The 50s
The conventionally powered submarine U-461 of the former Baltic red banner fleet belongs to the project 651 class, NATO reporting name JULIETT. By the end of the fifties this class of submarines was developed to counter enemy surface targets, especially US aircraft carrier-fight croups. Of the initially planned 72 units only 16 were actually built. The rest was canceled due to the forced production of nuclear-powered submarines.

The 60s
U-461 was built in the early 60s and was commissioned in 1965 in the Soviet Navy. Exercise- and patrol journeys with sharp weapons followed in the North Atlantic. Units of the 35. U-boat division undertook many long time enterprises far away from the home bases, exceeding the projected autonomie of 90 sea days by far. The submarines of the JULIETT-Class carried four nuclear-capable anti-ship criuse missiles in four containers. They only could be launched while the submarine was surfaced, a very risky undertaking.

The 70s
While patroling they used the snorkel to stay submerged. The boat was usually driven at approx. 8m depth, running its diesel engines under the surface by drawing air trough a tube (the snorkel) from the surface.
After a long sea deployment in the Northern Baltic Sea, the officers and sailors of the nuclear-powered submarines always smiled about the crews of the JULIETTs: from the tower hatches rose men, smelling of oil, diesel and sweat, carrying their dirty board packages. No comparison to the nearly "shirt-sleeve-atmosphere" of the Soviert nuclear submarines.

The 80s
At the beginning of the 80s the remaining units of the JULIETT class were temporary put out of service, only to be reactivated in 1985. NATO-Intelligence states that of the 6 serving units in the Red Banner Fleet only 4 were actualy in active service, while the other 2 were held in reserve status. The boats were exanged after a certain time. From 1988 on the units of the JULIETT class generally stayed in reserve status.

The 90s
Almost at the same time after the successful independence attemps of the Baltic States from the USSR, the prevailing part of the boats of the Baltic Sea Fleet were decommissioned. In 1994 two demilitarised JULIETT boats have been sold or leased to museums in Germany and the U.S. In December 1998 U-461 came about detours under the direction of Mr. Thomas Lamla with the aid of two Tugboats to Peenemünde on Usedom in Mecklenburg Western Pomerania. Moored at the pier of the former naval base of the 1st Flotilla, U-461 JULIETT is a magnet for visitors and naval enthusiasts from far and wide.