The Soryu first of class (No. 501) - what Australia's future submarine may well look like.
(Photo courtesy seaforces)
This is a work in progress mainly derived from comments by "S" over the last few months. S's information, from what I call the Japanese military-industrial complex, has frequently been unique and inline with other open sources. I will update and fill out details as new information and corrections come in.
There is a firmer Japanese intention to build the future submarines in Australia. See Reuters' excellent article Japan says ready to build all submarines for Canberra in Australia, September 29, 2015.
I'm under the impression that Japan will likely win. The US probably still wants that. A winner needs to be qualified to receive the mainly US developed combat system which Australia has already announced Australia will use as a "key strategic requirement" (see item c). See Lockheed Martin Combat System Laboratory that has just opened at Mawson Lakes un Adelaide. If not Japan then probably Germany.
The internal Japanese name for Australia's submarine class is (as at September 2015) SS29 mod-AUS. See the Soryu Table below. Japan is making a 29SS first for its own Navy. Japan's 29SS will , perhaps be laid down in Kobe, Japan in 2018.
If Australia accepts that 29SS will be a part-prototype for the 8 to 12 SS29 mod-AUS submarines to be built in Australia then the Australian sub is unlikely to use Air Independent Propulsion (AIP). Australia did not use AIP in the Collins and "no-AIP" was one of the enlightened decisions involving the Collins. AIP involves high cost, heavy weight additions, balance-buoyancy problems and most importantly can be particularly dangerous due mainly to poison and/or explosive gases. However Australia is likely to use Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) that are becoming the standard high capacity, quickly charged battery type.
On the issue of less than 30 year operational life the preferred Japanese measure seems to be comparing the Japanese sub with German and French subs according to days actually on operational missions. However, I think non-operational time in salt water (which can rust/corrode hulls) at Fleet Base West should also be taken into account.
The hull structure will be partly double and partly single hull instead of the all single hull on the Collins.
The pressure hull will not use Japan's most secret pressure hull steel alloy known as naval steel NS-110. Instead an alloy that is easier to cut and reweld (for major maintenance in Australia) will be used. I would guess that it may have a US scale HY value of HY-120 or HY-130. Countries involved in formulating a new or existing alloy would include Australia, Japan, maybe the US and possibly also Sweden. Given experience with Collins steel Australia has demonstrated it can make submarine steel. Australia making the steel (probably at Wollongong or Newcastle) might be considered part of the 70%-80% of the “Full Australian” build.
SPECIFICATIONS
Length: | |
Beam: | 9.3 meters [approx - up from current Soryu measure of 9.1 meters] |
Draft: | |
Displacement: | 3,600 tons (surfaced) / 4,500-4,600 tons (submerged) [source for all |
Speed: | 13 knots surfaced / 20+ knots max submerged [current Soryu] 10 knots cruise [approx] |
Range: | 10,000+ nautical miles [approx] at 10 knots [approx?] |
Crew: | 60 [approx?] |
Operational depth: | 900 feet (275 meters) test depth [same as "shallow" official Soryu depth] |
Propulsion: | Diesel-Electric using Lithium-ion Batteries (LIBs) 2 or 3 Kawasaki 12V25/25SB diesel engines [or are MTU 4000 sub versions available?] 6+ MW [approx] permanent magnet motor [APDR Oct 2015 edition, Vol. 41, No.8, page 44] 4,500 hp surfaced [est extrapolation]/ 8,500 hp submerged [est extrapolation] 1 shaft / 1 propeller |
Armament: | 6 x 21-inch (533mm) torpedo tubes for 30 Mk 48 torpedoes or sub-launched Harpoon SSM or Tomahawk land attack or mines or UUVs. No VLS. |
AN/BYG-1 combat system with compatible sonars + other sensors
Maybe detachable Dry Deck Shelter for divers or
diver delivery vehicle or LDUUV
est = estimated, extrapolating from Soryu
approx = approximate, extrapolating from Soryu
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The increase in displacement (surfaced) up from 2,900 tons (for the Soryu) to 3,600 tons for the SS29 mod-AUS, is probably due to the need for extra diesel fuel (for 10,000+ nautical miles range, up from 6,000) and more diesel engine capacity for faster Lithium-ion Battery charging requirements.
SORYU TABLE
(which provides the context from which the Australian submarine will be developed)
One of the strengths of Japan overseeing the build of the Australian submarine is that the Japanese military-industrial complex (Japanese Ministry of Defence, Navy, KHI and MHI) is very stable but also constantly innovates.
Each of the Soryus (in the table below) is built on the lessons of each previous Soryu. The Soryu as a group have been developed on the basis of the preceding Oyashio class (11 subs, 1998 - present) and Harushio class (7 subs, 1990 - 2 may be still training/testbeds).
SS No. | Building No. | Pennant No. | Name/Namesake | LAB or LIB & AIP * | Laid Down | Laun -ched | Commi-ssioned | Built By |
16SS | 8116 | SS-501 | Sōryū (そうりゅう) / Blue Dragon | LAB + AIP | March 2005 | Dec 2007 | March 2009 | MHI |
17SS | 8117 | SS-502 | Unryū (うんりゅう) / Cloud Dragon | LAB + AIP | March 2006 | Oct 2008 | March 2010 | KHI |
18SS | 8118 | SS-503 | Hakuryū (はくりゅう) / White Dragon | LAB + AIP | Feb 2007 | Oct 2009 | March 2011 | MHI |
19SS | 8119 | SS-504 | Kenryū (けんりゅう) / Sword Dragon | LAB + AIP | March 2008 | Nov 2010 | March 2012 | KHI |
20SS | 8120 | SS-505 | Zuiryu (けんりゅう) / Sword Dragon | LAB + AIP | March 2009 | Oct 2011 | March 2013 | MHI |
22SS | 8122 | SS-506 | Kokuryū (こくりゅう) / Black Dragon | LAB + AIP | January 2011 | Oct 2013 | March 2014 | KHI |
23SS | 8123 | SS-507 | Jinryū (じんりゅう)/ Benevolent Dragon | LAB + AIP | Feb 2012 | Nov 2014 | March 2016? | MHI |
24SS | 8124 | SS-508 | ? | LAB + AIP | 2013 | 2015? | 2017 | KHI |
25SS | 8125 | SS-509 | ? | LAB + AIP | 2014 | 2016? | 2018 | MHI |
26SS | 8126 | SS-510 | ? | LAB? + AIP | 2015 | 2017? | 2019 | KHI |
27SS | 8127 | SS-511 | Soryu Mark 2 | LIB only | 2016? | 2018? | 2020? | MHI |
28SS | 8128 | SS-512 | ? | LIB only | 2017? | 2019? | 2021? | KHI |
29SS | 8129 | SS-513 | LIB only | 2018? | 2020? | 2022? | MHI | |
AUS | SS29 mod-AUS | 2023? | 2026? | 2029? | in Aus | |||
LAB = Lead Acid Battery.
LIB = Lithium-ion Battery,
AIP = Air Independent Propulsion (Swedish-Kockums designed Stirling engine)
I'll add new figures, comments and corrections as they come to hand.
Pete