Haze Gray Photo Feature

Soviet & Russian Navy

Special Purpose Submarines


[THUMBNAIL] A GOLF II SSQ conversion of a Project 628 'GOLF II' class ballistic missile submarine. The 'GOLF' was a diesel-electric ballistic missile submarine built from the 'FOXTROT' hull. Following retirement from strategic service, several boats were converted to communications relay vessels, given the NATO designation SSQ.
[THUMBNAIL] A Project 940 'INDIA' class salvage and rescue submarine. The two boats of this type were built to rescue crews from sunken submarines. The massive casing abaft the sail houses two rescue submersibles, similar to the US DSRVs, in 'docking wells'. In this view the wells have been plated over for transit to the Pacific Fleet. Both 'INDIA' class boats were laid up in reserve by 1990, and were discarded circa 1995.
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[THUMBNAIL] Another view of an 'INDIA' class submarine, taken at the same time as the previous photo. This photo is a bit sharper and has better contrast, but is not as large.
[THUMBNAIL] An overhead view of an 'INDIA', showing the rescue submersibles in their docking wells.
[THUMBNAIL] A broadside view of an 'INDIA' with submersibles aboard.
[THUMBNAIL] A closeup of an 'INDIA' with submersibles.
[THUMBNAIL] Another view of an 'INDIA'.
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[THUMBNAIL] SS-533, the Project 1710 "Mackrel" 'BELUGA' class experimental submarine, with a 'FOXTROT' class submarine behind, at Sevastopol, 8/1995. The 'BELUGA' is an experimental submarine, with a hull shape similar to the 'ALFA' class, but smaller.
[THUMBNAIL] The sole Project 1840 'LIMA' class submarine, BS-555. The 'LIMA' was an experimental diesel-electric submarine whose exact purpose remains unknown. The boat was completed in 1979; she was brought to St. Petersburg for overhaul in 1989, but the work was never completed and she was abandoned.
[THUMBNAIL] A modified Project 633 'ROMEO' class submarine and a Project 613 'WHISKEY' class boat. The modified 'ROMEO', whose existence was first noted in 1991, was fitted with a massive structure atop the bow. This structure housed two tubes for the test-firing of missiles or torpedoes, but the exact nature of the tests remains unknown.
[THUMBNAIL] A midget submarine at Sevastopol, 8/1995. A midget sub of unknown type hauled out on the pier.
[THUMBNAIL] Midget submarine closeup, Sevastopol, 8/1995. Two midgets on the pier.
[THUMBNAIL] Entrance to the Sevastopol submarine pens, Balaclava, 8/1995. The pens are said to hold up to 30 submarines. The Black Sea is 1/4 mile to the left.

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