Alfa-Class: the Russian titanium submarine that the Navy still can’t match

Resume: The hunt for the red October not only revolutionized military thrillers, but also brought attention to the Soviet Alpha-class submarine, which featured innovative titanium hulls. This design allowed it to dive deeper and reduce detectability due to titanium’s paramagnetic properties.

-Powered by a lead-bismuth-cooled fast reactor, the Alfa class could reach speeds of 41 knots and dive up to 350 meters, making it agile and difficult to hit with torpedoes.

-Despite the benefits, the complexity and cost of working with titanium made these submarines expensive and difficult to maintain. Only seven were built, and they were eventually decommissioned in the early 1990s. Meanwhile, “The Hunt for Red October” became a collector’s item, with signed editions worth about $2,500, and author Tom Clancy claimed that his detailed descriptions were based on unclassified sources and interviews.

An examination of the Alfa-class submarine: the Soviet Union’s titanium revolution

The book On the hunt for Red October changed everything when it came to military thrillers in the 1980s. It was so detailed and with unprecedented amounts of submarine specifications that the Pentagon and the CIA believed its author, the late Tom Clancy, a former insurance salesman, was somehow stealing secrets to include in his book. One submarine featured in the story was the Russian Alfa class. Its hull was made of titanium instead of steel, allowing it to sneak deep beyond the reach of anti-submarine weapons.

Alfa-Class” These Subs had a Wow factor

The Soviets called the Alfa class the Project 705 Lira. These were nuclear powered attack submarines. Their titanium hulls were resistant to fatigue and fracture. At 33 to 50 percent of the weight, they were as strong as steel and could withstand the high pressure of a deep dive. The titanium is also paramagnetic – a condition that reduced the magnetic field and caused it to become less detectable. Titanium is also less corrosive in seawater.

Deadly, fast and very agile

A new lead-bismuth-cooled fast reactor would provide speed. This was a smaller power source allowing the sub to maneuver quickly while saving space and weight. Underwater they could travel at a speed of 47 miles per hour (41 knots). It took less than a minute to get up to full speed or go in the opposite direction. Deep diving at 350 meters meant that enemy torpedoes could not attack the area at the time of these innovations. Meanwhile, the Soviet submarines could hover beneath enemy ships to launch torpedoes upward for a better chance of a hit. This advancement for the Alfa class came about in 1968, so the subs were way ahead of their time.

Titanium was difficult to work with

The boats were expensive due to the costly purchase of titanium. They took plenty of time to make because of the difficulty of welding titanium, which had to be accomplished with a unique process in a special facility. Titanium also takes more time to bend and shape.

Only a small crew is needed to operate

The Alfa class had a minuscule crew of only 32 men. They worked mainly in the center of the submarine, while the front and rear sections could be closed off to increase survivability.

It’s time for the US and NATO to catch up

With all this technology, the United States and NATO were concerned. They rushed to produce high-speed, long-range torpedoes to challenge the Alfa class. Only seven Alfa-class submarines were built, so it was believed that the Allies would eventually be able to catch up with the boats, especially since the submarines were noisier than the Russians would have liked. The reactors had problems and the lead submarine of the class suffered a failed power plant in 1972, which was withdrawn from service. Eventually they were all retired in the early 1990s due to the costs of keeping them in the water.

The Cold War made it necessary that the Soviets and the Americans would always compete in military acquisition. The Alfa class was a leap forward for the Russians and kept the United States and Great Britain on their toes when it came to undersea warfare. The US Navy resisted the use of titanium hulls, mainly because most titanium was only available in Russia at the time.

What about that hunt for Red October?

As for the book, Tom Clancy said he always used unclassified material and obtained much of his information by interviewing submarines and reading open source documents. You can get an original copy of the thriller signed by the author for around $2,500.

Why the Navy never built a titanium-hulled submarine: An expert speaks

We posed this question to a retired electric boat engineer, who explained: “(W)e tried working with titanium while the US Navy drooled over such submarines. However, titanium is expensive to machine and very difficult to weld and cut .We ultimately gave up on the idea because the amount of time, effort and money to make it work would have been insane.”

Expert biography

Dr. Brent M. Eastwood is the author of People, machines and data: future trends in warfare. He is an expert on Emerging Threats and a former US Army infantry officer. You can follow him on Twitter @BMEastwood. He has a Ph.D. in Political Science and Foreign Policy/International Relations.