In the cold depths of the Arctic Ocean, a mechanical giant once prowled in silence, carrying the weight of immense power and responsibility. The TK-17 Arkhangelsk, a Russian Project 941 Akula-class submarine (known to NATO as the Typhoon-class), is one of the most iconic symbols of Cold War naval engineering. This story takes us into the depths of its legacy, unmatched size, and role as a deterrent in a precarious era of global tension.
The Leviathan of the Seas
Imagine a vessel as long as 1.5 football fields, with the capacity to carry devastating nuclear firepower, silently patrolling the oceans. That’s the TK-17 Arkhangelsk, a submarine with staggering dimensions:

- Length: 175 meters (574 feet).
- Beam: 23 meters (75 feet).
- Displacement: Over 48,000 tons when submerged.
It was not only a machine but a fortress beneath the waves. The Typhoon-class submarines remain the largest submarines ever built in human history.
Constructed during the height of the Cold War, the TK-17 Arkhangelsk symbolized the Soviet Union’s technological prowess. Its mission was straightforward yet daunting: to ensure mutually assured destruction (MAD) by being an indestructible second-strike platform.
A Twin-Hulled Titan
The Arkhangelsk was built with a revolutionary twin-hull design, a feature that set it apart from other submarines of its era. This design not only made the submarine exceptionally durable but also provided extra buoyancy, ensuring it could surface even if one hull was severely damaged. Inside this giant were two parallel pressure hulls encased in a streamlined outer structure, a true marvel of engineering.
The interior offered something rare in submarines: relative comfort. Accommodating over 160 crew members, it provided more space and livable conditions than typical submarines, essential for months-long deployments under icy waters.
An Arsenal of Armageddon
At the heart of the TK-17 Arkhangelsk’s power was its ability to carry 20 R-39 Rif (SS-N-20 Sturgeon) intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). Each missile could deliver up to 10 nuclear warheads, providing a single submarine with the capability to devastate multiple targets thousands of kilometers away.

- Range of the missiles: 8,300 kilometers (over 5,150 miles).
- Payload: Up to 100 nuclear warheads.
The missiles were housed in silos located between the two main pressure hulls, a strategic placement that ensured stability and balance. These weapons could be launched while the submarine was submerged, making it a true stealth weapon capable of striking without warning.
A Silent Powerhouse
Powered by two nuclear reactors, the Arkhangelsk could remain submerged for extended periods, limited only by the endurance of its crew.
- Maximum submerged speed: 27 knots (50 km/h or 31 mph).
- Depth capability: Over 400 meters (1,312 feet).
This stealthy giant could travel vast distances without surfacing, patrolling Arctic waters undetected. Its nuclear propulsion system made it not just powerful but nearly invulnerable, as it could operate under the polar ice caps where few other vessels dared venture.

The Cold War Guardian
The TK-17 Arkhangelsk and its sister submarines were born out of a need to match the United States’ Ohio-class submarines. During the 1980s, the Soviet Union sought to maintain parity in the nuclear arms race, and the Typhoon-class submarines became a critical element of their strategy.
As the Cold War ended and the Soviet Union collapsed, the immense cost of maintaining these behemoths began to weigh on the Russian Navy. By the 21st century, only a few Typhoon-class submarines, including the TK-17 Arkhangelsk, remained operational.
A Sleeping Giant
Today, the Arkhangelsk rests as a testament to an era of monumental ambition and rivalry. Though it has been retired from active service, its legacy remains a reminder of the delicate balance of power that once defined global politics.
- Most Typhoon-class submarines have been decommissioned due to the high costs of maintenance and the introduction of smaller, more efficient Borei-class submarines.
While the Cold War may have ended, the story of the Arkhangelsk endures—a story of engineering brilliance, raw power, and a world teetering on the edge of nuclear conflict.
Why the TK-17 Arkhangelsk Still Fascinates

The legacy of the TK-17 Arkhangelsk and the Typhoon-class submarines is more than just their immense size and firepower. It’s a story of human ingenuity pushed to its limits by geopolitical necessity. These submarines represent the delicate balance of peace achieved through deterrence. They remind us of a time when humanity stood on the brink, relying on machines like the Arkhangelsk to ensure that brink was never crossed.
In the silent, dark depths of the ocean, the Arkhangelsk once held the weight of the world’s fate. Today, it holds the weight of history.