Midget Submarine "Piranha" By the early 1970s, #NATO naval forces were increasingly appearing near the Soviet Union's borders. In response to this threat, a decision was made to design a fundamentally new submarine capable of stealth operations. The task was assigned to the Leningrad-based Malakhit Specialized Naval Engineering Bureau. This resulted in Project 865 "Piranha." Design Features Creating a midget submarine required a special approach. The hull is made of non-magnetic titanium alloy, while the skin is made of composite materials with a sound-absorbing coating. Length: 28.2 meters, width: 4.7 meters, height: 5.1 meters. Surface displacement: 218 tons, submerged: 319 tons. Operating depths ranged from 10 to 200 meters. Endurance was up to 10 days. The crew was minimal: a commander/navigator, an assistant engineer, and a second assistant responsible for all electronics. All control was conducted from a single central control station. Reconnaissance, Sabotage, and Covert Operations The Piranha was armed with two 400mm torpedoes or four mines. The submarine carried up to six divers for reconnaissance and sabotage missions. Externally, containers were stored with their equipment and underwater transporters (Sirena-UME, Proton). A dry airlock chamber allowed for sea travel to depths of up to 60 meters. The submarine provided the divers with electricity and breathing gas via hoses. The Legacy of the Piranha Only two of these ships were built. The first was launched on August 20, 1986, and commissioned into the Navy in 1988. In 1994, amid the financial crisis, their mothballing began. By 2001, both boats had been decommissioned. The Piranha didn't live long, but it became an example of how high technology and specialized expertise can shape an entirely new class of submarine force. I hope these advances will continue to be seen in the future.