Japan relies on continuously building one submarine per
year to keep the managers, designers and building workforce continuously employed. This
also provides a construction tempo that is now aimed at having 22 submarines at
any one time in the Japanese Navy. Design development is also continuous.
About 9 out of 10 years an operational submarine is produced, but about once every 10 years a test submarine (like 21SS) or extensive testing development program, occurs.
21SS
The designation “21SS” is derived from the submarine being laid-down (or at least the project commencing) on the 21st year of the reign of (now former) Japanese Emperor Akihito. Akihito acceded to the throne in 1989.
[1] wispywood2344 advises Quarterly PR magazine published by the Kinki-Chubu defense bureau vol.62 (2020 winter). page3. states that "Toryu is the 12th vessel of Soryu class submarine." It was published at in January 2020, ie after the May 1st, 2019 Enthronement of Japan's current Emperor Naruhito.
Anonymous and Pete
About 9 out of 10 years an operational submarine is produced, but about once every 10 years a test submarine (like 21SS) or extensive testing development program, occurs.
As can be seen in the SORYU TABLE below 21SS was a test
submarine or test program equivalent.
Given 21SS’s 2010 timing Pete believes 21SS signified the
concerted beginning of Japan’s
Lithium-ion Batteries (LIBs) for submarine program. The actual LIBs testbed submarine used may have been Harushio class TSS-3601 (launched as SS-589 in 1995, converted to AIP testbed in 2002, converted to LIBs testbed in 2010, decommissiond in 2017).
27SS
The LIBs development program continues to this day in
the shape of 27SS (Japan’s first soon-to-be operational LIBs submarine) launched in 2018 and due to be
commissioned this year (see Table below). Also see the Japanese Ministry of Defense (MoD) Acquisition, Technology &
Logistics Agency (ATLA) LIBs
development activity by scrolling
half way down here.
29SS
29SS may likely be the first submarine of a new class following the Soryus. Both Anonymous and wispywood2344 advise 27SS and 28SS are still Soryus. [1]
The description of Japanese submarine 29SS research/testing below draws from Anonymous's comments on Japanese submarines on February 19 and 21, 2020
The description of Japanese submarine 29SS research/testing below draws from Anonymous's comments on Japanese submarines on February 19 and 21, 2020
Submarine prototype and tests conducted during MoD budget
financial years FY2017-2018 and FY2019-2022 concerned prototype research on
submarine hull forms. This was aimed at significantly reducing hydrodynamic
noise with the long term aim of permitting Japanese submarines to face ASW threats
through the year 2030.
Anonymous believes optimization of hull form research was
conducted to reduce noise caused by bubbles, hydrodynamic flow, vibration and
by the propulsor – see [2] and [3].
Japanese researchers at ATLA built a [29SS] scale model for
various tests conducted in large naval test tank (length 247m, width 12.5m, depth
7m). The findings of this research together with other research findings will
influence Japan’s future (post Soryu) submarine design designated 29SS. [Pete comment: 29SS likely also exists as a complex mainframe computer simulation shared between MoD central, its ATLA agency and submarine builders MHI and KHI (see Key to Table below the Table).]
A formal report by the MoD indicates 29SS is being used as a test submarine for various research technologies. 29SS
has the same shape and dimensions as the Soryus. Further design modifications
will take place in operationally deployed 30SS and 31SS (etc) as is usual in Japan’s yearly continuous
build of submarines practice.
[Pete comment: There may be increased blending of the sail. There is
some blending of the Soryu sail’s leading edge. Further blending may be not
as extreme as depicted in Alfa and Type 212A submarines at Submarine Matters here. There will be ongoing research for quieter diesel engines, improved LIBs and “Improved Snorkel”].
[1] wispywood2344 advises Quarterly PR magazine published by the Kinki-Chubu defense bureau vol.62 (2020 winter). page3. states that "Toryu is the 12th vessel of Soryu class submarine." It was published at in January 2020, ie after the May 1st, 2019 Enthronement of Japan's current Emperor Naruhito.
[2] “Terminology
for underwater acoustics – Phenomena (Y0011B)” by Standard for Ministry of
Defense (NDS), page 22, terminology number 1561. “Definition of hydrodynamic
noise: noise caused by hydrodynamics.”
[3] ibid,
page 67, “Classification Table”
Hydrodynamic noise is classified into i) bubble noise
(1562, noise caused by generation, vibration or collapse of bubbles
underwater), ii) flow noise (1564, noise caused by turbulence flow such as
turbulence flow boundary, separating flow and wake), iii) flow induced
vibration noise (1568, noise caused by vibration of structure or part of it
which is induced by water flow), iv) wave-breaking noise (1569, noise caused by
collapse of wave) and v) propulsor noise (1571, noise caused by propulsor*1-2).
*1 Propulsor includes propellers, water jets, etc.
