The video "Why Japan’s Soryu Class Submarines Are So Good "Black Dragon" was published on Oct 3, 2016. See it being launched in video, numbered SS-506. Good on Soryu specifications, modifications for Australia, and strategic value for Japan generally.
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Submarine Matters is not the only website writing about Lithium-ion Batties (LIBs) for submarine. Gordon Arthur, Asia-Pacific Editor for Shephard Media, wrote an excellent article in Shephard Media “Japan leads way with Li-ion submarines”.
That article features LIB performance and comparative information provided by Vice Admiral (Retired) Masao Kobayashi (see photo and career biodata). He is the former commander Japanese Navy’s Fleet Submarine Force. He spoke at UDT Asia (Singapore, 18 January 2017). Kobayashi’s information confirms the superiority of LIBs information provided by Anonymous sources to Submarine Matters over the last two years. New information in Gordon Arthur’s article includes:
27SS TO BE COMMISSIONED MARCH 2020
Japan's first LIB submarine, [that would be the first Soryu Mark 2, 27SS, under construction at MHI see SORYU TABLE] will be commissioned in March 2020 (no lead-acid batteries (LABs) or AIP.
THERE ARE TWO LIB TYPES FOR JAPANESE SUBMARINES
Kobayashi believes that there is no clear single lithium-ion solution as a submarine main battery with future submarines being optimised with different power source. Two LIB types for Japanese submarine use are available:
Lithium nickel cobalt aluminium oxide ( LiNiCoAlO2 ) known as “NCA”manufactured by GS Yuasa. For main traits scroll quarter way down at. The JMSDF will use NCA-type batteries. es. Kobayashi advised for mobile operations, for example, NCA batteries and diesel may be ideal.
and
Lithium-titanate ( Li4Ti5O12 ) known as “LTO”,from Toshiba. For main traits scroll a third way down at,. Kobayashi believes LTO types were offered to Australia for its SEA 1000, Future Submarine proposal. an ambush submarine would operate better on fuel cells, LTO and diesel.
Kobayashi advised the lowest-cost option may be LTO and diesel.
JAPANESE RESEARCH/TESTING OF SUBMARINE LIBS and AIP
Japan's LIBs research began in 1962. The first LIB for submarine was ready in 1974 but did not meet requirements (including cost). Fuel cell AIP technology was not yet mature so Japan turned to Stirling AIP. From 1991-97 (Stirling?) AIP was (land tested?) before being installed into a Harushio-class(probably JDS Asashio TSS-3601) submarine in 2000-01 for trials.
“Meanwhile, tests on Li-ion batteries continued to the point that the JMSDF asked for a Li-ion-powered Soryu-class boat [27SS] in its FY2015 budget request.”
SEE GORDON ARTHUR’S WHOLE ARTICLE HERE
PART OF SUBMARINE MATTER’S OUTPUT ON SORYU PRICING, ENINEERING, MARKETING AND TACTICS INCLUDES:
March 11, 2016 http://gentleseas.blogspot.com.au/2016/03/potential-soryu-problems-recalculations.html
March 9, 2016 Inside the Soryu Submarine, Rare Diagram, Photos and Translationshttp://gentleseas.blogspot.com.au/2016/03/we-all-live-in-black-gray-submarine.html
And many more at http://gentleseas.blogspot.com.au/search?q=soryu
Pete