Australia’s Attack-class submarine diesels likely MTU 12V4000U83s

In a Joint Department of Defence Ministers’ Media Release is was announced on 7 April 2019

at https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/minister/cpyne/media-releases/attack-class-submarine-subcontract-signed

“Attack Class Submarine subcontract signed

7 April 2019

Joint Media Release

[The Hon Christopher Pyne MP
Minister for Defence and]

Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC
Minister for Defence Industry

The first major equipment subcontract for the Future Submarine Program was signed today between Naval Group and MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH (MTU) for the design of the Diesel Generator Rectifier (DGR) for the Attack class submarine to turn mechanised energy into electricity.

Minister for Defence, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP said awarding this contract achieves a critical milestone in progress of the Program, with the design of the DGR a critical component of the overall Attack class design.

“I am very happy to announce that after a robust procurement process, MTU has been selected as the first major equipment subcontractor for the Attack class submarine,” Minister Pyne said.

“MTU has committed to establishing the necessary industrial capability in Australia, to deliver and support the DGR - a key element of achieving the sovereign build - operation and sustainment of the Attack class submarine,” Minister Pyne said.

Minister for Defence Industry, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC, said while the contract is directly with MTU, the company would leverage its existing strategic partnership with Penske Power Systems Australia.

“MTU will work with Penske during the design phase and will then grow Penske’s capacity in Australia. Importantly, this will transfer the technology and knowledge associated with this capability to Australia,” Minister Reynolds said.

“The DGR subcontract is part of the Government’s investment in the Attack class submarine, part of the creation of a sovereign naval shipbuilding enterprise and the Government’s continuous naval shipbuilding capability.””

COMMENT

MTU was one of the 2 German diesel makers predicted by Submarine Matters on March 5, 2019, at "German" Diesels to be on Australia’s future Attack class submarines” following Jean-Michel Billig of Naval Group announcing:

“Diesel generators [for Australia’s future Attack class submarine] will be German...”

So the diesel builder for Australia's future submarine is MTU diesels based in Friedrichshafen, Germany. The diesel type will most likely be the MTU 12V4000U83 (peak mechanical output may be 1,500kW) (photo below). "12V" means it is a V12. Less likely selected is an older diesel,
the MTU 16V396SE84, used since the 1980s.

The March 5, 2019 article correctly pointed to Penske Power Systems as the MTU supplier in Australia. Penske has a branch office in Edinburgh, Adelaide a few kms from where the Attack class submarines will be built (at Osborne, Adelaide).

Whether the diesels are MTU 4000s or 396s Anonymous on March 15, 2019 advised there will likely be 6 of them to comfortably generate the 6,000kW required for the 4,500 tonne (surfaced) future Attack-class submarine.

The choice by Australia and Naval Group of MTU diesels is a step in the right direction. The main problem of the preceding Collins class was probably the choice of a small, failing company diesel. In contrast MTU are used on many trucks, surface ships and for many other uses. In fact MTU diesels are probably the most frequently used diesels for diesel-electric submarines worldwide. Any bugs or adjustments required for the Attack-class' MTU diesels should be detected early and then be able to rely on MTU's very large industrial base for rectification. 

An MTU 12V4000U83 diesel for submarine (With "Roger Gleeson, National Manager - Defence Programmes Group" standing next to it - see Penske Australia and New Zealand website 2017).

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Pete and Anonymous