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Alfa vs Whiskey

Alfa submarine side profile drawing
🇷🇺 Alfa
Whiskey submarine side profile drawing
🇷🇺 Whiskey
Change comparison vs
Specifications
Alfa Whiskey
Origin 🇷🇺 Ex-USSR 🇷🇺 Ex-USSR
Category Submarine Submarine
Type Nuclear-powered attack submarine Diesel-electric attack submarine
Manufacturer Admiralty yard, Leningrad Lazurit Design Bureau
Year introduced 1971 1951
Number built 7 units 236 units
Estimated unit price NA NA
Displacement 2,300 tons 1,050 tons
Maximum speed 12.0 knots 18.0 knots
Range Unlimited 8,580 nm at 10 knots
Length 81.4 m 76.0 m
Beam 9.5 m 6.5 m
Crew 31 52
Max depth 400 m 200 m
Performance Radar Chart
Armament & Systems
Alfa Whiskey
Armament
  • 6 x 533 mm torpedo tubes
  • 18 SET-65 or 53-65K torpedoes
  • 20 VA-111 Shkval torpedoes
  • 24 mines
  • 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
Propulsion OK-550 or BM-40A, 155-MWt Lead-bismuth cooled, beryllium-moderated reactor; 40,000 shp (30,000 kW) steam turbine, one shaft 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

Overview

The Alfa and the Whiskey are both Submarine classes.

The Alfa displaces 2,300 tons — 2.2x the Whiskey's 1,050 tons. The Alfa reaches 12 knots vs 18 knots for the Whiskey. Operational range is 99,999 nautical miles for the Alfa vs 8,580 for the Whiskey. The Alfa carries a crew of 31 vs 52 for the Whiskey. Submerged displacement is 3,200 tons for the Alfa vs 1,340 tons for the Whiskey. The Alfa can dive to 400 m compared to 200 m for the Whiskey.

The Alfa was produced in 7 units vs 236 for the Whiskey. The Alfa was commissioned in 1971, 20 years after the Whiskey (1951).

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which has greater displacement, the Alfa-class or Whiskey-class?
The Alfa-class has greater displacement at 2,300 tons compared to the Whiskey-class's 1,050 tons.
Which is faster, the Alfa-class or Whiskey-class?
The Whiskey-class is faster with a maximum speed of 18 knots compared to the Alfa-class's 12 knots.
Which has longer range, the Alfa-class or Whiskey-class?
The Alfa-class is nuclear-powered with unlimited range, while the Whiskey-class has a range of 8,580 nautical miles.
Which is longer, the Alfa-class or Whiskey-class?
The Alfa-class is longer at 81.4 meters compared to the Whiskey-class's 76.0 meters.
How many crew members do the Alfa-class and Whiskey-class have?
The Whiskey-class has a larger crew complement of 52 compared to the Alfa-class's 31 crew members.
Which can dive deeper, the Alfa-class or Whiskey-class?
The Alfa-class can dive deeper with a maximum depth of 400 meters compared to the Whiskey-class's 200 meters.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Alfa-class or Whiskey-class?
The Whiskey-class has been built in greater numbers with 236 vessels compared to 7 vessels of the Alfa-class.