Two reactors were more than duplicate machinery. The arrangement could meet high-speed power demands and help balance the submarine's layout. If one plant failed, the other could also support forced coolant circulation through the damaged side. The design accepted added complexity to distribute risk and support demanding performance requirements.
Notable Point · 59:27-1:00:06
Why some Soviet submarines used two reactors
Twin-reactor submarine layouts combined high power and balance with a backup path for keeping coolant moving after a plant failure.