The Shchuka class submarines (Russian: Щука, meaning “Pike”) formed the backbone of the Soviet Navy’s submarine force during the Second World War. Designed in the early 1930s, these medium-sized diesel-electric boats were intended for patrol, reconnaissance, and anti-shipping operations in the Baltic, Black Sea, Arctic, and Pacific theaters. Known in NATO reporting as the “Pike class,” the Shchuka boats emphasized simplicity, endurance, and rugged construction over technical sophistication.
More than eighty Shchuka class submarines were built in multiple production series, reflecting continuous wartime refinement. They carried out hundreds of combat patrols, engaging Axis shipping under often brutal conditions, particularly in the confined and heavily defended waters of the Baltic Sea. Losses were heavy, but the class proved reliable and effective given the technological limitations and industrial realities facing the Soviet Union during the war.
This 1/350 scale model represents a Shchuka class submarine in its World War II configuration. Finished in acrylics with restrained oil weathering, the model reflects the utilitarian appearance typical of Soviet submarines of the era. It is displayed on a hand-cut hardwood base consistent across the submarine series and includes the national flag of origin, a 1/350 scale human figure for size comparison, and a QR code linking to additional historical information.
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