April 19, 2016

Soryu Cutaway Diagrams - Evolution Towards Soryu Aus.

Wispywood2344 has drawn this cutaway of future Soryu Aus. - very relevant if Japan is chosen to design the future submarine. This diagram was originally at Wispywood2344's  
Here is Wispywood2344's website - right click mouse to Translate into English. 
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Wispywood2344 has drawn the estimated (educated guess) diagrams above and below. 

Below is the first batch of ten Soryus (the Mark "Mk" 1s). They have Stirling AIP and Lead-acid Batteries (LABs). The first, SS-501, was Laid Down in 2007. The last of the ten Soryu Mk.1s built is SS-510 which is due to be Commissioned in 2019 - see Soryu Table below. To see the diagrams further enlarged and with clearer section numbers, see 

Due to perceived safety, efficiency and weight problems with the AIP Japan will not carry AIP over to the two submarine (SS-511 and SS-512) of the Soryu Mk.2 class. The other major difference in the Mk.2s is Lithium-ion Batteries (LIBs). Japan has done sufficient research and testing of LIBs to say that all future Japanese submarines, Mk.2s onwards, will have LIBs. LIBs have quicker charging and greater storage qualities compared to LABs. Reliability over 10 years of operational life might only be estblished in 2027 - just prior to any Soryu Aus being Laid Down.

Looking at the section numbers the changes from Mk.1 to Mk.2 may include:

1)  Abolition of Stirling AIP system [section 9]
2)  Abolition of LABs (total 480) [section 5, 8]
3)  Adoption of LIBs (480 + approximately 240 = 720 LIBs) To lower ther center of gravity and reduce stray magnetic field, modification of hull may be considered to arrange LIBs on the bottom floor of Soryu Mk.2s [section 5, 8, 13]
S comments The estimation of features of Soryu Mk.2s (SS-511 and SS-512) [see SORYU TABLE below] is very interesting, because:
-  these Mk.2s have no very expensive (2 Billion yen) (see column "MoF approved amount ¥ Billions" in the TABLE) AIP but still have a budget that makes each 12 billion yen more expensive than the Mk.1s. 
-  Nothing is reported on the Mk.2 features except LIBs, but, we cannot explain this budget increase due just to an increased number and price of batteries (720 LIBs vs 480 LABs, 6 vs 3 million yen/battery)." 
-  The increase for the Mk.2s may also be due to 
    =  a new snorkel system which includes a small generator (needed to quickly recharge the LIBs)
    =  new diesel generators, 
    =  fully adopting the floating deck, and
    =  new sonar system. 
-  But still no new GX6 torpedoes (the Type 89s will remain).
4)  Existence of unassigned area (probably be assigned to accommodation) [sectoin ?,??]

To see the diagrams further enlarged and with clearer section numbers, see http://blog.livedoor.jp/wispywood2344/others/Soryu_Cutaway_Variants.svg.
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If Japan is chosen the Soryu Mk.2s will also evolve into what may initially be called "Soryu Aus." The Soryu Aus. would then likely be given a permanent Australian name - possibly an Australian submarine officer or crewman.

In terms of sections the changes from Mk.2 to Soryu Aus will include.
1)  Insertion of double-hull compartment [section 14]
2)  Additional fuel tanks, for longer range, installed outside the pressure hull
3)  Maybe one or two additional diesel generators (perhaps conventional 12V25/25SB) (for the larger Soryu Aus.) installed inside the pressure hull. 
Note that higher power generator system and high capacity LIBs make it possible to shorten the snorting time - improving discretion (and perhaps extending engine life). 
Whether Japan’s newly developed (still Top Secret) diesel generator system will be exported or not is unclear - so it is possible 3 or 4 of the current lower powered Kawasaki 12V25/25SB might be in Soryu Aus. 
4)  There may also be a Vertical Multi-Purpose Lock (VMPL) in one section (perhaps for Tomahawks, Large UUV or stores) [section 14, 13, ? and ??].
Wispywood2344 has also drawn this Soryu Aus. cutaway (same as diagram at top). It is likely that the contents of the submarine will be expanded - spread through the two empty sections. 
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SORYU TABLE (with earlier Oyashios) as at April 19, 2016
SS
No.
Build No
Name
Pennant
No.
MoF approved amount ¥ Billions & FY
LABs, LIBs, AIP
Laid Down
Laun
-ched
Commi-ssioned
Built
By
5SS
8105
Oyashio
SS-590/ TS3608
¥52.2B
FY1993
LABs only
 Jan 1994
Oct 1996
Mar 1998
 KHI
6SS-15SS
Oyashios
10 subs
8106
-8115
various
SS-591-600
¥52.2B per sub
FY1994-FY2003
LABs only
 Feb 1994
Mar 2008
 MHI
&
KHI
16SS
Soryu Mark 1
8116
Sōryū
SS-501
¥60B FY2004
LABs + AIP
Mar 2005
Dec 2007
Mar
2009
MHI
17SS
8117
Unryū
SS-502
¥58.7B FY2005
LABs + AIP
Mar 2006
Oct 2008
Mar
2010
KHI
18SS
8118
Hakuryū
SS-503
¥56.2 FY2006
LABs + AIP
Feb 2007
Oct 2009
Mar
2011
MHI
19SS
8119
Kenryū
SS-504
¥53B FY2007
LABs + AIP
Mar 2008
Nov 2010
Mar
2012
KHI
20SS
8120
Zuiryū
SS-505
¥51B FY2008
LABs + AIP
Mar 2009
Oct 2011
Mar
2013
MHI
No
21SS
No 21SS built
22SS
8121
Kokuryū
SS-506
¥52.8B FY2010
LABs + AIP
Jan 2011
Oct 2013
Mar
2015
KHI
23SS
8122
Jinryu
SS-507
¥54.6B FY2011
LABs + AIP
Feb 2012
Oct 2014
7 Mar 2016
MHI
24SS
8123
Sekiryū
SS-508
¥54.7B FY2012
LABs + AIP
Mar 2013
2 Nov 2015
Mar? 2017
KHI
25SS
8124
SS-509
¥53.1B FY2013
LABs + AIP
22 Oct 2013
Nov? 2016
Mar? 2018
MHI
26SS
8125
SS-510
¥51.7B FY2014
LABs + AIP
2014
?
Mar 2019?
KHI
27SS
Soryu Mark 2
8126
SS-511
¥64.3B FY2015
LIBs only
2015
2017?
Mar
2020?
MHI
28SS
8127
SS-512
¥63.6B FY2016
LIBs only
2016?
2018?
Mar 2021?
KHI
29SS
?
?
 1st of New
Japanese  Class
LIBs only
?
?
2023?
MHI?
Soryu Aus.1
?
?
1st of Aus class (if Japan chosen)
LIBs only
2027?
2030?
2033?
in Aus or Jpn?
Soryu Aus.2
 to 12?
?
?
between 5 and 11 additional Aus subs
LIBs only
from 2029?
from 2031?
from 2034?
??
Table courtesy of information provided to Submarine Matters. LABs = lead-acid batteries,  
AIP = air independent propulsion, LIBs = lithium-ion batteries.  
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The Soryu evolution through to Soryu Aus is clearly very complex, but S and Wispywood2344 have done much to make the Japanese submarine evolution known. This may, to an extent, allay fears that Japanese submarines are unknown territory compared to German and French submarines.

