Echo class submarine

The Soviet Echo I class (project 659 class) were completed at Komsomolsk in the Soviet far east in 1960 to 1962. The Echo I class were classed as SSGNs armed with six launchers for the P5 (SS-N-3C Shaddock-B) cruise missile. The Echo I class had to operate in a strategic rather than attack role because of the lack of fire control and guidance radars. As the Soviet SSBN force built up, the need for these boats diminished so they were converted to the Project 659T SSN's between 1969 and 1974. The conversion invovled the removal of the shaddock missiles, the plating over and the streamlining of the hull to reduce underwater noise of the launchers and the modification of the sonar systems to the standard of the November class submarine SSNs.

All the Echo I's were deployed in the Pacific fleet although K-122 was damaged by fire took place in VII compartment during patrol mission near Okinawa in August 1980 and had to be towed back to Vladivostok for emergency dry docking (the submarine was removed from active service soon, in October 1985). The last two boats were deleted in the early 1990s.

Echo II class

The follow on Echo II class (project 675 class) were built at Severodvinsk (18 vessels) and Komsomolsk (11 vessels) between 1962 and 1967 as anti carrier missile submarines. The Echo II class carried 8 P6 (SS-N-3a Shaddock-A) anti ship cruise missiles mounted in pairs above the pressure hull.

To fire the missiles, the ship had to surface and the missile elevated to about 25 to 30 degrees. The Echo II class also had fire control and guidance radar. The Echo II class could fire all 8 missiles in 30 minutes but would have to wait on the surface until the missile mid-course correction and final target selection had been sent unless guidance had been sent to a third party.

From the mid 1970s, 14 of the 29 Echo II class were converted during overhauls to carry the Bazalt (SS-N-12 Sandbox) anti ship cruise missile. The conversions could be distinguished by the fitting bulges to each side of the sail.

The Echo II class were divided evenly between the Pacific and Northern fleets. The boats became obsolete by the mid 1980s and were deleted in 1989 and 1994.

Accidents

The numerous submarines of Echo class had been involved in quite many accidents::- 20 June 1970, Echo II (K-108), collision with submarine USS Tautog (SSN-639) in the Sea of Okhotsk at a depth 45 m. Light hull of K-108 was damaged in the area of VIII and IX compartments, conning tower of SSN-639 was damaged and flooded, no fatalities.:- 14 June 1973, Echo II (K-56), collision with Soviet large refrigerating trawler "Academic Berg", submarine got the hole in bow part of the main hull, 27 dead because of flooding of I and II compartments.:- 20 August 1973, Echo II (K-1), hit slope of bank Xagua in the Caribbean Sea at a depth 120 m and speed convert|16|kn|km/h, bow part of the hull was significantly damaged.:- 24 September 1976, Echo II (K-47), fire due to short cicuit in VIII compartment (living), North Atlantic, 3 dead because of CO poisoning.:- 28 August 1977, Echo II (K-22), collision with frigate USS Voge (FF-1047) in the Mediterramean Sea, both ships were seriously damaged. K-22 had damages of missile container No. 1, extension devices and fin structure (submarine went to Kitira in the Aegean Sea for some repair). American frigate had damages of stern part, lost motion and was towed to Crete. :- 2 July 1979, Echo II (K-116), reactor accident (leak of core coolant of left reactor), Bay of Vladimir, Sea of Japan, some crewmembers took dose of radiation but there were no fatalities.:- 21 August 1980, Echo I (K-122), fire in VII compartment (turboelectric), convert|85|mi|km to the east of Okinawa, 14 dead because of CO poisoning.:- 10 September 1981, Echo I (K-45), collision with Soviet fish trawler "Novokachalinsk" in the night-time, the bow part of the external hull and sonar system of submarine were seriously damaged, fish trawler sank.:- 18 June 1984, Echo II (K-131), fire in VIII compartment due to violation of safety methods by electrician, Barents Sea, 13 dead.:- 10 August 1985, Echo II class (K-431, ex K-31), reactor explosion while refueling in shipyard, Chazhma Bay, Sea of Japan, 10 dead (300 men from rescue parties took a different doses of radiation, several dead later).:- November 1986, Echo II class (K-175), reactor accident (explosion in reactor compartment) during stay in base (Pacific Fleet), radioactivity discharge and contamination of near-by territory, no fatalities.:- 26 June 1989, Echo II (K-192, ex K-172), reactor accident (break of 1st loop of right reactor), off Bear Island (Barents Sea), crew took dose of radiation but there were no fatalities.

References

* [http://ship.bsu.by/main.asp?id=102191 Article in Russian Language on Project 659]
* [http://ship.bsu.by/main.asp?id=102192 Article in Russian Language on Project 675]
* [http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/russia/theater/659.htm article in English from FAS]
*The Encyclopedia Of Warships, From World War 2 To The Present Day, General Editor Robert Jackson.