Soviet Golf class, Project 629, SSB-ballistic missile conventional powered submarine Along with initiating development of the first experimental ballistic missile submarine under Project V-611, the governmental ordered the development of a diesel-powered ballistic missile submarine. On May 1954 the headquarters of the Navy assigned OKB-16 the task of developing the Golf submarines. The development of the Golf I submarine and its corresponding launch system D-2 was authorized on January 1956. Originally the new submarine was designed to carry the R-11FM missiles, which had a range of 160n/miles, and only 85n/miles when carrying a nuclear warhead. As the development of the submarine encountered significant delays, it was nevertheless decided to equip the first three submarines with R-11FM missiles. The basic design of the Golf submarine is based on the Foxtrot class, Project 641, the electromechanical installation for surface and underwater navigation, the hydroacoustic system, the radar facilities and the radio communication systems were incorporated without change. The Golf class had a cylindrical pressure hull divided into eight compartments, with three missile tubes located in the fourth compartment. The large fin of the submarine contains the missiles that are stored in vertical containers directly behind the sail. With D-2 launch system and R-13 missiles, the missiles were fired by raising the launch platform to the edge of the tube. Launches were conducted on the surface, in Golf I, at a speed of up to 15 knots. The pre-launch procedures were conducted underwater and took approximately one hour. Another four minutes was needed after the submarine surfaced, and a total of 12 minutes elapsed until all three missiles were fired. With the introduction of the new D-4 launch system and the R-21 missiles a major improvement was achieved in Golf II with the ability of submerge launching. The 629 SSBs of the Northern fleet were organized in the 16th Division that was based in the Olyenya port. This division formed part of the 12th Squadron, which was headquartered in Yagyelnoy. In May 1962 the Soviet government approved a plan for the deployment of a group of Soviet forces to Cuba, which in October 1962 precipitated the Cuban Missile Crisis. In the middle of the 1970s seven 629A submarines were still in service in the Pacific Fleet, but by 1990 all submarines were decommissioned. Specifications, Golf class, Project 629: Thefirst Soviet purpose-built SSB-ballistic missile submarine, was essentially a modified Foxtrot class, double hull submarine, with a 25feet (8m) of length add as a result of the need to accommodate three missile tubes in an elongated fin. Design Bureau UKB-16, with the chief designer N.N. Isanin. Displacement (srf/sub tons): 1,950/2,400              Dimensions (L*B*D feet): 328`0*27`11*21`8 Propulsion: diesel electric, 3*2,000hp Kolomma 2D42 diesel engines,3*1,700hp electric motors, 3 shafts (6 bladed propellers) Speed (srf/sub knots): 17/12 Range (srf/sub n/miles@knots): snorting 9,000@5/290@2 or 180@8 Diving depth (feet): 985 Complement: 10 officers 71 enlisted Missile: SLCM sub-launched cruise missiles, Golf I- D-2 launch system with 3*R-13/SS-N-4 Sark, surface launched (350 n/miles nuclear warhead 1MT), Golf II- D-4 launch system with 3*R-21/SS-N-5 Serb, submerge launched (700-900n/miles nuclear warhead 800kT) Torpedo: 6*21" (533mm) bow torpedo tubes, 4*21" stern torpedo tubes, total of 22 torpedoes Mines: 32-44 in lieu of torpedoes Armament: none Construction Construction of submarines under Project 629 begun in 1957 at Shipyard 402, Severodvinsk in the Arctic and Shipyard 199, Komsomol Na Amur, in the Far East. Less than one year later the submarines were launched and at the end of 1958 trial runs were carried out and the vessels were moored. By 1960 seven 629 submarines had been launched. A total of 23 submarines were built: 16 in Severodvinsk and 7 in Komsomol Na Amur, all completed until the end of 1962. In January 1959 the USSR decided to sell the construction and design plans of the 629 SSB to the People`s Republic of China- components and sections for one additional submarine were delivered. After the relations between the USSR and China deteriorated, Soviet specialists were mostly withdrawn in August 1960, though the documentation and equipment for the project remained in China. In 1964 the Chinese managed to launch a single boat of this type but it wasn`t until 1982 that a successful missile launch took place. From 1966 to 1972 some 14 Golf I class, Project 629 submarines were converted and upgraded into the Golf II class, Project 629A. Golf Variants - Golf III - Between 1969 and 1974 the K-118 was outfitted with 6 launchers to carry out tests of the R-29 (SS-N-8) ballistic missiles. Its` displacement was increased to 4,000tons.. - Golf IV - Between 1969 and 1973 the K-102 was converted under the Project 605 in order to conduct tests of the R-27K (SS-NX-13) ballistic missiles. It was lengthened in 18,3 meters and outfitted with four launchers. - Golf V - In 1976 one submarine K-153 was outfitted with a launcher to carry out tests of the R-39 missile. The submarine received the new designation Project 619. - Golf SSQ - Between 1973 and 1979 the submarines "K-61", "B-42" and "K-107" were converted in Vladivostok under the Project 629R into a command post, with the missile and torpedo tubes removed.   Back to History Index   Image Country Year Description Guinea-Bissau 2001 Golf II class (type 629), SSB