Hotel Class Submarines

NATO designation: Hotel class:
Russian Designation: Project 658:
The Hotel Class Submarines were nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine of which a total of Eight were constructed. The Russian designation of the eight hotel submarines are: K-16, K-19, K-33, K-40, K-55, K-145, K-149 and K-178.

On 26 August 1956, approval was given to commence work on this new submarine. By september, work on the design documentation had started. By the beginning of early 1957 the technical project was finalized. But it was decided not to use this design because of the time delays it would neee to complete. It was decided to use a modified design of the 627 November class submarine. On October 17, 1958 the first of the Hotel Submarines, the K-19, was laid down at the no. 402, Sevmash Machine Building Factory in Molotovsk (now Severodvinsk) shipyard.

The Hotel class submarines incorporated small horizontal hydroplanes which gave them a higher degree of maneuverability. Additionally, the missile compartment from the Golf class were incorporated into the new Hotal Submarines. The early Hotal 1 class carried the D-2 launch system with three R-13 missiles.

A new improved D-4 launch system was added to the submarines in March 1958. These newly modified submarines were designated 658M Hotel II.

Development of the D-2 launch system with the R-13 missiles had talen place along the same time frame as the Hotel Class submarines. Initial authorization was given on 11 January 1956. The preliminary design was completed by OKB-1 NII-88. The project was then transferred to SKB-385. The final design was completed in 1957 with platform tests after that undertaken by the State Central Training Site in Kapustin Yar. Towards the end of 1959 submarine testing began.

In 1969, Project 701 was undertaken. This new submarine recieved the NATO designation of Hotel Class 111. The K-145 Submarine was modified to test the new R-29 missiles. The submarine had to be lengthened to 130 meters and the displacement increased.

Rising Tide: The Untold Story of the Russian Submarines That Fought the Cold War

Brief on Russian Defence