Anonymous estimated performance for a submarine that will have new Lithium-ion Batteries (LIBs) no AIP – see Table 1. The first such submarine can be called a “Soryu Mark 2” (see Table 2) and it is designated 27SS which is likely to be launched between October and December 2017.
Anonymous, in Table 1, then makes a traditional Lead-acid Batteries (LABs) only (no AIP) comparison. Japan’s Oyashio class (launched 1996 to 2006) were Japan’s last submarines that were LABs only. The Oyashios preceded the LAB-AIP Soryu Mark 1s (see Table 2).
Submarine/Measure | LIBs only Soryu Mark 2, eg. 27SS | LABs only Oyashio class |
Nominal voltage per unit battery-module [1] | 36V | [only 2V?] |
Max submerged period at 4 knots [2, 3] | 7 to 9 days | 3 to 3.5 days |
Standard submerged period at 4 knots [4] | 6 to 8 days | 1 to 1.5 days |
Standard period at 18 knots (within a longer mission submerged) | 3 to 4 hours | 1 hour |
Recharge times over 60 day mission | 8 to 10 times | 40 to 60 times |
[1] Values are based on various pieces of data for LIBs and LABs. LIB-modules and LAB-modules are connected in parallel (series) for generating voltage of nearly same the magnitude.
[2] Data for LABs is based on various simulations of submarine propulsion.
[3] Data for LIBs is based on comparison with data for LABs.
[4] As complete discharge shortens the life of batteries, I assume 90% of LIBs are discharged and 30% of LABs.
SORYU-Oyashio TABLE 2 (as at February 21, 2017)
SS | Build No | Pennant | MoF approved amount ¥ Billions & FY | LABs, LIBs, AIP | Laid Down | Laun | Commi-ssioned | Built |
5SS | 8105 Oyashio | ¥52.2B | LABs only | Jan 1994 | Oct 1996 | Mar 1998 | KHI | |
6SS-15SS | 8106 | SS-591-600 | ¥52.2B per sub | LABs only | 15SS Feb 2004 | 15SS Nov 2006 | 15SS Mar 2008 | MHI |
16SS Soryu Mk 1 | 8116 | SS-501 | ¥60B FY2004 | LABs + AIP | Mar 2005 | Dec 2007 | Mar | MHI |
17SS | 8117 | SS-502 | ¥58.7B FY2005 | LABs + AIP | Mar 2006 | Oct 2008 | Mar | KHI |
18SS | 8118 | SS-503 | ¥56.2 FY2006 | LABs + AIP | Feb 2007 | Oct 2009 | Mar | MHI |
19SS | 8119 | SS-504 | ¥53B FY2007 | LABs + AIP | Mar 2008 | Nov 2010 | Mar | KHI |
20SS | 8120 | SS-505 | ¥51B FY2008 | LABs + AIP | Mar 2009 | Oct 2011 | Mar | MHI |
No | No 21SS built | |||||||
22SS | 8121 | SS-506 | ¥52.8B FY2010 | LABs + AIP | Jan 2011 | Oct 2013 | Mar | KHI |
23SS | 8122 | SS-507 | ¥54.6B FY2011 | LABs + AIP | Feb 2012 | Oct 2014 | 7 Mar 2016 | MHI |
24SS | 8123 | SS-508 | ¥54.7B FY2012 | LABs + AIP | Mar 2013 | 2 Nov 2015 | Mar? 2017 | KHI |
25SS | SS-509 | ¥53.1B FY2013 | LABs + AIP | 22 Oct 2013 | 12 Oct 2016 | Mar? 2018 | MHI | |
26SS | 8125 | SS-510 | LABs + AIP | 2014 | Oct-Nov | Mar 2019? | KHI | |
27SS Soryu Mk 2 | 8126 | SS-511 | LIBs only | 2015 | Oct-Dec 2017 | Mar 2020 | MHI | |
28SS Soryu Mark 2 | 8127 | SS-512 | ¥63.6B FY2016 | LIBs only | 2016? | 2018? | Mar 2021? | KHI |
29SS New Class | ? | ? | ¥76B FY2018 | LIBs only | ? | ? | 2023? | MHI? |
Table courtesy of exclusive information provided to Submarine Matters. LABs = lead-acid batteries, AIP=air independent propulsion, LIBs=lithium-ion batteries. ¥***B = Billion Yen.
Anonymous and Pete