Alfa-class Nuclear Attack Submarine

The Project 705 Lira-class nuclear attack submarines (NATO reporting name Alfa) were a class of hunter/killer nuclear-powered submarines operated by the Soviet and Russian navies. They were the fastest class of military submarines built, with only the prototype K-222 (NATO Papa-class) exceeding them in submerged speed.

The Lira was a unique design among submarines. In addition to the revolutionary use of titanium for its hull, it used a powerful lead cooled fast reactor as a power source, which greatly reduced the size of the reactor compared to conventional designs, thus reducing the overall size of the submarine, and allowing for very high speeds. However, it also meant that the reactor had a short lifetime and had to be kept warm when it was not being used. As a result, the Liras were used as interceptors, mostly kept in port ready for a high-speed dash into the North Atlantic.

Unit Run

 * SVK K-64
 * SVK K-123
 * SVK K-316
 * SVK K-432
 * SVK K-373
 * SVK K-493
 * SVK K-463