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Soryu Table
SS No. | Building No. | Pennant No. | Name/Namesake | LAB or LIB & AIP * | Laid Down | Laun -ched | Commi-ssioned | Built By |
16SS | 8116 | SS-501 | LAB + AIP | March 2005 | Dec 2007 | March 2009 | MHI | |
17SS | 8117 | SS-502 | LAB + AIP | March 2006 | Oct 2008 | March 2010 | KHI | |
18SS | 8118 | SS-503 | LAB + AIP | Feb 2007 | Oct 2009 | March 2011 | MHI | |
19SS | 8119 | SS-504 | 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 | LAB + AIP | January 2011 | Oct 2013 | March 2014 | KHI | |
23SS | 8123 | SS-507 | LAB + AIP | Feb 2012 | Nov 2014 | March 2016? | MHI | |
24SS | 8124 | SS-508 | Sekiryu /Holy Dragon | LAB + AIP | 2013 | 2 Nov 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 | |
1AU? | 1st Australian class? | 2023? | 2026? | 2029? | ||||
LOOK AT JAPAN'S NEXT GENERATION SUBMARINE
S commented hereon November 14 and 15, 2015 about Japan’s Next Generation Submarine which may be 29SS (no LAB, no AIP, LIBs only). 29SS perhaps to be laid-down at MHI in 2018 for launch in 2020 (see 29SS in red in Soryu Table above).
29SS is especially important for Australia because it will be the first new generation Japanese submarine that immediately precedes the submarine Japan is designing for Australia (“1AU” also in red on Soryu Table). This is if Australia chooses Japan.
Prior to the Next-Generation Japanese Submarine being built there are many standard planning and budgeting documents and procedure to be completed years beforehand. The following gives a glimpse of some of the procedures and issues with the next-generation 29SS. S’s specific comments with some English translation by Pete [S is invited to correct Pete’s translation if its meaning looks incorrect]:
"Changes of hull architecture as well as four major improvements (new torpedo, further reduction of vibration, new sonar system, and enhanced snorkel system) will be incorporated into the 29SS design.
[S has provided a summary of the 29SS project plan.] "It is expected.
- That 29SS will be nearly the same size as the Soryus [28SS and earlier – see Soryu Table] but 29SS will have longer compartments than current Soryus"
[see diagram below - For first Australian sub if current AIP compartments (9 and 10) are deleted then that will allow all other compartments to be lengthened - including Crew's Accommodation (2) for longer bunks for the taller Australians, longer Torpedo Section (1) to take 2 or 3 UUVs as well as 20 HWTs. More space on lowest level for extra diesel fuel and Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs)]
- "The performance of the 29SS design architecture including crushing [pressure hull yield] strength will be demonstrated and validated based on experiments on the prototype [does S mean 29SS is the prototype?]"
The 2012 Financial Year planning and authorisation document “FY2012 Policy Report by Bureau of Finance and Equipment of Japanese Ministry of Defense” indicates:
"(5-1b) Needs of implementation in FY2013
Inhibition of enlargement due to the improvement of submarine performance is urgent issue in terms of target strength and reduction of ship price. Since the result of the study will be reflected in the newly designed submarine by conducting this study from the FY2013, the study is needed to start in this [2013?] fiscal year.
(5-1c) Reason for non-application of existing organization and equipment.
Although high density rigging [arrangement] of equipment [has been] carried out to inhibit [limit] enlargement in modern submarine [the Soryu?], the [arrangement has] already reached [the] limit. In the next generation submarine [29SS] with new equipment such as the new sonar, enlargement of hull is a concern. For this reason, the extension of length of compartments which contributes to the streamlining of the equipment of submarine is being considered. The solution of reinforcing the current pressure hull architecture with larger reinforced materials is expected to cause enlargement and increased price of the next generation submarine [29SS]. Adoption of new architecture is [therefore] needed.
(5-2) Efficiency
In this study, the system design required for the prototyping and evaluation of components and equipment will be conducted, various models (machined model, welded assembly model) will be prototyped, and their crushing [pressure hull yield] strength will be measured.
(5-3c) Confirmation of the effect
Prototyping and testing will be conducted from 2013 FY 2015 and from FY2014 to FY2015, respectively.
In it is planned to carry out the test.
(6) Timing of validation
Policy assessment (post-project evaluation) will be conducted in FY2016.
[S is “FY2012 Policy Report by Bureau of Finance and Equipment of Japanese Ministry of Defense” on the internet in English or in Japanese? Pete]
Soryu Diagram drawn by "wispywood2344". A larger version of the diagram (with larger numbers) is at http://blog.livedoor.jp/wispywood2344/others/Soryu_cutaway.svg.
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LITHIUM SULFUR BATTERIES (LSBs)
Energy density diagram comparing batteries including Lead-acid (LABs), Lithium-ion (LIBs) and Li-S or Lithium Sulfer (LSBs) in watt-hour per kilogram (Wh/kg) and watt-hour per litre (Wh/l). LSBs are projected to be superior. (Diagram courtesy Oxis Energy)
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On November 15, 2015 at 2:25 PM Sadvised that "a few days ago, Japanese battery company GS YUASA announced (in Japanese language News Release http://www.gs-yuasa.com/jp/newsrelease/article.php?ucode=gs151114132202_191) that GS YUASA had succeeded in developing Lithium Sulfur Battery (LSB) with an excellent charge-discharge performance. This LSB with lithium anode and sulfur/porous carbon composite shows high energy density of 1000mAh/g (In the case of Japanese submarine with voltage of 450V, 1000mAh corresponds to 450kWh which is 10 times bigger than current LABs. ) and inhibits reduction of capacity with charge-discharge cycle. Submarines with LSB will show excellent performance from low to high speed regions. But, as metal Lithium is highly reactive to water, overcoming the safety issue will be a key element for practical application LSBs for submarine. Frankly speaking, it will be quite tough."
Pete Comment - So LIBs may be the new in-operation batteries for submarine from the 2020s while LSBs may be the next advance in batteries for use from the 2030s. Please connect with Submarine Matters http://gentleseas.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/li-s-or-lithium-sulfer-batteries-lsbs.html of June 1, 2015.
PMB Defence [LABs and LIBs]
A snippet - PBM Defence (Australia’s Collins current supplier of LABs) may be effected by the future submarine purchase because the CEP may well be requiring Lithium-ion Batteries [LIBs] only. Possibly all 3 contenders in the CEP have approached PMB. See PMB mention on page 12 in this well produced brochure http://www.defencesa.com/upload/media-centre/publications/fac/3295/Techport%20Australia%20Brochure%20June%202015.pdf .
Pete