Orioł (K-266) is a Russian Oscar II-class submarine. Units of this class are nuclear-powered ships - carriers of cruise missiles (SSGN), which were built in 1986-1996 at the shipyard in the city of Severodvinsk. It is estimated that twelve units of this class were built. The length of the Oscar II-class ship is 155 m, width 18.2 m, and the underwater displacement was up to 16,400 tons. The maximum underwater speed is around 25-27 knots. At the time of launching, the main armament of this class of units were 24 SS-N-19 rocket launchers (P-700 Granit) and 6 650 mm and 533 mm torpedo tubes.
The Oscar II class ships (project 949A), while still Soviet, were intended primarily for the destruction of US Navy aircraft carrier teams. They were also constructed to complement the Oscar-class ships (Project 949) and to replace Charlie-class ships. Compared to units of the second class, they differ in terms of their main weapons and are also much larger - especially when it comes to the width of the unit. It is assumed that the Oscar and Oscar II type units are the largest submarines in the world, apart from some SSBN units. The Oscar II class also includes the K-266, the keel of which was laid in 1989 and launched three years later. In December 1992, the unit entered service in the Northern Fleet, in which it is still active. During the renovation in 2015, a fire broke out on the ship, which, however, was brought under control. Two years later (2017), the unit was upgraded to the 949AM standard, and the changes mainly involved the replacement of 24 P-700 missiles, and 72 P-800 Oniks (SS-N-26) missiles. The hydroacoustic equipment of the ship was probably also modernized.
