efficient diesel engines.  It was also given a nominal anti-aircraft capability with a man portable surface-to-air missile fitted between the snorkel and radio antennae masts.  This weapon is crewed by two men trained in its use.  Two of these submarines were made for the People's Republic of China, while the rest were retained for the Soviet navy. 

 

Tactical Use and Limitations

The Kilo is a highly capable submarine with many advantages and few inherent limitations.  Its hull design is clean lined and optimized for silent performance.  Its small size and low cost has also made it a success on the export market.  The addition of the surface-to-air missile launcher on the Project 636 boats give the boat a reasonable defense against anti-submarine helicopters.

In combat the Kilo would be used much as other diesel powered attack submarines - to attack enemy shipping.  It would be especially effective in shallow water conflicts (like in the Persian Gulf), where larger submarines have difficulty operating quietly.

 

Deployment Chronology

Here you can see what submarines the Kilo replaced and what submarines evolved later to fill the conventionally powered attack submarines.  You can find out more about these submarines by clicking on the links below.   It should be noted that the Kilo has only partially replaced the older Tango and Foxtrot class attack submarines, but is the latest in a long line of conventional attack boats.

The Kilo replaced... Back to the
Kilo Attack Submarine 		The Kilo was replaced by...
'Tango' Class
Attack Submarine		 It is still in service although a new diesel submarine known as the Severodvinsk class has been proposed.

 

Sources Cited

Here are some of the most informative sources that we have used in compiling this information for you.  We hope you can find them as useful as we have.