Kilo vs Thresher

The Kilo and the Thresher are both Submarine classes. Displacement is 2,325 tons for the Kilo vs 3,810 tons for the Thresher. The Kilo reaches 17 knots vs 15 knots for the Thresher. Operational range is 6,000 nautical miles for the Kilo vs 99,999 for the Thresher. The Kilo carries a crew of 52 vs 112 for the Thresher. Submerged displacement is 3,075 tons for the Kilo vs 4,369 tons for the Thresher. The Thresher can dive to 400 m compared to 300 m for the Kilo. The Kilo was produced in 75 units vs 14 for the Thresher. The Kilo was commissioned in 1980, 19 years after the Thresher (1961).

Ex-USSR Kilo submarine, introduced in 1980, utilizes diesel-electric propulsion.
Origin 🇨🇳 Ex-USSR
Category Submarine
Type Attack submarine
Manufacturer Rubin Design Bureau
Year introduced 1980
Number built 75 units
Estimated unit price $200 million
American nuclear submarine, 3,810 tons displacement, propelled by a 15,000 shp S5W reactor.
Origin 🇺🇸 United States
Category Submarine
Type Nuclear submarine
Manufacturer Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
Year introduced 1961
Number built 14 units
Estimated unit price NA
Displacement 2,325 tons â—‰
Maximum speed 17.0 knots â—‰
Range 6,000 nm at 7 knots â—‰
Length 72.6 m â—‰
Beam 9.9 m â—‰
Crew 52 â—‰
Max depth 300 m â—‰
Propulsion Diesel-electric propulsion, 2 × 1000 kW diesel generators, 1 × 5,500–6,800 shp propulsion motor, 1 × fixed-pitch 6-bladed or 7-bladed propeller
Armament
  • 6 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes
  • 18 torpedoes
  • 4 Kalibr/Club land-attack cruise missile, anti-ship missile and anti-submarine missile
  • 24 mines
  • 8 9K34 Strela-3 (SA-N-8 Gremlin) or 8 9K310 Igla-1 (SA-N-10 Gimlet) surface-to-air missiles
Displacement 3,810 tons â—‰
Maximum speed 15.0 knots â—‰
Range Unlimited â—‰
Length 84.9 m â—‰
Beam 9.6 m â—‰
Crew 112 â—‰
Max depth 400 m â—‰
Propulsion 1 S5W PWR, 2 steam turbines, 15,000 shp (11 MW), 1 shaft
Armament
  • 4 × 21 inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes amidships
  • 12-18 × Mark 37 torpedoes (later Mark 48s)
  • 4-6 × UUM-44 SUBROC anti-submarine missiles
  • 4 × UGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles

Performance Radar Chart

Frequently Asked Questions

Which has greater displacement, the Kilo-class or Thresher-class?
The Thresher-class has greater displacement at 3,810 tons compared to the Kilo-class's 2,325 tons.
Which is faster, the Kilo-class or Thresher-class?
The Kilo-class is faster with a maximum speed of 17 knots compared to the Thresher-class's 15 knots.
Which has longer range, the Kilo-class or Thresher-class?
The Thresher-class is nuclear-powered with unlimited range, while the Kilo-class has a range of 6,000 nautical miles.
Which is longer, the Kilo-class or Thresher-class?
The Thresher-class is longer at 84.9 meters compared to the Kilo-class's 72.6 meters.
How many crew members do the Kilo-class and Thresher-class have?
The Thresher-class has a larger crew complement of 112 compared to the Kilo-class's 52 crew members.
Which can dive deeper, the Kilo-class or Thresher-class?
The Thresher-class can dive deeper with a maximum depth of 400 meters compared to the Kilo-class's 300 meters.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Kilo-class or Thresher-class?
The Kilo-class has been built in greater numbers with 75 vessels compared to 14 vessels of the Thresher-class.