Whiskey-class Submarines

The Whiskey-class (Soviet Project 613) submarines were the most numerous submarine produced after 1945. The type is best Known in the West for the 1981 ‘Whiskey on the Rocks’ incident when an example became stranded in Swedish waters but had a long and successful career with the Soviet and allied navies.

Whiskey-class Submarines: Soviet Project 613 Submarines in Service with Foreign Navies, 1951-1990 examines the very successful foreign use of this Soviet design, often derided within the West as being based upon obsolete Second World War German technologies and consequently of little threat or concern.

As the Project 613 boats were replaced by newer types in Soviet service, a number of vessels were exported to allied or client states where they operated in several conflicts without loss. The type was able to evade contemporary British sonars and was used to successfully land special forces inside enemy territory without detection. This book describes the service history of the type with the Albanian, Bulgarian, Egyptian, Indonesian, Polish and Syrian fleets, and looks at Chinese production of the type and their service with the People’s Liberation Army Navy. In addition, the experience of the crews and captains are examined.

Whiskey-class Submarines: Soviet Project 613 Submarines in Service with Foreign Navies, 1951-1990 is illustrated with many photographs, very often extremely rare, and includes specially commissioned color artworks.