N700019 SOVIET SUBMARINE PROJECT 667 BDR KALMAR (NATO NAME DELTA III)

Delta III-class ships (or Project 667BDR) were Soviet nuclear-powered submarines carrying nuclear-warhead ballistic missiles (SSBNs) that entered service from 1975. A total of 14 ships of this class were built, of which probably 1 or 2 ships remain in the line. A single unit of this type was 155 m long and 12 m wide, with an underwater displacement of about 13,250 tons. The maximum underwater speed was up to 25 knots. The armament consisted of 16 SS-N-18 ballistic missile launchers and 4 or 6 bow 533 mm torpedo tubes. The submarines of the Delta III type (Project 667BDR) were created as an evolutionary development of the Delta II class. Compared to their predecessors, they retained almost the same length, width and characteristic "hump" behind the conning tower, but the main armament has changed - instead of SS-N-8 missiles, they used SS-N-18 ballistic missiles with a range of 6,500 km (Mod 1 - multi-head version) and 8,000 km (Mod 2 version - single-head version). In addition, the Delta III ships were able to fire virtually any number of missiles in one salvo, and were the first to be able to launch multi-head ballistic missiles. Units of this type also received more modern rocket and torpedo fire control systems, and - probably - newer hydroacoustic equipment. All vessels of this class were built at the Severodvinsk shipyard.