Soviet submarine K-43

	INS Chakra on its way to India in the 1980s
History
Soviet Union
Name	K-43
Builder	Gorky
Laid down	9 May 1964
Launched	2 August 1966
Commissioned	5 November 1967
Recommissioned	February 1991
Decommissioned	30 July 1992
In service	1967–1988; 1991–1992
Fate	Sold for scrap
India
Name	Chakra
Namesake	Sudarshan Chakra
Commissioned	1 September 1987
Decommissioned	January 1991
In service	1987–1990
Homeport	Vishakhapatnam
Fate	Returned to Soviet Union after 3 years
General characteristics
Class and type	Charlie-class cruise missile submarine
Displacement	Surfaced: 4000 tons; Submerged: 5000 tons;
Length	95 m (312 ft)
Beam	10 m (33 ft)
Draught	8 m (26 ft)
Propulsion	One pressurized water-cooled reactor powering two steam turbines delivering 11,185 kW (14,999 shp) to one shaft.
Speed	Surfaced: 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph); Submerged: 24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph);
Range	Unlimited except by food supplies
Complement	about 100
Armament	8 x SS-N-7 Starbright anti-ship cruise missiles; 6 x 21 in (530 mm) torpedo tubes (12 torpedoes or 12 SS-N-15 Starfish anti-submarine missiles);

K-43 was a Charlie-class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine operated by the Soviet and Indian navies. It was built between 1964 and 1967 and was commissioned into the Soviet navy on 5 November 1967.^[1] It later served as INS Chakra in the Indian Navy from 1988 to 1991.

It was leased to India on 1 September 1987 and reached its base in Visakhapatnam on 3 February 1988 after a long journey. The Soviets said that the submarine was transferred for helping train the Indian Navy in operating nuclear submarines. During its service with India, it was partially manned by a Soviet crew,^[2] who reportedly did not allow Indians into the missile room and into the reactor compartment and this is believed to be a reason for the termination of the contract after 3 years.^[3] The lease of Chakra reportedly helped India gain first-hand experience in handling a nuclear submarine that helped them build the Arihant class of nuclear submarines.^[4]

^ Podvodnye Lodki, Yu.V. Apalkov, Sankt Peterburg, 2002, ISBN 5-8172-0069-4
^ Indian Defence Year Book. Natraj Publishers. 2006. ISBN 9788186857106.
^ David Miller (2002). The Illustrated Directory of Submarines of the World. Zenith Imprint. p. 393. ISBN 9780760313459.
^ Pradeep Barua (2005). The State at War in South Asia. U of Nebraska Press. ISBN 0803213441.

[Podvodnye_Lodki_2002-1] Podvodnye Lodki, Yu.V. Apalkov, Sankt Peterburg, 2002, ISBN 5-8172-0069-4

[Indian_Defence_Year_Book-2] Indian Defence Year Book. Natraj Publishers. 2006. ISBN 9788186857106.

[David_Miller_2002_393-3] David Miller (2002). The Illustrated Directory of Submarines of the World. Zenith Imprint. p. 393. ISBN 9780760313459.

[Pradeep_Barua_2005-4] Pradeep Barua (2005). The State at War in South Asia. U of Nebraska Press. ISBN 0803213441.

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History
INS Chakra on its way to India in the 1980s
Soviet Union
Name	K-43
Builder	Gorky
Laid down	9 May 1964
Launched	2 August 1966
Commissioned	5 November 1967
Recommissioned	February 1991
Decommissioned	30 July 1992
In service	1967–1988; 1991–1992
Fate	Sold for scrap
India
Name	Chakra
Namesake	Sudarshan Chakra
Commissioned	1 September 1987
Decommissioned	January 1991
In service	1987–1990
Homeport	Vishakhapatnam
Fate	Returned to Soviet Union after 3 years
General characteristics
Class and type	Charlie-class cruise missile submarine
Displacement	Surfaced: 4000 tons Submerged: 5000 tons
Length	95 m (312 ft)
Beam	10 m (33 ft)
Draught	8 m (26 ft)
Propulsion	One pressurized water-cooled reactor powering two steam turbines delivering 11,185 kW (14,999 shp) to one shaft.
Speed	Surfaced: 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) Submerged: 24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph)
Range	Unlimited except by food supplies
Complement	about 100
Armament	8 x SS-N-7 Starbright anti-ship cruise missiles 6 x 21 in (530 mm) torpedo tubes (12 torpedoes or 12 SS-N-15 Starfish anti-submarine missiles)