February 22, 1932, the Council of Labor and Defense (STO) of the USSR issued a decree on the construction of 30 small submarines, with the first six due for delivery by July 1, and the rest by December 1, 1932. The boats were intended for the hastily formed Naval Forces Far East, and had to be transported, practically assembled, by rail without disturbing oncoming traffic, fitting into the existing dimensions. On March 10, 1932, the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR, based on a report by the head of the Directorate of Naval Forces (UVMS) of the Red Army V.M. Orlov, approved the project of the Malyutka submarine (VI series), developed under the leadership of engineer A.N. Asafov, with a displacement of 154 tons, with a speed of 13 knots on the surface and 7 knots underwater, armed with two 533 mm torpedo tubes without spare torpedoes and a 37 mm anti-aircraft gun.