Type M/Series XV

Type M-submarines, including the “Makyukti” version, of the Soviet Navy were designed for operations in coastal and confined waters.

Construction of these submarines started as early as 1932. The first batch of Type M-submarines had a displacement of just 161 to and 2 bow torpedo tubes. Although still having some imperfections, which were dealt with successfully by the design of the follow-on submarines of Type M Serial XI with a displacement of 300 t and Type M Serial XII with a displacement of 206.5 t, these submarines were of great use for the Pacific Fleet of the Soviet Navy.

A high number of units could be built within a relatively short period of time and they could be transported by rail. Therefore, the construction of 40 submarines for employment in the Pacific Ocean were top priority, 78 units of Serial XI and XII followed. Up to 19 Type M submarines were allocated to the Black Sea. Some 35 Type M-submarines were lost during World War II.

A total of 296 submarines were built by the USSR between 1927 and the 22nd of June 1941, when the Soviet Union was attacked by Germany, the highest number among those represented by the Type M submarines. Construction of Type M submarines continued after 1945 as Project 96, of those the post war Serial XV comprised some 57 submarines.