Delta III vs Whiskey

The Delta III and the Whiskey are both Submarine classes. The Delta III displaces 7,800 tons — 7.4x the Whiskey's 1,050 tons. The Delta III reaches 12 knots vs 18 knots for the Whiskey. Operational range is 99,999 nautical miles for the Delta III vs 8,580 for the Whiskey. The Delta III carries a crew of 120 vs 52 for the Whiskey. Submerged displacement is 10,000 tons for the Delta III vs 1,340 tons for the Whiskey. The Delta III can dive to 320 m compared to 200 m for the Whiskey. The Delta III was produced in 18 units vs 236 for the Whiskey. The Delta III was commissioned in 1972, 21 years after the Whiskey (1951).

Soviet ballistic missile submarine, 7,800 tons displacement, powered by two nuclear reactors.
Profile of Delta III
Origin 🇨🇳 Ex-USSR
Category Submarine
Type Nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine
Manufacturer Komsomolsk-on-Amur
Year introduced 1972
Number built 18 units
Estimated unit price NA
Ex-USSR submarine, introduced in 1951, displaced 1,050 tons, and had a crew of 52 sailors.
Profile of Whiskey
Origin 🇨🇳 Ex-USSR
Category Submarine
Type Diesel–electric attack submarine
Manufacturer Lazurit Design Bureau
Year introduced 1951
Number built 236 units
Estimated unit price NA
Displacement 7,800 tons
Maximum speed 12.0 knots
Range Unlimited
Length 139.0 m
Beam 12.0 m
Crew 120
Max depth 320 m
Propulsion 2 pressurized water-cooled reactors powering 2 steam turbines driving 2 shafts and each developing 38.7 MW (51,900 shp)
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
Displacement 1,050 tons
Maximum speed 18.0 knots
Range 8,580 nm at 10 knots
Length 76.0 m
Beam 6.5 m
Crew 52
Max depth 200 m
Propulsion Two-shaft diesel–electric: 2 × 2,000 bhp (1,500 kW) diesel engines, 2 × 1,350 hp (1,010 kW) main electric motors, 2 × 50 hp (37 kW) electric creep motors
Armament
  • 6 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes (4 bow + 2 stern)
  • 12 × torpedoes or 22 × mines
  • 1 × single-mounted 25 mm (1.0 in) AA gun
  • 2 × single-mounted 57 mm (2.2 in) AA gun

Performance Radar Chart

Frequently Asked Questions

Which has greater displacement, the Delta III-class or Whiskey-class?
The Delta III-class has greater displacement at 7,800 tons compared to the Whiskey-class's 1,050 tons.
Which is faster, the Delta III-class or Whiskey-class?
The Whiskey-class is faster with a maximum speed of 18 knots compared to the Delta III-class's 12 knots.
Which has longer range, the Delta III-class or Whiskey-class?
The Delta III-class is nuclear-powered with unlimited range, while the Whiskey-class has a range of 8,580 nautical miles.
Which is longer, the Delta III-class or Whiskey-class?
The Delta III-class is longer at 139.0 meters compared to the Whiskey-class's 76.0 meters.
How many crew members do the Delta III-class and Whiskey-class have?
The Delta III-class has a larger crew complement of 120 compared to the Whiskey-class's 52 crew members.
Which can dive deeper, the Delta III-class or Whiskey-class?
The Delta III-class can dive deeper with a maximum depth of 320 meters compared to the Whiskey-class's 200 meters.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Delta III-class or Whiskey-class?
The Whiskey-class has been built in greater numbers with 236 vessels compared to 18 vessels of the Delta III-class.