Project 705, 705K "Lira" (Alfa SSN)

Project 705, 705K "Lira" (Alfa SSN)

Displacement: 2300 tons surfaced; 3180 tons submerged;
Dimensions: overall length 81.4 m; beam 10 m; draught 7.6 m;
Armament: six 533mm torpedo tubes (6+12 torpedoes/missiles)
Propulsion: 1 shaft; 1 liquid metal cooled reactor, 40000 shp; 40 kts
Maximum depth: 700 m
Description: The purpose of this project was the creation of highly automated, high speed submarines. Their hull was made from titanium alloy and allowed them to dive at greater depth. The liquid metal (lead-bismuth) cooled reactor helped these submarines to achieve high acceleration rates, allowing them to run up to flank speed in about one minute. Along with a high flank speed it was hoped that these abilities would negate the acoustic and sensor advantages of western submarines. Unfortunately the reactor proved to be unreliable and the submarines were too expensive to build and maintain.

The first vessle, K-64, was experimental and had many hardware problems. She was decommissioned after 2 years of operation. A further six submarines were built to the modernized project 705K standard. These submarines have good service records - they took part in most Soviet naval exercises in Polar Ocean and North Atlantic.

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