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Project 659 / Echo I
Project 675 / Echo II

The Project 659 [Echo I] nuclear-powered cruise-missile submarines were designed to launch the land-attack version SS-N-3c Shaddock. They carried 6 Shaddock missiles in erectable launch tubes mounted in pairs above the pressure hull on both sides of the sail. The Echo I boats, which used a reactor and propulsion system similar to the Hotel SSBN and November SSN classes, were converted to attack submarines in the early 1970s. At least one and possibly two were decommissioned in the mid-1980s, while the remaining three or four units were decommissioned in 1990.

The Project 675 [Echo II] nuclear-powered cruise-missile submarines were modified to carry the Front series of radars [also featured on the Juliet-class SSG] that enabled them to launch the anti-shipping version of the Shaddock. These were primarily anti-carrier weapons, intended originally as a response to nuclear strikes against the Soviet Union by carrier-based aircraft like the A-3 Skywarrior. As such, their SS-N-3s came in both nuclear and conventional versions. A total of eight missiles were carried, two more than on the Echo-I, and the hull was lengthed five meters to accomodate the extra pair of launchers. According to Western estimates about 20 minutes was required to launch all eight missiles. To fire its missiles the submarine surfaced, deployed and activated a tracking radar, and remained on the surface linked to the high altitude cruise missile in flight via datalink, providing guidance commands based on the submarine radar's tracking data. The submarine itself was highly vulnerable to attack while on the surface operating its radar. A total of 29 Echo IIs were constructed between 1962 and 1968, of which perhaps 10 were converted to carry the improved SS-N-12 by the mid-1980s. All had been de-commissioned by the mid-1990s.

At least four Echo submarines have suffered serious accidents. In August 1980 a fire in an Echo II off Japan killed at least nine crewmembers. On 26 June 1989 a fire erupted in of the the two reactor compartments on an Echo II submarine of the Northern Fleet. The reactor had to be shut down, and the submarine surfaced to return to Murmansk under auxiliary diesel power. Several crew members were injured, but none were killed in the incident. There is some confusion over the numbering of the damaged submarines. According to one reasobably authoritative account, the Navy has four damaged submarines, of which three are in the Far East, in the Pavlovski Bay (project 675, serial No. 175 and 541 and project 671, serial No. 610) and one - in the North (project 675, serial No. 533). The cores of submarines No. 541 and 533 are planned to be discharged. These numbers are at variance with those reported by other sources, and certainly reflect at least in part the annoying Russian habit of re-designating their ships.

Specifications

Project 659 / Echo I Project 675 / Echo II
Displacement (tons): 4,500 tons surfaced
5,500 tons submerged
5,000 tons surfaced
6,000 tons submerged
Speed (kts): 20 kts surfaced
25 kts submerged
20 kts surfaced
23 kts submerged
Dimensions (m): 110.0 meters long
9.0 meters beam
7.5 meters draft
115.0 meters long
9.0 meters beam
7.5 meters draft
Propulsion 2 pressurized-water nuclear reactors
steam turbines; 25,000 shp
2 shafts 5-bladed propellers
2 pressurized-water nuclear reactors
steam turbines; 30,000 shp
2 shafts 5-bladed propellers
Endurance:
Crew about 75 about 90
Armament:
  • 6 - SS-N-3
  • 6 21-in (533-mm) torpedo tubes (fwd)
  • 4 16-in (406-mm) torpedo tubes (aft)
  • 8 - SS-N-3 or
  • 8 - SS-N-12
  • 6 21-in (533-mm) torpedo tubes (fwd)
  • 4 16-in (406-mm) torpedo tubes (aft)
  • Electronics Radar
  • Front Door or Front Piece targeting
  • Snoop Tray Surface Search
    Sonar
  • Herkules
  • Fez
  • Radar
  • Snoop Tray Surface Search
    Sonar
  • Feniks
  • low-frequency
  • Class Listing

    BoatShipyardChronologyNotes
    NO. Name Laid Down Launched Comm. Stricken
    Project 659, NATO code "Echo I"
    K-45 KM 12/28/1957 05/12/1959 09/18/1960 199006/1961 operational
    1965-69 project 659T converted to SSN under SALT-1
    K-59 KM ---------- ---------- 12/10/1961 19901965-69 project 659T converted to SSN under SALT-1
    K-66 KM ---------- ---------- 12/10/1961 19901965-69 project 659T converted to SSN under SALT-1
    '04/23/1980 fire (mutiny?)
    in reserve
    K-122 KM ---------- ---------- 04/13/1962 19811965-69 project 659T converted to SSN under SALT-1
    '08/21/1981 reactor accident,stricken
    K-259 KM ---------- ---------- 12/**/1962 1990NO. possibly K-151
    1965-69 project 659T converted to SSN under SALT-1
    Project 675, NATO code "Echo II"
    K-1 SV ---------- ---------- 1962-68 ---------- 1987 project 675MK converted (satellite targeting)
    K-7 KM ---------- ---------- 1962-68 ---------- 1968 redesignated to K-127
    K-10 KM ---------- ---------- 1962-68 1982lead ship built at KM
    1980 collided with Chinese submarine
    K-22 Krasnovardeets SV ---------- ---------- 1962-68 ---------- 1993 project 675MK converted (satellite targeting)
    K-23 KM ---------- ---------- 1962-68 ----------
    K-28 SV ---------- ---------- 1962-68 ---------- redesignated to K-428
    K-31 KM ---------- ---------- 1962-68 ---------- 04/29/1969 redesignated to K-431
    01/13/1986 reactor accident,in reserve
    K-34 Kefal KM ---------- ---------- 1962-68 ---------- redesignated to K-134
    K-35 SV ---------- ---------- 1962-68 ---------- 1991 project 675MK converted (satellite targeting)
    K-47 SV ---------- ---------- 1962-68 ---------- 09/26/1976 fire
    K-48 KM ---------- ---------- 1962-68 ---------- project 675K converted (SLEP)
    K-56 SV ---------- ---------- 1962-68 ---------- 06/13/1973 collided with research ship
    K-57 KM ---------- ---------- 1962-68 ---------- redesignated to K-557
    K-74 SV ---------- ---------- 1962-68 ----------
    K-86 SV ---------- ---------- 1962-68 ---------- diver tranport converted
    K-90 KM ---------- ---------- 1962-68 ----------
    K-94 KM ---------- ---------- 1962-68 ----------
    K-104 SV ---------- ---------- 1962-68 ---------- redesignated to K-144
    K-108 KM ---------- ---------- 1962-68 ----------
    K-116 KM ---------- ---------- 1962-68 ---------- 08/19/1978 reactor accident
    K-125 SV ---------- ---------- 1962-68 ----------
    K-128 KM ---------- ---------- 1962-68 ----------
    K-135 KM ---------- ---------- 1962-68 ----------
    K-166 SV ---------- ---------- 1962-68 ---------- lead ship built at SV
    K-172 KM ---------- ---------- 1962-68 ----------
    K-175 KM ---------- ---------- 1962-68 ----------
    K-184 KM ---------- ---------- 1962-68 ----------
    K-189 KM ---------- ---------- 1962-68 ---------- hull NO. possibly K-131
    K-192 SV ---------- ---------- 1962-68 ---------- 06/25/1989 reactor accident,in reserve
    in storage at Polyarny

    Sources and Resources



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