oh I see, you mean really turboelectric propulsion… I never heard anything about that on Victor or any other submarine. It would make this sub very silent, yet the Akula is even more silent. Well it is said that the Victor is more quiet than an Akula when that Akula is badly maintained. Akula has more extensive silencing measures, but these on their behalf need a lot more maintenance and considering the Russian thinking about maintenance 😮
I see what you mean with those transversal tubes. I don’t think any sub has that. It’s used a lot on surface vessels. Merchant vessels use it mostly, sometimes LPDs and other large ships use it too. It’s a huge electricity-eater, if you don’t warn the engine-room before using these, you risk to lose your entire electricity supply. The engine room just has to put every single Auxiliary on for using these bow and stern thrusters. They’re also only effective at speeds of about 2-4kts (the latter number really being the maximum). Otherwise the flow of water along the tubes is too strong.
I don’t see what this could help for Victor or any other sub. Indeed at the really slow and silent speeds, these tubes could be used. But I don’t see the use of it. It moves your ships laterally, 90° on your heading. To avoid a torpedohit, it makes your ship move too slow (they’r used for mooring these large vessels). For any other manoeuver, I don’t see which one it would be useful, certainly considering the extra-cost, extra burden on your electricity supply and extra-noise generated by these large holes (diameter about 1.5-2m)