Tango class submarine

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A Tango class submarine in the North Atlantic

Class overview

Builders:	Gorky
Preceded by:	Foxtrot class submarine
Succeeded by:	Kilo class submarine
Completed:	18
Lost:	0
Retired:	14
Preserved:	1
General characteristics
Displacement:	Surfaced:3100tons Submerged:3800tons
Length:	91m (298ft 6in)
Beam:	9.1m (29ft 9in)
Draught:	7.2m (23ft 6in)
Propulsion:	3 diesels delivering 4.6MW (6256shp) with 3 electric motors driving 3 shafts.
Speed:	Surfaced: 13kts Submerged: 16kts
Complement:	62 men (12 officers)
Armament:	Six 533mm (21in)bow. 24 533mm (21in) anti submarine and anti ship torpedoes or equivalent load of mines

The Russian Tango class submarines (Project 641B) were the successors to the Foxtrot class submarine based in the Black Sea and Northern Fleet areas. The first of the class was completed in 1972 at Gorky. A total of 18 were built in two slightly different versions. The later type was several metres longer than the first possibly because of installation of ASW missile equipment.

The bow sonar installations appear to be similar to those fitted into Soviet nuclear attack submarines. The propulsion plant was the same as the last subgroup of the Foxtrot class submarine. The Tango class had much more battery capacity far higher than previous conventional submarine class in the Soviet Navy. As a result, pressure hull volume increased. This allowed an underwater endurance in excess of a week before snorkelling was required.

Coupled with new armament and sensor fit, the Tango class were ideal for ambush operations against Western nuclear submarines at natural chokepoints.

Construction of this class has now stopped but four of the class remain in service with the Russian Navy's Northern Fleet at Polyarny. However, the condition of these vessels is unknown.

A disarmed Tango class submarine, the U-434, (in active duty until 2000) has been bought by an entrepreneur and brought to the port of Hamburg, Germany, where it is displayed to the public as museum.