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Soviet submarine K-222
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==Description== ''K-222'' was a [[Submarine hull|double-hulled]] design that displaced {{convert|5197|t|LT|lk=on|sp=us}} on the surface and {{cvt|7000|t|LT}} submerged. The boat had an [[length overall|overall length]] of {{convert|106.92|m|ftin|sp=us}}, a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|11.5|m|ftin|sp=us}} and a [[draft (hull)|draft]] of {{convert|8.2|m|ftin|sp=us}}.<ref name=p0>Pavlov, p. 40</ref> The submarine's inner hull had nine [[Ship floodability|watertight compartments]] and had an unusual configuration at the [[bow (ship)|bow]] where the first two compartments were narrower than the rest of the hull and were superimposed in a figure 8 shape; the upper compartment housed the [[torpedo tube]]s while the lower contained the massive sonar system and some of the batteries. The third compartment was as narrow as the first two ({{cvt|5.9|m|ftin}}) while the rest of the compartments widened to a diameter of {{cvt|9|m|ftin}}.<ref name=p8>Polmar & Moore, p. 138</ref> ''K-222'' had a [[test depth]] of {{convert|400|m|sp=us}} and a [[Submarine depth ratings|design depth]] of {{convert|550|m|ft|sp=us}}. The crew numbered 82 officers and [[enlisted men]].<ref name=p0/> The submarine was powered by a pair of {{convert|177.4|MW|adj=on}} VM-5M reactors, each supplying steam for the GTZA-618 [[steam turbine]] driving each propeller shaft. The turbines produced a total of {{convert|80000|shp|kW|lk=on}} that was intended to propel ''K-222'' at a speed of 38 knots. The boat was equipped with two {{convert|3000|kW|shp|adj=on}} [[turbogenerator]]s; two banks of 152-cell [[silver-zinc batteries]] were fitted in lieu of a diesel generator. The boat made {{convert|25|kn}} on the surface,<ref name=p0/> and proved to be much faster than planned underwater and reached a top speed of {{convert|42|kn}} at 90 percent power during her [[sea trials]] in December 1969. During this 12-hour full-speed test, some of the external hull fittings were ripped off and portions of the [[Grille (architecture)|grill]]s protecting the water intakes broke loose and were ground up by the water-circulation [[pump]]s.<ref name=p9>Polmar & Moore, p. 139</ref> One account of the trial wrote: <blockquote>the biggest thing was the noise of the water going by. It increased together with the ship's speed, and when {{convert|35|kn}} was exceeded, it was like the noise of a [[jet aircraft]]. ... In the control room was not heard simply the roar of an aircraft, but the thunder of "the engine room of a [[diesel locomotive]]". Those present believed that the noise level was greater than 100 [[decibel]]s.<ref name=p9/></blockquote> On a subsequent trial in 1970 at full power, ''K-222'' reached {{convert|44.7|kn}}, the fastest speed attained underwater by a manned object{{refn|A third attempt was made in 1971 that recorded a speed of {{cvt|44.85|kn}}, but the Soviet Navy rejected the figure because the reactors were not at 100 percent during the test.<ref>Vilches Alarcón, p. 48, fn. 13</ref>|group=Note}} and making ''K-222'' the world's fastest submarine. The submarine carried enough supplies to stay at sea for 70 days.<ref name=p0/><ref name=p9/> ===Armament, sensors and fire control=== [[File:DN-ST-84-01579-Papa class submarine 1983.JPEG|thumb|upright=1|A close-up of ''K-222''{{'}}s sail, 26 October 1983]] The submarine's primary armament consisted of 10 P-70 missiles in individual tubes between the inner and outer hulls forward of the [[Sail (submarine)|sail]]. The tubes were positioned upwards at an angle of 32.5 degrees. As the missile used four [[solid-propellant rocket|solid-propellant]] boosters, it could be launched underwater at a maximum depth of {{cvt|30|m|ft}}. No more than five missiles could be fired in one [[Volley fire|volley]] and the second volley could be fired three minutes later. The narrowness of the bow compartment prevented ''K-222'' from being fitted with more than four {{cvt|533|mm|in|0}} torpedo tubes, although she stowed eight reloads for them.<ref>Vilches Alarcón, pp. 46, 49</ref> The torpedoes could be fired down to a depth of {{cvt|200|m}}.<ref name=p0/> The massive cylindrical Rubin MGK-300 sonar system occupied the nose of the lower inner hull and measured {{cvt|6|m|ftin}} in diameter and {{cvt|3|m|ftin}} in height. It was fitted with both active and passive [[transducer]]s and was intended to detect [[carrier battle group]]s at long ranges. It would transmit the data to the missiles for its initial targeting. Locating targets accurately was initially limited to about {{convert|50|km|mi nmi}} with the missiles requiring a mid-course update if attacking targets further away. Later upgrades to the sonar allowed it to extend its range to the full {{cvt|70|km|mi nmi}} limit of the P-70 missiles. Once fired, the submarine did not have to provide any further targeting data as the missile was equipped with a radar of its own. ''K-222'' was also fitted with an Albatros RLK-101 search [[radar]] (NATO reporting name: Snoop Tray) and a Molniya<ref>Hampshire, pp. 15, 30</ref> (NATO reporting name: Pert Spring) [[communication satellite|satellite-communications system]].<ref>Polmar & Noot, p. 302</ref>
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