NAVAL FORCES #4: The world's most successful conventional submarines after WWII

Written by D-Mitch

Improved Kilo class submarine

Two types of conventional submarines (SSK) of different origin, the German Type 209 and the Russian Kilo (Project 877/636), are the most successful export diesel-electric submarine designs in the world today. The Kilo class is the NATO reporting name for the Russian Project 877 Paltus and the Improved Kilo for the Project 636 Varshavyanka. Kilo class has been successfully exported to eight (8) countries, with 68 submarines been built and commissioned between 1981 and 2018 while there are under construction seven (7) Improved Kilo submarines, six (6) for Russia and one (1) for Algeria. With the delivery of these submarines the total number of Kilo class will increase to 75. Of the total 30 Kilo class submarines of Russian Navy, about 20-22 are in operational status while two (2) have been retired and sold for scrap. There are several Russian Kilo submarines in reserve either their status is unknown; the sole Romanian is in reserve from the '90s also. The Indian Sindhurakshak was destroyed in 2013 after an explosion and fire on board suspected to have occurred from the munitions onboard - killing 18 people at the Indian Navy's dockyard at Mumbai Port.

Type 209 and Kilo class submarines of the Indian Navy

Type 209/1400 submarine of the Egyptian Navy

The Type 209 submarines have been successfully exported to 14 countries, with 65 submarines of five main variants (the equipment varies among operators) been built and commissioned between 1971 and 2017. A contract has been signed with Germany to build two (2) more submarines for the Egyptian Navy that will be delivered by 2020-21. Thus, the number of submarines ever completed will increase to 68. Four (4) submarines have been retired: the first Type 209 that was decommissioned was the Argentinian San Luis (Type 209/1200) in 1997, later in 2011 it was Glaukos (Type 209/1100) of Hellenic Navy which was the first of the Type 209 class worldwide and recently two Turkish submarines Saldıray and Atilay (Type 209/1200) were also retired.

Type 209 vs Kilo (as of April 1st, 2018)