The fastest submarine in the world

Designed and built more than 50 years ago, the Soviet Union’s K-222 submarine still holds the record for the world’s fastest submarine ever produced, reaching a speed of 82.8 km/h, according to IFL Science. Originally named K-162, the K-222 was developed under the direction of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the Council of Ministers in 1958 in an effort to create a high-speed submarine. new. Manufactured in the northern Soviet port city of Severodvinsk in the 1960s, the Project 661 submarine was delivered in 1969.

Armed with nuclear weapons and powered by nuclear power, the ship is just over 106 meters long and is one of the first submarines with a titanium hull. However, speed is the vehicle’s most outstanding feature. When tested in 1969, it ran faster than expected, reaching a speed of 77.8 km/h instead of 70.4 km/h. The vehicle reached its highest speed in a test in 1971, reaching 82.8 km/h when running at full nuclear power. This submarine speed has never been overthrown since then.

The K-222 appeared to pose a threat to the United States and other NATO allies during the Cold War, challenging their technical capabilities. Compared to it, one of the fastest submarines the US has ever developed, the nuclear-powered attack submarine Seawolf, only reaches a speed of 64 km/h.

However, the ship’s power was difficult to maintain. High speeds cause stress to the structure. In addition, the system is complex and expensive to operate. Inside the submarine’s control room, noise can reach 100 decibels, almost on par with a busy nightclub.

A decisive event for the project took place in September 1980 when an accident occurred during maintenance of the ship’s nuclear reactor. The ship was finally decommissioned in 1988 before being scrapped in 2010. Due to the K-222’s technical difficulties, it is very difficult for any submarine to beat its speed record.