NOVEMBER class

The November class nuclear attack submarines (SSN) was put into service in 1959, becoming the first commissioned by the Soviet Navy. The main mission was to attack the American aircraft carriers battle groups, although the infiltration in American naval bases to carry out attacks with 1,550mm T-15 nuclear torpedoes was projected. This last proposal was discarded and a more conventional use was decided. November class suffered from being very noisy in navigation and being prone to reactor breakdowns, having produced serious accidents in K-3, K-8, K-11 and K-27 submarines. They also have some brilliant actions such as reaching the North Pole, (K-3), a 52-day cruise from the Arctic Ocean to the Pacific, (K-133), or the “sinking”, (fictitious), of an American aircraft carrier during a NATO maneuvers in 1965. During this exercise, K-27 submarine could approach indetected, make an attack and withdraw from the area “safe and sound”. Fourteen boats of this class were built, which were in service until the late 1980s.

NOVEMBER class gallery and more info