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Alfa vs Victor III

Alfa submarine side profile drawing
🇷🇺 Alfa
Victor III submarine side profile drawing
🇷🇺 Victor III
Change comparison vs
Specifications
Alfa Victor III
Origin 🇷🇺 Ex-USSR 🇷🇺 Ex-USSR
Category Submarine Submarine
Type Nuclear-powered attack submarine Nuclear-powered attack submarine
Manufacturer Admiralty yard, Leningrad Sudomekh Shipyard
Year introduced 1971 1967
Number built 7 units 48 units
Estimated unit price NA NA
Displacement 2,300 tons 6,990 tons
Maximum speed 12.0 knots 14.0 knots
Range Unlimited Unlimited
Length 81.4 m 107.1 m
Beam 9.5 m 10.0 m
Crew 31 100
Max depth 400 m 400 m
Performance Radar Chart
Armament & Systems
Alfa Victor III
Armament
  • 6 x 533 mm torpedo tubes
  • 18 SET-65 or 53-65K torpedoes
  • 20 VA-111 Shkval torpedoes
  • 24 mines
  • 2 bow torpedo tubes, 650 mm (6 weapons – Type 88R / SS-N-16 Stallion ASW missiles, Type 65-76 torpedoes)
  • 4 bow torpedo tubes, 533 mm (18 weapons – Type 83RN / Type 53-65K / USET-80 torpedoes, Type 84RN / SS-N-15 Starfish ASW missiles, VA-111 Shkval rocket torpedoes, MG-74 Korund and Siren decoys, or up to 36 naval mines)
Propulsion OK-550 or BM-40A, 155-MWt Lead-bismuth cooled, beryllium-moderated reactor; 40,000 shp (30,000 kW) steam turbine, one shaft One VM-4P pressurized-water twin nuclear reactor (2x75 MW), 2 sets OK-300 steam turbines; 1 7-bladed or 2 4-bladed props; 31,000 shp (23,000 kW) at 290 shaft rpm

Overview

The Alfa and the Victor III are both Submarine classes.

The Victor III displaces 6,990 tons — 3.0x the Alfa's 2,300 tons. The Alfa reaches 12 knots vs 14 knots for the Victor III. Operational range is 99,999 nautical miles for the Alfa vs 99,999 for the Victor III. The Alfa carries a crew of 31 vs 100 for the Victor III. Submerged displacement is 3,200 tons for the Alfa vs 7,250 tons for the Victor III. The Alfa can dive to 400 m compared to 400 m for the Victor III.

The Alfa was produced in 7 units vs 48 for the Victor III. The Alfa was commissioned in 1971, 4 years after the Victor III (1967).

Related Comparisons
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Frequently Asked Questions

Which has greater displacement, the Alfa-class or Victor III-class?
The Victor III-class has greater displacement at 6,990 tons compared to the Alfa-class's 2,300 tons.
Which is faster, the Alfa-class or Victor III-class?
The Victor III-class is faster with a maximum speed of 14 knots compared to the Alfa-class's 12 knots.
Which has longer range, the Alfa-class or Victor III-class?
Both the Alfa-class and Victor III-class are nuclear-powered and have unlimited range, limited only by food supplies and crew endurance.
Which is longer, the Alfa-class or Victor III-class?
The Victor III-class is longer at 107.1 meters compared to the Alfa-class's 81.4 meters.
How many crew members do the Alfa-class and Victor III-class have?
The Victor III-class has a larger crew complement of 100 compared to the Alfa-class's 31 crew members.
Which can dive deeper, the Alfa-class or Victor III-class?
The Victor III-class can dive deeper with a maximum depth of 400 meters compared to the Alfa-class's 400 meters.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Alfa-class or Victor III-class?
The Victor III-class has been built in greater numbers with 48 vessels compared to 7 vessels of the Alfa-class.