The Soviet Union's Project 661 (Anchar) submarine is known in the West by its NATO reporting name: the Papa class. A predecessor to the Alfa class submarine, Papa was designed as an extremely fast anti-shipping cruise missile submarine. Its design included ten SS-N-9 missiles in individual tubes forward of the sail, between the inner and outer hulls.
Little is known about the Papa's design, but the Alfa class submarine shocked the US Navy when it deployed in 1970 with its 45-knot speed and 600-800 meter (2000-2500 foot) operating depth. It is very likely that the Papa design tested preliminary versions of features of the Alfas.
K-222, formerly K-162, was the only Papa constructed. It was laid down December 28, 1963, and commissioned on December 31, 1969, at Severodvinsk. It was assigned to the Soviet Northern Fleet for the duration of its career. It was the world's fastest submarine, reaching a record speed of 44.7 knots on trials. However, that speed came at the price of high costs during construction, and both excessive noise and significant damage to hull features when used.
On September 30, 1980, K-222 suffered a reactor accident. Details are not available. By 1988 it was placed in reserve in storage, moored at Bolomorsk Naval Base in Severodvinsk. It will be dismantled at Sevmash, the only facility capable of handling the titanium hull.
