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Delta III vs Delta IV

Delta III vs Delta IV at a glance — displacement 7,800 vs 7,800 tons, length 139 vs 139 m, speed 12 vs 12 knots, crew 120 vs 120.

Delta III submarine side profile drawing
🇷🇺 Delta IIIFull specs
Delta IV submarine side profile drawing
🇷🇺 Delta IVFull specs
Specifications
Delta III Delta IV
Origin 🇷🇺 Ex-USSR 🇷🇺 Ex-USSR
Category Submarine Submarine
Type Nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine
Manufacturer Komsomolsk-on-Amur Komsomolsk-on-Amur
Year introduced 1976 1984
Number built 18 units 18 units
Estimated unit price NA NA
Displacement 7,800 tons 7,800 tons
Maximum speed 12.0 knots 12.0 knots
Range Unlimited Unlimited
Length 139.0 m 139.0 m
Beam 12.0 m 12.0 m
Crew 120 120
Max depth 320 m 400 m
Performance Radar Chart
Armament & Systems
Delta III Delta IV
Armament
  • D-9 launch tubes for 12 R-29 (SS-N-8 Sawfly) SLBMs
  • 4 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes
  • 2 × 400 mm (16 in) torpedo tubes
  • D-9 launch tubes for 12 R-29 (SS-N-8 Sawfly) SLBMs
  • 4 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes
  • 2 × 400 mm (16 in) torpedo tubes
Propulsion 2 pressurized water-cooled reactors powering 2 steam turbines driving 2 shafts and each developing 38.7 MW (51,900 shp) 2 pressurized water-cooled reactors powering 2 steam turbines driving 2 shafts and each developing 38.7 MW (51,900 shp)
Explore further
Delta III-class side profile drawing Delta III-class Specs, operators & history →
Largest operators · in service
Delta IV-class side profile drawing Delta IV-class Specs, operators & history →
Largest operators · in service
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Frequently Asked Questions

Which has greater displacement, the Delta III-class or Delta IV-class?
Both the Delta III-class and Delta IV-class displace 7,800 tons.
Which is faster, the Delta III-class or Delta IV-class?
Both the Delta III-class and Delta IV-class have a maximum speed of 12 knots.
Which has longer range, the Delta III-class or Delta IV-class?
Both the Delta III-class and Delta IV-class are nuclear-powered and have unlimited range, limited only by food supplies and crew endurance.
Which is longer, the Delta III-class or Delta IV-class?
Both the Delta III-class and Delta IV-class are 139.0 meters long.
How many crew members do the Delta III-class and Delta IV-class have?
Both the Delta III-class and Delta IV-class have a crew complement of 120.
Which can dive deeper, the Delta III-class or Delta IV-class?
The Delta IV-class can dive deeper with a maximum depth of 400 meters compared to the Delta III-class's 320 meters.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Delta III-class or Delta IV-class?
Both the Delta III-class and Delta IV-class have been built in equal numbers with 18 vessels each.