“The Soviets retired six Alfas by 1990 and the seventh in 1996. The successor Victor III and Akula boats were, like their NATO rivals, balanced—and thus far more fearsome in combat”
I’ve read a couple articles that claimed late model Akula’s were on par with early model 688’s. I don’t know how true that is, but it does seem that the design was one of the best the Soviet navy had.
I often wonder about the noise issues the Soviets might have had with their “boomers.” From what I understand about ballistic missile subs (which I admit is frightfully little), they spend most of their time figuring out the best way to remain unseen, unheard, and avoiding contact.
Now we just track them by the trail of radiation leakage they leave behind. :-)
Most missile subs do just that. In the early days, the range of their missiles was much less; the missile boats had to come further out into the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
Now, the range of the missiles is improved, so rather than venture out into open ocean, the subs just hide under the Arctic ice, where sonar conditions are lousy for everyone.