The Charlie I-class submarines were intended for anti-surface ship warfare, primarily targeting U.S. carrier battle groups.
The Cold War luckily never turned into a full-scale “hot war” (not counting so-called “proxy wars” in far-flung countries like Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and so forth). However, it definitely did produce one hellacious arms race between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), and not just in the realm of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) either. The Americans and the Soviets made a long-term effort to one-up each other in every weapons system from pistols and rifles to jet fighters, jet bombers, and submarines.
Regarding Cold War-era Soviet subs in particular, theTyphoon-class (or as the Russians call them, “Akula” class, i.e., “Shark”) is the one best known to most of the American general public, thanks to The Hunt for Red October (both the bestselling novel by the late great Tom Clancy and the film adaptation starring the late great Sean Connery and future U.S. senator Fred Dalton Thompson).
However, nearly two decades before the Typhoons/Akulas debuted, the Soviet Navy affirmed bragging rights by designing what was the most advanced submarine in the world at that time: the Project 670 Skat (NATO reporting name: Charlie I-class) nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine (SSGN).
Charlie I-class Operational History
As noted by the text caption to a Sub Brief MSN Channel video posted on or about March 28, 2025, titled “How Soviet Engineers Built The Most Advanced Submarine in 1957”:
“Entering service in the late 1960s, it was the first Soviet submarine to carry submarine-launched cruise missiles (SLCMs) in vertical launch tubes, significantly enhancing its strike capability. Armed with eight P-70 Ametist (SS-N-7 Starbright) cruise missiles, which could be launched while submerged, and a complement of 533mm torpedoes, the Charlie I was a formidable early attempt at a stealthy, rapid-response missile platform. However, its limited range, relatively noisy reactor, and outdated missile system led to its eventual replacement by the more advanced Charlie II and Oscar-class SSGNs.”
To provide a historical frame of reference for our readers, the Charlie II-class was built between 1973 and 1980 and the Oscar-class began its construction phase in 1975 and debuted operationally in 1980; the Oscars remain in service today.
Project 670 Skat/Charlie I-Class Initial History and Specifications
The design team for Project 670 was headed up by Vladimir K. Shapohnikov, supported by Chief Supervisor V.R. Mastushkin, Project Manager F.G. Preobrazhinsky, Lead Mechanic A.I. Nakhrov, and Military Liaison S.N. Varvarkin. The subs were intended for anti-surface ship warfare, primarily targeting U.S. carrier battle groups. The notion was building a single reactor, single shaft SSGN that could be mass produced.
The Charlie Is had the following specifications and vital stats:
- Displacement: 4,000 tons surfaced; 4,900 tons submerged
- Hull Length: 95 m (312 ft)
- Beam Width: 10 m (32 ft 10 in)
- Draught: 8 m (26 ft 3 in)
- Speed: 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) surfaced; 24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph) submerged
- Range: Unlimited (except by food provisions)
- Crew Complement: 100 commissioned officers and enlisted sailors
A total of eleven Charlie Is were built, with the K-43 being the first ship of the class.
Where Are They Now?
None of the Charlies were preserved for posterity as museum ships; instead, all of them were scrapped between 1990 and 1994.
About the Author: Christian D. Orr
Christian D. Orr was previously a Senior Defense Editor for National Security Journal (NSJ) and 19FortyFive. He is a former Air Force Security Forces officer, Federal law enforcement officer, and private military contractor (with assignments worked in Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kosovo, Japan, Germany, and the Pentagon). Chris holds a B.A. in International Relations from the University of Southern California (USC) and an M.A. in Intelligence Studies (concentration in Terrorism Studies) from American Military University (AMU). He has also been published in The Daily Torch, The Journal of Intelligence and Cyber Security, and Simple Flying. Last but not least, he is a Companion of the Order of the Naval Order of the United States (NOUS). If you’d like to pick his brain further, you can ofttimes find him at the Old Virginia Tobacco Company (OVTC) lounge in Manassas, Virginia, partaking of fine stogies and good quality human camaraderie.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
