OVERVIEW: The HOTEL III is a nuclear powered ballistic missile submarine.

DETAILS:   The single HOTEL III submarine is a conversion from the HOTEL II class, and was designed as a test vessel for the SA-N-8 missile.  For this purpose, the submarine was enlarged by 15 meters to accommodate the larger missile. 

NOTES: 
      Displacement: 6,400 tons submerged.
       Speed: approximately 22 knots submerged
       Reactors: 1 pressurized water 
       Complement: 80 (approx.)
       Hulls built:  1
       Period of Service:	  1965, 1970- 1989(conversion to Hotel III)


SOURCES: Norman Polmar, "Guide to the Soviet Navy, 3rd ed. (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1983), 90 ; Norman Polmar, "Submarines of the Russian and Soviet Navies, 1718-1990. (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1991), 300 ; Federation of American Scientists. "658 HOTEL I / II / III- Russian and Soviet Nuclear Forces." Accessed November 30, 2013. http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/russia/slbm/658.htm ; Wikipedia. "Hotel-class submarine." Accessed November 30, 2013. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotel-class_submarine.

