List of NATO reporting names for submarines


NATO has a system of reporting names for non-Western submarines. During the Cold War, NATO introduced a system of internal code names for classes of Soviet and Chinese submarines. This served to provide standard names for vessels whose official Soviet or Chinese designations were not known. The system was influenced by a pre-existing, separate system for reporting non-Western aircraft.
Until the 1980s, reporting names for submarines were taken from the NATO spelling alphabet. Modifications of existing designs were given additional descriptive terms, such as "Whiskey Long Bin". From the 1980s onwards, new designs were given names which derived from Russian words, but were not the Soviet class names, such as attack submarine "Akula".
The names for Chinese submarines are taken from Chinese dynasties.

List of reporting names for Soviet/Russian vessels

The code names listed are followed by official Soviet Navy/Russian Navy designations.

Hunter/killer submarines">Attack submarine">Hunter/killer submarines

Ballistic missile submarines">Ballistic missile submarine">Ballistic missile submarines

Guided-missile submarines">Cruise missile submarine">Guided-missile submarines

Experimental, trial, and special-purpose submarines

List of People's Republic of China submarines

The NATO names for Chinese submarines are taken from Chinese dynasties.