Pete

8 comments:

Pete said...

This is noting Japan sold four submarines to Thailand https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matchanu-class_submarine

Very insensitive comments about an atomic bombing that killed more than 50,000 people won't be published.

Unknown said...

Hi Pete,

You're all missing the point! I don't see a mini bar anywhere on those diagrams!

Good Luck trying to get an Aussie Submariner on that thing without some compliantly booze!

:)

Pete said...

Hi ONeil Padilla [at 20/4/16 5:06 PM]

Submariners improvise and are careful to conceal naval rum (or other strong spirit especially non-smelly Vodka) at room temperature in any container (in any panels or other hiding places) that work.

Its not for nothing that advanced AIP fuel is non-drinkable methanol rather than acceptably-drinkable ethanol.

Regards

Pete

Anonymous said...

Snorkel generation system which MOD uses for 27SS and 28SS is comprised of snorkel system and diesel generator, and this terminology is rather difficult to understand, because snorkel system does not generate power. But, this odd terminology has important meaning in budget or tender.

Competitive tender is applied for purchasing of diesel generator, because it is general equipment. In contrast, optional contract can be applied for purchasing of snorkel generation system, according to related law [1]. The suppler of snorkel generation system can select diesel generator as part, and consequently MoD can effectively exclude undesired diesel generator, I think.

MoD may explain spiked budgets of 27SS and 28SS to Board of Audit (BoA), but BoA will not admit spiked budget due only to price of LIBs. If 27SS and 28SS do not equip with new snorkel generation system, floating deck and new sonar system, the price of 29SS which equips with these systems and new torpedoes will be nearly 80 billion yen, it is too expensive.

[1]Cabinet Order on Budgets, the Settlement of Accounts, and Accounting (Chapter VII), Article 102-4, (iii)

Anonymous said...

Specification of generator for 27SS is same as the conventional specification. 27SS may be equipped with Kawasaki 12V/25/25 SB. Various combinations of generators and LIBs may be possible isuch as:

Case 1 Two 12V/25/25SBs + Three groups of LIBs (720LIBs). Is sufficient power supply to LIBs is possible?

Case 2 Three 12V/25/25SBs + Three groups of LIBs (720LIBs). Each generator corresponds to each group of LIBs. Sufficient power supply to LIBs is expected. Spacing of generator and arrangement of inlet/outlet piping system are difficult in given submarine size.

Anonymous said...

27SS will be equipped with two Kawasaki 12V/25/25 SBs according to further information.

Anonymous said...

Hi Pete

The new propulsion systems for LIBs-Soryus (27SS and 28SS) are more expensive (1.1 billion yen) than those for LABs-Soryus (0.9 billion yen), and TMEIC (Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems Corporation) won the competitive tender of the propulsion systems against the conventional supplier, Fuji Electric Co., LTD.

I expect that the new propulsion systems are much more powerful than those for LABs-Soryus and that maximum speed of 27SS and 28SS is 23-24knot/h for one hour. The maximum speed of LABs-Soryus is 18knot/h for one hour.

Assumption: i) increases in numbers and energy density of battery modules are both +50%, ii) maximum speed of submarine is proportionate to cube root of total capacity of batteries, iii) hotel loads at maximum speed are same for LIBs and LABs Soryus.

Regards
S

Pete said...

Hi S [at 18/8/16 10:53 AM]

Thanks for those LIBs for Soryus 27SS and 28SS details.

I think many assume that LIBs are replacing LABs because LIBs, after the sub snorts, provide longer range. But as you describe LIBs also make possible faster speed in an emergency.

Regards

Pete