The Soviet Union’s K-222 Nuclear Submarine Set a Speed Record Over 50 Years Ago That Remains Unbroken.
Designed and constructed more than 50 years ago, the K-222 submarine of the Soviet Union still holds the record for the fastest submarine ever produced in the world, achieving a speed of 82.8 km/h, according to IFL Science. Originally named K-162, the K-222 was developed under the guidance of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the Council of Ministers in 1958 in an effort to create a new high-speed submarine. Manufactured in the port city of Severodvinsk in northern Russia during the 1960s, the submarine was part of Project 661 and was commissioned in 1969.
Nuclear-powered submarine K-222. (Photo: National Interest).
Equipped with nuclear weapons and powered by nuclear energy, the submarine is just over 106 meters long and was one of the first submarines to feature a titanium hull. However, speed is its most notable characteristic. During testing in 1969, it exceeded expectations, reaching a speed of 77.8 km/h instead of the projected 70.4 km/h. The submarine achieved its highest speed during a test in 1971, hitting 82.8 km/h while operating at full nuclear power. This speed record has yet to be surpassed.
The K-222 posed a perceived threat to the United States and other NATO allies during the Cold War, challenging their technical capabilities. In comparison, one of the fastest submarines ever developed by the U.S., the nuclear-powered attack submarine Seawolf, only reached speeds of 64 km/h.
However, maintaining the submarine’s power was challenging. The high speed put pressure on the structure. Additionally, the system was very complex and costly to operate. Inside the submarine’s control room, noise levels could reach 100 decibels, comparable to a bustling nightclub.
A decisive event for the project occurred in September 1980 when an accident happened during the maintenance of the submarine’s nuclear reactor. Ultimately, the submarine was decommissioned in 1988 and was scrapped in 2010. Given the technical difficulties of the K-222, it remains unlikely that any submarine will surpass its speed record.
