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Papa vs Alfa

Papa vs Alfa at a glance — displacement 5,197 vs 2,300 tons, length 106 vs 81 m, speed 25 vs 12 knots, crew 82 vs 31.

Papa submarine side profile drawing
🇷🇺 Papa
Alfa submarine side profile drawing
🇷🇺 Alfa
Specifications
Papa Alfa
Origin 🇷🇺 Ex-USSR 🇷🇺 Ex-USSR
Category Submarine Submarine
Type Nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine Nuclear-powered attack submarine
Manufacturer Sevmash Admiralty yard, Leningrad
Year introduced 1970 1971
Number built 1 unit 7 units
Estimated unit price NA NA
Displacement 5,197 tons 2,300 tons
Maximum speed 25.0 knots 12.0 knots
Range Unlimited Unlimited
Length 106.9 m 81.4 m
Beam 11.5 m 9.5 m
Crew 82 31
Max depth 400 m 400 m
Performance Radar Chart
Armament & Systems
Papa Alfa
Armament
  • 10 × SS-N-7 Starbright (P-70) cruise missiles
  • 4 × 533 mm (21 in) bow torpedo tubes
  • 6 x 533 mm torpedo tubes
  • 18 SET-65 or 53-65K torpedoes
  • 20 VA-111 Shkval torpedoes
  • 24 mines
Propulsion 2 × VM-5 nuclear reactors; 2 × shafts; 2 × steam turbines producing 80,000 PS (59,000 kW) OK-550 or BM-40A, 155-MWt Lead-bismuth cooled, beryllium-moderated reactor; 40,000 shp (30,000 kW) steam turbine, one shaft
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Frequently Asked Questions

Which has greater displacement, the Papa-class or Alfa-class?
The Papa-class has greater displacement at 5,197 tons compared to the Alfa-class's 2,300 tons.
Which is faster, the Papa-class or Alfa-class?
The Papa-class is faster with a maximum speed of 25 knots compared to the Alfa-class's 12 knots.
Which has longer range, the Papa-class or Alfa-class?
Both the Papa-class and Alfa-class are nuclear-powered and have unlimited range, limited only by food supplies and crew endurance.
Which is longer, the Papa-class or Alfa-class?
The Papa-class is longer at 106.9 meters compared to the Alfa-class's 81.4 meters.
How many crew members do the Papa-class and Alfa-class have?
The Papa-class has a larger crew complement of 82 compared to the Alfa-class's 31 crew members.
Which can dive deeper, the Papa-class or Alfa-class?
The Alfa-class can dive deeper with a maximum depth of 400 meters compared to the Papa-class's 400 meters.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Papa-class or Alfa-class?
The Alfa-class has been built in greater numbers with 7 vessels compared to 1 vessels of the Papa-class.