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Flagman Models takes you back to the of the Cold War with their upcoming release of the 1/350 Soviet K-3 November Class Submarine. This nuclear powered undersea beast is molded in black anb comes with water slide decals and display stand. This kit is due to release in June 2008. No retail price is available.

Ship History
The Project 627, NATO - November) class submarine was the Soviet Union's first class of nuclear-powered submarines. More than 135 Soviet organizations (20 design bureaus, 35 research institutes, 80 works) participated in the design and construction of this completely new type of submarine in 1952-1958. The chief designer was V.N. Peregudov and the research supervisor was academician Anatoly Alexandrov. The class was originally tasked with entering American naval bases and using the thermonuclear gas-steam powered T-15 torpedo to destroy them once in range (The T-15 torpedo had the following specifications: caliber 1,550 mm, length 23.5 m, range 40-50 km). However, after expert opinions of Soviet naval specialists were considered, the role of the class changed to torpedo attacks on enemy warships and transport ships during actions along the ocean and distant sea routes. Reflecting this change of mission, the final design of Project 627 was developed with eight 533 mm torpedo tubes instead of the initial plan for one 1,550 mm and two 533 mm torpedo tubes. Project 627/627A submarines could launch torpedoes from 100 m depth.

The November class served in the Soviet Navy with the Northern Fleet (in 3rd division of submarines, later in 17th division of submarines). Four of the class (K-14, K-42, K-115, K-133) were transferred to the Pacific Ocean Fleet (Russia) in the 1960s: K-14, K-42 and K-115 performed Arctic under-ice voyages whereas K-133 transferred to Far East on south route via Drake Strait for the first time in the world (passing 21,000 miles during 52 days of submerged running). The surviving vessels were decommissioned between 1986 and 1990. Several of them have been scrapped already. All of the survivors remain laid-up hulks in Russian naval bases (K-14, K-42, K-115 and K-133 of the Pacific Ocean Fleet; K-11 and K-21 of the Northern Fleet). There are plans to convert the first submarine of the class (K-3) into a museum ship in Saint Petersburg, but the hulk of submarine remains in Polyarny due to economic reasons the "radiophobia" of some ecological organizations.