Hamppshire, Edward Soviet Cold War Attack Submarines. Nuclear classes from November to Akula

In this highly detailed book, naval historian Edward Hampshire reveals the fascinating history of the nuclear-powered attack submarines built and operated by the Soviet Union in the Cold War, including each class of these formidable craft as they developed throughout the Cold War period. The "November" class, which were the Soviet Union's first nuclear submarines, had originally been designed to fire a single enormous nuclear tipped torpedo but were eventually completed as boats firing standard torpedoes. The "Alfa" class were perhaps the most remarkable submarines of the Cold War: titanium-hulled (which was light and strong but extremely expensive and difficult to weld successfully), crewed with only thirty men due to considerable automation and 30% faster than any U.S. submarines, they used a radical liquid lead-bismuth alloy in the reactor plant. The "Victor" class formed the backbone of the Soviet nuclear submarine fleet in the 1970s and 1980s, as hunter-killer submarines began to focus on tracking and potentially destroying NATO ballistic missile submarines. The "Sierra" classes were further titanium-hulled submarines and the single "Mike"-class submarine was an experimental type containing a number of innovations. Finally, the "Akula" class were being constructed as the Cold War ended, and these boats form the mainstay of the Russian nuclear attack submarine fleet today. This book explores the design, development, and deployment of each of these classes in detail, offering an unparalleled insight into the submarines which served the Soviet Union throughout the Cold War period. The text is supported by stunning illustrations, photographs and diagrams of the submarines.

This book explains the design, development and deployment of each of these classes in detail. It offers an unprecedented insight into the attack submarines used by the Soviet Union during the Cold War in the cat-and-mouse game with the Western fleets. The text is supported by interesting photographs, colour illustrations and diagrams of the submarines.