NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Pr. A615 1970  

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate	Modification
М-254 [M-254]		579	196 Yd (Sudomekh), Leningrad	17.3.1950	31.8.1950	31.5.1953	training hulk 1959	Project 615
Project A615								Project 615
М-255 [M-255]		664	196 Yd (Sudomekh), Leningrad	8.9.1953	16.9.1954	10.12.1955	stricken 3.1968	Project 615
М-256 [M-256]		665	196 Yd (Sudomekh), Leningrad	23.9.1953	15.9.1954	21.12.1955	fire 26.9.1957	Project 615
М-257 [M-257]		666	196 Yd (Sudomekh), Leningrad	10.11.1953	30.9.1954	10.12.1955	test hulk 2.1958	Project 615
М-258 [M-258]		667	196 Yd (Sudomekh), Leningrad	18.11.1953	4.11.1954	21.12.1955	stricken 12.1966	Project 615
М-259 [M-259]		668	196 Yd (Sudomekh), Leningrad	12.1.1954	5.11.1954	13.12.1955	stricken 9.1972	Project 615
М-260 [M-260]		669	196 Yd (Sudomekh), Leningrad	14.2.1954	21.5.1955	31.7.1956	stricken 1.1970	Project 615
М-261 [M-261], 6.1978- МС-261 [MS-261]		1070	196 Yd (Sudomekh), Leningrad	23.2.1954	21.5.1955	31.7.1956	stricken 5.1980, preserved	Project 615
М-262 [M-262]		1071	196 Yd (Sudomekh), Leningrad	20.3.1954	12.7.1955	31.7.1956	stricken 1.1970	Project 615
М-263 [M-263]		1072	196 Yd (Sudomekh), Leningrad	8.4.1954	2.8.1955	2.11.1956	stricken 6.1976	Project 615
М-264 [M-264]		1073	196 Yd (Sudomekh), Leningrad	4.6.1954	14.9.1955	3.10.1956	stricken 7.1977	Project 615
М-265 [M-265]		1074	196 Yd (Sudomekh), Leningrad	15.7.1954	9.9.1955	30.9.1956	stricken 1978	Project 615
М-266 [M-266], 8.1977- МС-266 [MS-266]		1075	196 Yd (Sudomekh), Leningrad	30.8.1954	30.10.1955	30.9.1956	stricken 1979	Project 615
М-267 [M-267]		1078	196 Yd (Sudomekh), Leningrad	15.10.1954	14.1.1956	30.9.1956	stricken 1980	Project 615
М-268 [M-268]		1079	196 Yd (Sudomekh), Leningrad	20.11.1954	16.4.1956	26.12.1956	stricken 1980	Project 615
М-269 [M-269], 8.1977- МС-269 [MS-269]		1080	196 Yd (Sudomekh), Leningrad	30.11.1954	17.3.1956	27.8.1957	stricken 1980	Project 615
М-295 [M-295]		701	196 Yd (Sudomekh), Leningrad	10.1.1955	3.4.1956	16.8.1957	stricken 1973	Project 615
М-296 [M-296], 8.1977- МС-296 [MS-296]		702	196 Yd (Sudomekh), Leningrad	1.2.1955	4.4.1956	23.12.1958	stricken 6.1979, preserved	Project 615
М-297 [M-297]		703	196 Yd (Sudomekh), Leningrad	5.8.1955	29.7.1956	29.8.1957	stricken 9.1975	Project 615
М-298 [M-298]		704	196 Yd (Sudomekh), Leningrad	2.8.1955	30.6.1956	31.8.1957	stricken 1975	Project 615
М-299 [M-299]		705	196 Yd (Sudomekh), Leningrad	19.9.1955	4.10.1956	30.11.1957	stricken 1978	Project 615
М-300 [M-300]		711	196 Yd (Sudomekh), Leningrad	27.9.1955	12.10.1956	30.11.1957	stricken 1976	Project 615
М-301 [M-301]		713	196 Yd (Sudomekh), Leningrad	7.1.1956	23.2.1957	27.12.1958	stricken 1979	Project 615
М-321 [M-321], 7.1980- МС-321 [MS-321]		715	196 Yd (Sudomekh), Leningrad	24.12.1955	23.2.1957	23.12.1958	stricken 1981	Project 615
М-351 [M-351]		801	194 Marti Yd, Leningrad	24.3.1954	4.7.1955	3.8.1956	stricken 1974	Project 615
М-352 [M-352]		802	194 Marti Yd, Leningrad	10.4.1954	7.10.1955	30.9.1956	stricken 5.1980	Project 615
М-353 [M-353], 5.1978- МС-353 [MS-353]		803	194 Marti Yd, Leningrad	15.5.1955	26.4.1956	30.9.1956	stricken 1.1980	Project 615
М-354 [M-354], 6.1979- МС-354 [MS-354]		804	194 Marti Yd, Leningrad	23.6.1955	5.6.1956	25.11.1956	stricken 1979	Project 615
М-355 [M-355]		805	194 Marti Yd, Leningrad	8.7.1955	17.4.1957	1.8.1957	stricken 1980	Project 615
М-356 [M-356]		816	194 Marti Yd, Leningrad	5.4.1956	27.4.1957	20.8.1957	stricken 1974	Project 615
Project 637								Project 615
М-361 [M-361]		817	194 Marti Yd, Leningrad	5.1955	3.1957	---	never completed	Project 615

