Following an article of February 28, 2019 Anonymous provided the comments below:
Currently, Japan [J] has three kinds of submarine, Oyashios (non-AIP, with Lead-acid Batteries (LABs)), Soryu MkI (Stirling AIP, with LABs) and is building Soryu MkII (non-AIP, with Lithium-ion Batteries (LIBs)) (see Table below). The operational period of J-submarines are as long as 70 days, mainly limited by amount of food [1].
A Soryu MkI's AIP use will end once the LOx is used up. But in a Soryu MkII (with LIBs) there is no such limitation and the underwater mission is carried out after recharge of LIBs in quiet sea area [2]. The operation of an AIP Soryu MkI suffers due to huge 100 (?) ton LOx tank it has to carry for AIP. In contrast the lack of a LOx tank on a LIBs Soryu MkII provides more space for crew accommodation making MkII's more suitable for the mixed male/female crewing that Japan is introducing.
[Comments on SAAB-Damen and ASC-Collins will be published separately on March 15, 2019.]
[Comments on SAAB-Damen and ASC-Collins will be published separately on March 15, 2019.]
[1] The range of J-submarines (maybe 6,000nm) is considerably shorter than the Australian Collins-class (around 10,000nm with longer transit legs within same operational period of 70 days). Presumably, J-subamarines sit, monitoring, on the seafloor for long periods. Hence less mobile J-subs do not need extra fuel.
[2] Information from retired submarine Admiral, Masao Kobayashi.
TABLE. Japanese Soryu and Oyashio Programs as at March 14, 2019
SS No. Diesel Type Motor | Build No Name | Pennant No. | MoF approved amount ¥ Billions FY | LABs, LIBs, AIP | Laid Down | Laun -ched | Commi ssioned | Built By |
5SS Oyashio | 8105 Oyashio | SS-590/ TS3608 | ¥52.2B FY1993 | LABs only | Jan 1994 | Oct 1996 | Mar 1998 | KHI |
6SS-15SS Oyashios 10 subs SMC-7? | 8106 -8115 various | SS-591-600 | ¥52.2B per sub FY1994-FY2003 | LABs only | 15SS Feb 2004 | 15SS Nov 2006 | 15SS Mar 2008 | MHI & KHI |
16SS Soryu Mk I SMC-8 | 8116 Sōryū | SS-501 | ¥60B FY2004 | LABs + AIP | Mar 2005 | Dec 2007 | Mar 2009 | MHI |
17SS | 8117 Unryū | SS-502 | ¥58.7B FY2005 | LABs + AIP | Mar 2006 | Oct 2008 | Mar 2010 | KHI |
18SS | 8118 Hakuryū | SS-503 | ¥56.2 FY2006 | LABs + AIP | Feb 2007 | Oct 2009 | Mar 2011 | MHI |
19SS | 8119 Kenryū | SS-504 | ¥53B FY2007 | LABs + AIP | Mar 2008 | Nov 2010 | Mar 2012 | KHI |
20SS | 8120 Zuiryū | SS-505 | ¥51B FY2008 | LABs + AIP | Mar 2009 | Oct 2011 | Mar 2013 | MHI |
No 21SS | No 21SS built | |||||||
22SS | 8121 Kokuryū | SS-506 | ¥52.8B FY2010 | LABs + AIP | Jan 2011 | Oct 2013 | Mar 2015 | KHI |
23SS | 8122 Jinryu | SS-507 | ¥54.6B FY2011 | LABs + AIP | Feb 2012 | Oct 2014 | 7 Mar 2016 | MHI |
24SS | 8123 Sekiryū | SS-508 | ¥54.7B FY2012 | LABs + AIP | KHI | |||
25SS | 8124 | SS-509 | ¥53.1B FY2013 | LABs + AIP | 22 Oct 2013 | 12 Oct 2016 | MHI | |
26SS end of SMC-8s | 8125 | SS-510 | LABs + AIP | 2014 | 6 Nov 2017 | 18 Mar 2019? | KHI | |
27SS First Soryu Mk II diesel first SMC-8B motor | 8126 | SS-511 | LIBs only (NCA type) | 2015 | 4 Oct 2018 | Mar 2020? | MHI | |
28SS Second Soryu Mk II SMC-8B | 8127 | SS-512 | ¥63.6B FY2016 | LIBs only (NCA type?) | 2016? | Oct 2019? | Mar 2021? | KHI |
29SS First Soryu Mk III SMC-9? | 8128 | ? | ¥76B FY2017 | LIBs only? | ? | ? | 2023? | MHI? |
30SS Second Soryu Mk III | 8029? | ? | ¥71.5B FY2018 | LIBs only? | ? | ? | 2024? | KHI? |
Table from information exclusively provided to Submarine Matters. LABs = lead-acid batteries, AIP = air independent propulsion, LIBs = Lithium-ion Batteries. ¥***B = Billion Yen. MHI = Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, KHI = Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation of Kawasaki Heavy Industries.
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Thankyou Anonymous (further translation by Pete).