- Tango class submarine
The
Russia n Tango class submarines (Project 641B) were the successors to theFoxtrot class submarine based in theBlack Sea and Northern Fleet areas. The first of the class was completed in1972 atGorky . A total of 18 were built in two slightly different versions. The later type was several metres longer than the first possibly because of installation of ASW missile equipment.The bow
sonar installations appear to be similar to those fitted into Soviet nuclear attacksubmarines . The propulsion plant was the same as the last subgroup of theFoxtrot class submarine . The Tango class had much more battery capacity far higher than previous conventional submarine class in theSoviet Navy . As a result, pressure hull volume increased. This allowed an underwater endurance in excess of a week beforesnorkelling was required.Coupled with new armament and sensor fit, the Tango class were ideal for ambush operations against Western
nuclear submarines at natural chokepoints.Construction of this class has now stopped but four of the class remain in service with the Russian Navy's Northern Fleet at
Polyarny . However, the condition of these vessels is unknown.Museum ships
Three 641B class submarines operate as museum ships:
* B-307, fully raised on ground -Togliatti Museum of Technology
* B-396, afloat inTushino reservoir -Moscow Navy Museum
* B-515 (U-434), afloat in Baakenhafen in Hamburg - museum inHamburg Conning towers of stricken B-319 and B-474 are on display in
Polyarny andRyazan .References
*The Encyclopedia Of Warships From World War Two To The Present Day, General Editor Robert Jackson.
External links
* [http://www.russianwarrior.com/STMMain.htm?1979vecindex.htm&1 RussianWarrior page about the Tango Class]
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