Technical data

Data variant	pr. 615, A-615	pr. 637
Displacement standard, t
Displacement normal, t	pr. 615: 392 / 493 pr. A615: 406 / 504	425 / 680
Length, m	pr. 615: 56.6 pr. A615: 56.8	58.2
Breadth, m	pr. 615: 4.44 pr. A615: 4.46	4.46
Draught, m	pr. 615: 2.78 pr. A615: 3.59	3.45
No of shafts	3	3
Machinery	pr. 615: 1 32D AIP diesel + 2 M-50 diesels / 1 32D AIP diesel / 1 PG-106 electric motor for cruising pr. A615: 1 32D AIP diesel + 2 M-50P diesels / 1 32D AIP diesel / 1 PG-106 electric motor for cruising	1 32D AIP diesel + 2 M-50P diesels / 1 32D AIP diesel / 1 PG-106 electric motor for cruising
Power, h. p.	pr. 615: 2300 (900+2x700) / 900 / 100 pr. A615: 2700 (900+2x900) / 900 / 100	2700 (900+2x900) / 900 / 100
Max speed, kts	pr. 615: 17.2 / 15.4 pr. A615: 16.1 / 15	16 / 15
Fuel, t	diesel oil	diesel oil
Endurance, nm(kts)	pr. 615: 1700(9.1) / 325(2.5) pr. A615: 3150(8.3) / 410(3.5)	2700(8) / 350(3.5)
Armament	pr. 615: 1 x 2 - 25/112 2M-8, 4 - 533 TT (bow, 4) pr. A615 completed 1955-56: 1 x 2 - 25/112 2M-8, 4 - 533 TT (bow, 4) pr. A615 completed 1956-58: 4 - 533 TT (bow, 4)	4 - 533 TT (bow, 4)
Electronic equipment	Flag radar, Tamir-5L, Mars-16KIG sonars	Flag radar, Tamir-5L, Mars-16KIG sonars
Complement	pr. 615: 29 pr. A615: 41	33
Diving depth operational, m	100	100

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

This closed cycle ('single propulsion system', in Soviet parlance) design was chosen in preference to the conventional Project 612 as successor to the earlier M-classes. Project 615 was by TsKB-18; the production A615 was by TsKB-16 (the chief designer, Kassatier, apparently transferred to TsKB-16) The Kreislauf powerplant, derived from prewar experiments, ran submerged n an internal supply of liquid oxygen; oxygen was added after exhaust was passed through a lime chemical absorbent (ED KhPI). The submarine could also use a snorkel. There were three engines: one 32D diesel (900bhp) on the centre shaft, plus a pair of 700/900bhp M-50/M-50P diesels (a type used on torpedo boats), with a 100hp creep motor on the centre shaft and a back-up diesel generator aft. Boats could run at low speed using only the centreline diesel.

Because liquid oxygen could be stored for only a limited period, the boat could not operate far from a base. To overcome this problem, in 1954-55 the Project 637 submarine was designed to use a new 'B-2 single product', consisting of solid granules containing bonded oxygen and a carbon dioxide absorbent. Exhaust gas passed through it would have its carbon dioxide leached out while its oxygen content was renewed. In 1958-59 M-361, then under oh construction, was retrofitted to test B-2, but in 1960 her trial programme was stopped and closed-cycle work ended because of the success of the nuclear programme.

Modernizations

None.

Naval service

M-256 was lost 26.9.1957 off Tallin due to fire.