Half a century has passed since the Project 661 submarine “Anchar” set a world record for speed under water but has not yet been broken.
It is known that after diving to a depth of 100 meters, the submarine has accelerated to 44.7 knots (82.8 km / h), using almost the full power of the electric motor.
At the time of record setting, the submarine in the ranks of the Soviet Navy was numbered K-162. Its history can be traced back to 1959, when the Council of Ministers commissioned the design and creation of a new submarine – high speed, with modern electric motors and capable of firing rockets while diving.
Development was done at Central Design Bureau No. 16 (now SPMBM Malachite). On request, designers must use new materials, equipment and weapons for the project, creating a completely new type of submarine. The project received code 661 and name “Anchar”.
By 1960, several hundred Soviet businesses had been together preparing a draft for the project, and there were several dozen versions of how to do it better. Various weapons and basic materials for crafting are provided. They can be steel or aluminum, but in the end titanium is chosen.
As a result, the cost of the project has risen sharply, and the unsigned submarine has correctly nicknamed “Goldfish” because of the high metal price. Assembly took place over a few years, at the end of 1968 the ship K-162 was launched.
The first attempts to increase top speed were made in 1969 and reached 42 knots (78 km / h), but in tests they noted only 80% of dynamic power. electromechanical used.
The next attempt was even more successful – on December 18, 1970 the speed reached 44.7 knots. Neither before or after this incident, submarines could achieve such speeds underwater.
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| Project 661 attack submarine “Anchar” of the Soviet Navy |
However, the downside of that agility is also evident – when the threshold of 35 knots is passed, hydrodynamic noise occurs, and the volume reaches 100 decibels. This shade reduces secrecy. Despite this, the ship still engaged in combat missions.
In 1971, she entered the Atlantic and approached the US aircraft carrier Saratoga. The Americans tried to stay away from the K-162, but surprisingly they couldn’t – an attempt to travel for a few hours at speeds above 30 knots was also ineffective. Furthermore, Soviet submarines sought to maneuver around the aircraft carrier, choosing the most convenient locations.
K-162 was decommissioned for repair, and in service until 1978, it was renamed K-222. In March 1989, the “Goldfish” was removed from active duty, and 10 years later the flag was lowered.
Then the ship was located at the port waiting for dismantling, this process began in 2008. The aforementioned submarine is still the only product of Project Anchar, the production cost is too high to be able to build more ships.
In Severodvinsk, Sevmash is currently developing documentation for the installation of the K-222 cabin – the fastest submarine ever built, in the city’s Primorsky Park.