Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 5:30:55-5:32:58

A Typhoon-sized submarine with November-class technology

Combining Typhoon scale with first-generation Soviet nuclear-submarine technology would create an unsafe giant and provoke rival megaprojects.

Naval Arms RaceNovember Class SubmarinesNuclear SubmarinesSoviet NavyTyphoon Class Ballistic Missile Submarines
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Question

What would a 50,000-ton cross between a November-class SSN and Typhoon-class SSBN look like using November-era technology?

Short answer

It would be huge, hazardous, crew intensive, and likely to provoke equally oversized responses from other navies.

Notes

The proposed boat combines roughly 50,000 tons submerged displacement with first-generation November-class technology from 1957 to 1963. The comparison is the Typhoon's approximately 48,000 tons submerged and 23,200 tons surfaced. Such a vessel would need a large crew and present severe operating and safety problems. Its appearance that early in the nuclear era could also encourage other navies to build oversized submarines in response.