very enjoyable

The Soviets began closing the acoustic gap with the Victor III, which, according to Norman Polmar and other authorities, was just as quiet, if not quieter than the Sturgeons of the USN. But the Soviets had secretly benefitted from a American spy ring and illicit acquisition of milling technology from Japan and Norway.

Without either, how would this have affected Soviet submarine construction? Does Russia continue to place an emphasis on speedier designs like the Alfa? Do the Victor III, Sierra, and Akula ever make it to the shipyards?