350-003 SOVIET SUBMARINE K-21

The K-21 was a Soviet submarine from the interwar period and World War II. The keel for this unit was laid in December 1937, the launch took place in November 1938, and the entry into service in February 1941. The total length of the ship at the time of launching was approx. 98 m, width approx. 7.4 m, and the draft - approx. 4.5 m. The maximum underwater speed was 9.5-10 knots. The torpedo armament consisted of 10 533 mm tubes - six in the bow and four in the stern. In addition, the ship had two 100mm cannons and two 45mm cannons. The K-21 belonged to the "K" class of submarines, which consisted of a total of 12 units, the first of which entered service in 1939. Undoubtedly, the units of this class were the largest Soviet submarines of the Second World War. The K-class was designed and built both as large submarines capable of interacting with their own cruiser or battleship-sized surface ships, as well as for independent action against enemy merchant navy. During World War II, many of these units operated in the northern waters of the USSR and collaborated with convoys heading for Murmansk or Arkhangelsk. It is worth adding that the main episode in the course of the K-21 service was his unsuccessful attack on the German battleship Tirpitz, which in turn acted against the PQ17 convoy in June-July 1942.