The Tango class was the NATO reporting name of a type of military diesel-electric submarine that was built in the 1970s and early 1980s in the Soviet Union. The submarines were primarily intended for long range anti-shipping and anti-submarine missions, especially for operations in so called choke points (the English channel for example). The class was known in the Soviet Union as Project 641B Som. Twenty submarines of this class were built for the Soviet Navy. All of the submarines have been put into reserve, and only three or four are thought to be able to operate.

The Tango class is an improved version of the Foxtrot class submarine with a more streamlined hull, larger battery capacity, and improved electronic systems.

General charateristics

Note: estimates of the specifications of the Tango Class vary widely. These are middle-range estimates.

• Classification:
  • English: Diesel-Electric attack submarine (SS)
  • Russian: Podvodnaya Lodka (PL) [Author Note: I am NOT sure about this]

• Displacement:
  • 2,770 tons surfaced
  • 4,600 tons submerged

• Maximum speed:
  • 13 Knots (24 km/h) Surfaced
  • 15 knots (28 km/h) Submerged

• Operating Depth:
  • 240 meters test depth
  • 300 meters never-exceed depth

• Propulsion
  • 3 Diesel engines producing 2,700 hp (and capable of charging large batteries)
  • 2 Electric motors producing 1,350 hp (drawing power from batteries charged by diesel engines)
  • 3 five-bladed propellers

• Length:

90.2 meters

• Beam:

8.6 meters

• Draft:

5.7 meters

• Armament:
  • 6 533mm torpedo tubes
  • storage space for up to 24 torpedos/mines/missiles etc
  • assorted small arms for security. (Locked away when away from port)

• Sonar:

Active & Passive set, exact type unknown.

External link

• RussianWarrior page about the Tango Class