Following “Soryu and New Japanese Submarine Class Table” of September 30, 2020 Anonymous, on October 4, 2020, advised [with some word changes by Pete for improved English]:
The price of new SLH LIBs for Soryu Mk II (27SS Oryu, 28SS Toryu) and the New “3,000ton” Class submarine (8.6 B yen for 29SS, 8.4 B yen for 30SS) are nearly same suggesting the following.
First, the unit price of a LIB module is 8.75 million yen (hence 8.4 Billion yen for 960 modules) nearly three times as expensive as a corresponding 3 million yen LAB module. The LIB modules are significantly cheaper than previously expected [1].
Second, a New Class (3,000t) submarine will be equipped with the same amount of LIBs as a Soryu Mk II [2, 3, 4].
[1] Cost of underwater electricity supply system (LIBs) of a Soryu Mk II and a New “3,000t” Class submarine is nearly twice as expensive as [the 5 Billion Yen price?] of a Soryu Mk I's (LABs and AIP). In a Soryu Mk I the price of 480 LABs [totals around 1.5 Billion Yen?] and the prices of 4 Stirling AIP engines and the LOx tank is also added.
[2] Maximum power output for Oryu, a Soryu Mk II is reduced to 4,200kW from 6,000kW for a Soryu Mk I suggesting maximum speed of 18knots for Oryu down from 20knots for a Soryu Mk I [8knot/20knot)^3*6000kW=4200kW].
I doubt a Soryu Mk I can efficiently achieve a maximum speed of 20knots as this may cause problems such as permanent damage to the propulsion system. Therefore, a reduction of maximum speed to 18knots in a Soryu Mk II, is a more realistic speed to avoid permanent damage to the propulsion system.
[3] Judging from the direction of Japanese Ministry of Defense (MoD) R&D for submarine, the undetected performances (including quietness and maximum silent speed) have improved for Soryu Mk IIs and the New “3,000t” Class submarines.
---
[4] In the Soryu Mk II, based on the previous AIP sectional loading structure, additional LIBs are loaded in a double deck manner (in section 10 above diagram) in place of the large LOx tank that would have been in the Soryu Mk I. This LIB arrangement also provides an improved center of gravity. In contrast, the New “3,000t” Class submarine may have an optimal arrangement of LIBs all on the bottom with a newly developed non-AIP sectional structure.
By Anonymous