“K-266 Orel” is a Russian nuclear-powered cruise-missile submarine. The Orel submarine was laid down on January 19, 1989 at the Sevmash Shipyard in Severodvinsk, Arkhangelsk Oblast, under factory number 650. The submarine is part of Project 949A “Antey”. This series included Soviet and Russian third-generation nuclear-powered submarines armed with 3M45 (P-700) cruise missiles. The vessel is an improved modification of Project 949 “Granit”. On January 15, 1990, the submarine cruise-missile Orel was included in the list of ships of the Soviet Navy. She was launched in 1992.

According to tradition, the crew of the submarine includes natives of the Oryol region. The coat of arms of this region is depicted on the ship’s pennant. The Orel has a double hull structure. The crew, reactor, turbines, and other important systems and mechanisms are housed in a sturdy housing that can withstand high water pressure. There is a “light” outer hull that gives the submarine its streamlined shape.

A special technology was used when laying down the submarine. Both propeller shafts were not made solid, as on other submarines, but hollow, and quartz sand was poured inside them. The ship’s designers calculated that such shafts should not have been inferior in strength to cast ones, but at the same time they should make less noise, as well as be lighter, and cheaper and easier to manufacture. Lightweight screws were required for such hollow shafts, yet, their development was not completed before the collapse of the USSR. As a result, in 1992, the submarine was launched with new shafts and old screws. After the transfer to the Navy, the shafts in the attachment points were deformed and began to rub against the walls with a characteristic sound. This made the submarine easy to detect.

The maximum diving depth of the submarine is 500 meters; surface speed is 15 knots, and underwater speed is up to 33 knots. The Orel can remain in autonomous operation for up to 130 days. The submarine is fitted with 24 P-700 Granit anti-ship missile launchers, two 650-mm torpedo tubes and four 533-mm torpedo tubes.