Key Points and Summary: The Soviet Union’s Foxtrot-class submarines were diesel-electric relics of the Cold War, but in October 1962, one nearly changed history forever.
-As tensions flared during the Cuban Missile Crisis, U.S. Navy forces dropped practice depth charges to force Soviet sub B-59 to surface—unaware it carried a nuclear torpedo.
Foxtrot-class submarine. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
-With the exhausted crew fearing an attack, only the intervention of Captain Vasili Arkhipov prevented a nuclear launch that could have sparked World War III.
-Though outdated and noisy, the Foxtrot-class played a pivotal role in Cold War brinkmanship, proving that sometimes, a single decision can alter the course of history.
Foxtrot-Class Submarines: How They Nearly Started WWIII
The Foxtrot-class of submarines were a diesel-electric attack submarine developed by the Soviet Union in the late 1950s — and the Foxtrot-class played a crucial role in Cold War Soviet naval strategy.
Design and Performance Characteristics
One of the more unique features of the Foxtrot-class was its three-screw propulsion system. Unlike most submarines of the time, which relied on two screws for forward motion, the Foxtrot’s triple-screw design provided some redundancy but crucially made it noisier than its Western counterparts.
Their noise was a significant drawback, as it made the submarine easier to detect, particularly when operating in contested waters.
The Foxtrot-class also used a pre-teardrop hull shape, a design characteristic inherited from earlier World War II-era submarines. While modern teardrop hulls, those shaped like today’s submarines, provide better submerged characteristics, the Foxtrot’s shape allowed it to perform better on the surface.
This design came at the cost of increased underwater drag, and making the submarine much less efficient compared to newer Western designs.
Cuban Missile Crisis and Nuclear Armageddon
Perhaps the most famous moment in the history of the Foxtrot-class occurred during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962. At the height of Cold War tensions, the Soviet Union deployed four Foxtrot-class submarines to support and protect Soviet ships heading to Cuba.
These submarines carried nuclear-tipped torpedoes, making them a serious threat to U.S. Navy forces enforcing the Cuban blockade.
One of these submarines, B-59, became involved in a confrontation with the United States. On October 27, 1962, U.S. forces detected B-59 near Cuba and began dropping practice depth charges to force the submarine they had detected to the surface.
Unaware that the charges were meant as surface signals rather than full-strength charges, the exhausted Soviet crew — who had been submerged for days with a decreasing supply of air — mulled launching their nuclear torpedo.
The situation was defused because Captain Vasili Arkhipov, the submarine’s second-in-command, refused to authorize the launch.
Foxtrot-Class and the Path to World War III
The United States Naval Institute gives an account of a moment when the Soviet and American navies saw each other face-to-face, and humanity came very close to nuclear war.
“When B-59 surfaced, blue-white lights from the Cony made it impossible to see. The Murray blared wild jazz music in the blackness. The music yielded to the roar of S2F (S-2) Trackers jettisoning brilliant white phosphorous to activate photoelectric camera lenses, as 50-million-candlepower incendiary devices exploded above their heads.”
“Captain Savitsky sent a message: “This ship belongs to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Halt your provocative actions.” He received an apology. It was over.”
Nuclear Test During the Cold War. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
“Ironically, at the same moment, the White House and the Kremlin acknowledged the civilization-ending consequences of a nuclear cataclysm and agreed that nuclear war was not a viable option, given the devastating consequences for humanity.”
“Had Captain Second Rank Vasili Arkhipov not intervened, a nuclear blast could have erupted in the Sargasso Sea, vaporizing the Randolph’s Task Group Alpha. President Kennedy had announced only five days earlier, “It shall be the policy of this nation to regard any nuclear missile launched from Cuba against any nation in the Western Hemisphere as an attack by the Soviet Union on the United States, requiring a full retaliatory response upon the Soviet Union.”
Legacy and Later Service
The Foxtrot-class remained in service for several decades, with later modifications improving some of the shortcomings inherent in the design.
It was eventually replaced by more advanced Soviet submarines, such as the Tango-class and the Kilo-class, which incorporated quieter engines and more modern hull shapes.
Still, it carved out an interesting niche in the history of the Cold War — and there’s even one for sale.
About the Author: Caleb Larson
Caleb Larson is an American multiformat journalist based in Berlin, Germany. His work covers the intersection of conflict and society, focusing on American foreign policy and European security. He has reported from Germany, Russia, and the United States. Most recently, he covered the war in Ukraine, reporting extensively on the war’s shifting battle lines from Donbas and writing on the war’s civilian and humanitarian toll. Previously, he worked as a Defense Reporter for POLITICO Europe. You can follow his latest work on X.
