On September 9, 1952 a memorandum was signed marking the beginning of work on creation of the first Soviet domestic submarine with the main atomic power plant. The Malakhit Design Bureau was restructured for the venture. VN Peregudov, one of the leading specialists in underwater shipbuilding was appointed head of works. The task of building the nuclear reactor was given to an academician GA Gasanov. Soviet Union drew in the best designers and researchers the country for the fundamentally new design of the submarine.

The development and funding of the project, which was assigned the number 627, was entrusted the Ministry of medium machine building. Meanwhile, the Navy General Staff has begun the selection and training of the crew for a new boat. The captain appointed was Leonid Ossipenko, and the senior assistant assigned was Lev Zviltsov, who was tasked to assemble the first crew.

This was a new ship not only because of the atomic reactor, even the external design of the submarine was for that time unique and they were created for guaranteeing the best motion under water. Surface displacement was 4200 tons, underwater – 5000 tons and outer dimension. Two nuclear reactors drove two steam turbines of 30,000 hp. The maximum speed of the boats of this project reached 30 knots (the first US nuclear-powered submarine “Nautilus”, built in 1955, had a speed of 20 knots). The submarine could operate at the depths of 350 meters. The crew consisted of 86 sailors.

Originally planned to equip the giant submarines two compartment with torpedoes (28 m length and diameter of 1.5 meters) which had hydrogen warhead and another two torpedoes with nuclear warhead. However, the draft was amended and the submarine was equipped with 8 torpedo tubes and 20 torpedoes of normal size, with nuclear as well as with conventional warheads. The boat also had 3 radars and 2 sonars.

On November 17, 1954 in Leningrad the model was approved by representatives from the Navy and industry. The submarine was built at Shipbuilding Plant in Severodvinsk. In August 1957, amid strict secrecy, the first USSR nuclear submarine hit the water. The submarine was built in less than 5 years.

On July 1, 1958, in the presence of commander-in-chief of the Navy, Admiral SG Gorshkov, the USSR Naval flag was raised on the submarine, after which it left to the White Sea. July 4, the first time in the domestic fleet, the submarine with nuclear power plants plunged under water and passed the first mile. The running tests were officially over. In December 1958, the submarine dived to a depth of 300 meters and independently sailed for two days at high speed. In June 1959, for participating in the construction and testing of the first nuclear submarine the crew was awarded medals.

On July 17, 1962, project 627 now called “K-3” reached north pole fully submerged and and surfaced in the immediate vicinity. The boat was given the name “Leninskiy Komsomol.” In 1991, the submarine was withdrawn from operational fleet.