This Soviet Sub’s Bizarre ‘Double-Barrel’ Bow Was Built To Test Exotic Weapons
Summary
The Soviet submarine S-49, originally a standard Project 633 Romeo-class diesel-electric attack submarine commissioned in December 1961, was dramatically transformed in the early 1970s into a specialized weapons testing platform. Driven by the growing threat of the U.S. Navy's nuclear-powered submarine fleet, Soviet engineers were developing next-generation submarine-launched anti-submarine missile systems, specifically the RPK-6 Vodopad and the larger RPK-7 Veter, which could strike enemy submarines from standoff distances far beyond conventional torpedo range. Between December 1971 and October 1972, S-49 underwent an extensive reconstruction at Sevastopol, resulting in its iconic "double-barrel" appearance — two massive external 650mm tubes mounted on the bow to accommodate the oversized Veter missiles, which were too large to fit within the original hull. A sister Romeo-class vessel, S-11, underwent a similar conversion, and together these Project 633RV submarines functioned as underwater weapons laboratories, allowing engineers to test the complete firing process, fire-control systems, and weapon programming equipment before deploying these systems on operational nuclear submarines. The highly modified S-49 served a pioneering role in advancing Soviet anti-submarine warfare capabilities during a period of intense Cold War naval competition.
Key Takeaways
- 1. S-49 was originally a conventional Romeo-class submarine that was radically converted into a specialized weapons testing platform due to Cold War naval competition
- 2. The submarine's distinctive "double-barrel" bow housed two external 650mm launch tubes for the RPK-7 Veter anti-submarine missile, which was too large to fit inside the original hull
- 3. The Soviet Navy developed two anti-submarine missile systems — the shorter-range RPK-6 Vodopad (~20 nautical miles) and the longer-range RPK-7 Veter (~54 nautical miles) — to engage enemy submarines from safe standoff distances
- 4. Both S-49 and sister submarine S-11 were converted to the Project 633RV experimental standard, effectively serving as underwater laboratories to validate weapon systems before fleet-wide deployment
- 5. The testing systems aboard S-49 were specifically designed to replicate the capabilities of Soviet nuclear attack submarines, including the Project 671 Victor-class boats, ensuring seamless weapons integration