What is the setting of The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy?

The novel spans the globe in providing a setting for the conflict. On the ground, scenes take place in England, the surrounding areas of Washington, DC in the United States, and various locations in the Soviet Union including Moscow, a port in Siberia, and Lithuania. Specifically, there is a lot of action occurring in the major government offices of both the US and the USSR. Scenes among government officials take place in the White House, the Senate, the CIA, the Pentagon, the Naval Hospital, as well as both the public and private offices of the Kremlin, including some secret meeting rooms.

Otherwise, the majority of the action takes place at sea. The Red October crosses the Northern Atlantic from its ports in Siberia, in the Western half of the USSR. It makes its way down the Eastern coast of the United States. The ongoing rescue mission brings a wide range of naval vessels into the area, including both submarines and surface ships. Each of these naval vessels becomes a setting for itself. In particular, the Red October, the Dallas, and the HMS Invincible are described as worlds within themselves.