Project 627 November (Pictures)

Kapitan · 06-10-17, 09:31 AM

Many of us know that the Americans were the first to achieve the goal of making a nuclear powered submarine, USS Nautilus (SSN 571) is testament to man's engineering ability as well as the rapid pace change in a new era.

Nautilus represented a evolutionary progression of submarines given it is based on a diesel submarines hull type, here is where it gets a little different.

The November class known in Russia as Project 627 was the Soviet answer to nautilus this submarine can be considered revolutionary, as it is a radical departure from what nearly all countries ever produced at that time.

The Project 627 boats all had a distinct cigar shaped hull (the Americans would later adopt a loosely similar configuration called the teardrop), now it is well known that Nautilus ran rings around carrier groups and with her high sustained underwater speed was able to out pace anything afloat, with the exception of these.

K3 in sea trial achieved a top underwater speed of 30 knots (Nautilus could do 23 knots) the 627's could also dive to 300 meters where the Nautilus could only reach 200 meters so for a time at least the Russians seemed ahead.

We all know the story of Russian workmanship so this "leap ahead" came at a huge cost not just in lives but also build quality.
America has always like the west prided itself on Quality not quantity, an K3 despite its technical superiority on paper was unable in reality to match the level of quality the west had.
Inferior systems with SONAR, Reactors and build quality coupled with short cuts lead to the 1st generation of soviet submarines being very unreliable and also very hazardous to work on, many accidents occurred on these boats.

Notably in 1970 a fire broke out on K8 in the Bay of Biscay leading to the loss of the boat, K3 the first of the class also suffered a fire and K27 ended up being scuttled in the Kara sea.
Later K159 while en route to the scrap yard would also sink killing 9 men.

These boats were built between 1958 and 1964 like all soviet vessels they have had a long life most western submarines of that era were paid off by 1980 but these boats limped on with the last one being decommissioned in 1991.

K50 by Blair shaw, on Flickr

Sail of November class K50

K50 by Blair shaw, on Flickr

Being pushed into place

K50 by Blair shaw, on Flickr

Despite 20+ years in lay up and nearly 30 years on active duty it still looks a nice submarine

K50 by Blair shaw, on Flickr

Heavy lifting ship lifts her clear out of the water

K50 by Blair shaw, on Flickr

That will take a lot of cleaning !

K50 by Blair shaw, on Flickr

Close up of the Sail showing some of the hull pennant 692 still flying her jack

d5e1fa82dc4c7a6f2def4d4fac60ec02 by Blair shaw, on Flickr

Another November being readied for scrap

download by Blair shaw, on Flickr

Two 5 blade screws were behind their 30 knot capability they were also behind the reason why they made so much noise.

The first of the class K3 named Leninsky Komsomol is under going preparations to be converted into a museum, this has been on going since 2006 and i am desperately hoping that it does come off!

K3 has the distinction of being the first submarine powered by the atom to be accepted and built for the Soviet navy she also became the first soviet submarine to reach the North Pole, but like all her class she had major problems and set backs.

Today all Project 627 boats are out of service.

Jimbuna · 06-10-17, 10:03 AM

Nice one

Commander Wallace · 06-10-17, 10:38 AM

Great pictures and as always, you do a great narrative on the history surrounding the pictures you take. First rate as usual.

06-10-17, 09:31 AM	#1
Kapitan Sub Test Pilot Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK + Canada Posts: 7,090 Downloads: 68 Uploads: 7	Project 627 November (Pictures) Many of us know that the Americans were the first to achieve the goal of making a nuclear powered submarine, USS Nautilus (SSN 571) is testament to man's engineering ability as well as the rapid pace change in a new era. Nautilus represented a evolutionary progression of submarines given it is based on a diesel submarines hull type, here is where it gets a little different. The November class known in Russia as Project 627 was the Soviet answer to nautilus this submarine can be considered revolutionary, as it is a radical departure from what nearly all countries ever produced at that time. The Project 627 boats all had a distinct cigar shaped hull (the Americans would later adopt a loosely similar configuration called the teardrop), now it is well known that Nautilus ran rings around carrier groups and with her high sustained underwater speed was able to out pace anything afloat, with the exception of these. K3 in sea trial achieved a top underwater speed of 30 knots (Nautilus could do 23 knots) the 627's could also dive to 300 meters where the Nautilus could only reach 200 meters so for a time at least the Russians seemed ahead. We all know the story of Russian workmanship so this "leap ahead" came at a huge cost not just in lives but also build quality. America has always like the west prided itself on Quality not quantity, an K3 despite its technical superiority on paper was unable in reality to match the level of quality the west had. Inferior systems with SONAR, Reactors and build quality coupled with short cuts lead to the 1st generation of soviet submarines being very unreliable and also very hazardous to work on, many accidents occurred on these boats. Notably in 1970 a fire broke out on K8 in the Bay of Biscay leading to the loss of the boat, K3 the first of the class also suffered a fire and K27 ended up being scuttled in the Kara sea. Later K159 while en route to the scrap yard would also sink killing 9 men. These boats were built between 1958 and 1964 like all soviet vessels they have had a long life most western submarines of that era were paid off by 1980 but these boats limped on with the last one being decommissioned in 1991. K50 by Blair shaw, on Flickr Sail of November class K50 K50 by Blair shaw, on Flickr Being pushed into place K50 by Blair shaw, on Flickr Despite 20+ years in lay up and nearly 30 years on active duty it still looks a nice submarine K50 by Blair shaw, on Flickr Heavy lifting ship lifts her clear out of the water K50 by Blair shaw, on Flickr That will take a lot of cleaning ! K50 by Blair shaw, on Flickr Close up of the Sail showing some of the hull pennant 692 still flying her jack d5e1fa82dc4c7a6f2def4d4fac60ec02 by Blair shaw, on Flickr Another November being readied for scrap download by Blair shaw, on Flickr Two 5 blade screws were behind their 30 knot capability they were also behind the reason why they made so much noise. The first of the class K3 named Leninsky Komsomol is under going preparations to be converted into a museum, this has been on going since 2006 and i am desperately hoping that it does come off! K3 has the distinction of being the first submarine powered by the atom to be accepted and built for the Soviet navy she also became the first soviet submarine to reach the North Pole, but like all her class she had major problems and set backs. Today all Project 627 boats are out of service. __________________ DONT FORGET if you like a post to nominate it by using the blue diamond Find out about Museum Ships here: https://www.museumships.us/ Flickr for all my pictures: https://www.flickr.com/photos/131313936@N03/ Navy general board articles: https://www.navygeneralboard.com/author/aegis/

06-10-17, 10:03 AM	#2
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 180,992 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Nice one __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!! GWX3.0 Download Page - Donation/instant access to GWX (Help SubSim)

06-10-17, 10:38 AM	#3
Commander Wallace Navy Seal Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Under the sea in an Octupus garden in the shade Posts: 5,014 Downloads: 360 Uploads: 0	Great pictures and as always, you do a great narrative on the history surrounding the pictures you take. First rate as usual. Last edited by Commander Wallace; 06-10-17 at 10:47 AM.