Soviet submarine K-64

For K-64 of Delta-IV class, see Russian submarine BS-64.

Alfa class submarine (Project 705)
History
Soviet Union
Laid down	2 June 1968
Launched	22 April 1969
Commissioned	31 December 1971
Decommissioned	19 August 1974
Out of service	1972
Fate	Suffered a major reactor accident, 1972. Deemed too extensive to repair and subsequently scrapped
General characteristics
Type	Nuclear attack submarine
Displacement	2,300 tons surfaced 3,200 tons submerged
Length	81.4 m (267 ft)
Beam	9.5 m (31 ft)
Draught	7.6 m (25 ft)
Propulsion	OK-550, 155-MWt Lead-bismuth cooled, beryllium-moderated reactor 40,000 shp (30,000 kW) steam turbine, one shaft
Speed	12 kn (14 mph; 22 km/h) surfaced 41 knots (47 mph; 76 km/h) submerged
Test depth	350 m (1,148 ft) test
Complement	31 (all officers)
Armament	6 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes (bow): 18 SET-65 or 53-65K torpedoes 20 VA-111 Shkval torpedoes 24 mines

K-64 was a nuclear-powered Soviet submarine, head ship of its class.

Fate

In 1972, the submarine suffered a major reactor problem in the form of a leak of liquid metal coolant. The superheated metal solidified on contact with the colder outside air, freezing and damaging internal components of the reactor. The submarine was removed from service and towed to Severodvinsk. At the dockyard, the damage to the reactor was deemed too extensive for repair and the decision was made to salvage as much as they could. K-64 was split in half, its bow section (including control spaces) was taken to Leningrad and used for training new Soviet submariners.