*2 Causes of propulsor noise include cavitation, "wing" [rudder and sail-plane?] vibration by lift fluctuation, local vibration of [rudder] induced by tailing
vortex.
Note: Pricing issues will be discussed next week using
Anonymous’ comment of February
24, 2020 .This is on the issue of Australia possibly choosing a LIBs
Soryu if the current Naval Group Attack class submarine program collapses.
SORYU TABLE. as at February
27, 2020.
SS
No.
Diesel Type
Motor
|
Build No
Name
|
Pennant
No.
|
MoF approved amount ¥
Billions FY
|
LABs, LIBs, AIP
|
Laid Down
|
Laun
-ched
|
Commi
ssioned
|
Built
By
|
5SS Oyashio
|
8105 Oyashio
(mythical
|
SS-590/ TS3608
|
¥52.2B FY1993
|
LABs only
|
Jan 1994
|
Oct 1996
|
Mar 1998
|
KHI
|
6SS-15SS
Oyashios
10 subs
SMC-7?
|
8106
-8115
various
|
SS-591-600
|
¥52.2B per sub
FY1994-FY2003
|
LABs only
|
15SS Feb
2004
|
15SS
Nov
2006
|
15SS
Mar 2008
|
MHI
&
KHI
|
16SS
Dragon
class Mk I
|
8116
|
SS-501
|
¥60B FY2004 all Soryus with
Kawasaki
SMC-8 motor
|
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
|
21SS Concept
|
No 21SS built
But was a concept research project on LIBs. 1st LIBs sub launched is 27SS |
research
in
2010 |
research
|
research
|
||||
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
|
KHI
|
|||
25SS
|
8124
|
SS-509
|
¥53.1B FY2013
|
LABs + AIP
|
22 Oct 2013
|
12 Oct 2016
|
MHI
|
|
26SS
|
8125
|
SS-510
|
LABs + AIP
|
2014
|
6 Nov 2017
|
KHI
|
||
27SS Soryu
Mk II due to 1st
with LIBs
|
8126
|
SS-511
|
LIBs only
(NCA type)
|
2015
|
4 Oct
2018
|
Mar
2020?
|
MHI
|
|
28SS Soryu
Mk II
|
8127
|
SS-512
|
¥63.6B FY2016
"2,900t" surfaced |
LIBs only
|
Jan 2017
|
Mar 2021?
|
KHI
|
|
29SS may be the 1st of a New class |
¥76B FY2017
Concept research for new features eg. maybe blended fin for noise reduction & better water flow and also new propulsor. New diesels, new snorkel system.
1st
all new features sub may
be 38SS
|
LIBs only
|
2017
research |
research |
research |
MHI
assisted
by
KHI
& JMoD
|
||
30SS New Class?
SMC-
|
8028?
|
SS-513
|
¥71.5B FY2018
|
LIBs only
|
2018?
|
2020?
|
2022?
|
MHI?
|
31SS New Class ?
|
8029?
|
SS-514
|
¥B? FY2019
|
LIBs only
|
2019?
|
2021?
|
2023?
|
KHI?
|
32SS New Class ?
|
8030?
|
SS-515
|
¥B? FY2020
|
LIBs only
|
2020?
|
2022?
|
2024?
|
MHI?
|
33SS New Class ?
|
8031?
|
SS-516
|
¥B? FY2021
|
LIBs only
|
2021?
|
2023?
|
2025?
|
KHI?
|
34SS New Class ?
|
8032?
|
SS-517
|
¥B? FY2022
|
LIBs only
|
2022?
|
2024?
|
2026?
|
MHI?
|
35SS New Class ?
|
8033?
|
SS-518
|
¥B? FY2023
|
LIBs only
|
2023?
|
2025?
|
2027?
|
KHI?
|
36SS New Class ?
|
8034?
|
SS-519
|
¥B? FY2024
|
LIBs only
|
2024?
|
2026?
|
2028?
|
MHI?
|
37SS New Class ?
|
8035?
|
SS-520
|
¥B? FY2025
|
LIBs only
|
2025?
|
2027?
|
2029?
|
KHI?
|
38SS Soryu
Mk III or New Class ? |
8036?
|
SS-521
|
¥B? FY2026 1st production sub
using all Project 29SS features |
LIBs only
|
2026?
|
2028?
|
2030?
|
MHI?
|
Key to Table: Table information exclusively provided to Submarine Matters. LABs =
lead-acid batteries, AIP = air independent propulsion, LIBs =
Lithium-ion Batteries. ¥***B = Billion Yen. MHI =
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, KHI = Kawasaki Shipbuilding
Corporation of Kawasaki Heavy Industries.
---
Hi Pete,
ReplyDeleteIt seems that there could be more countries that are interested in ex-Norwegian submarines, like Bulgaria.
/Kjell
Thanks /Kjell
ReplyDeleteAs well Bulgaria (on the Black Sea) Argentina and maybe the UAE might also be interested in Norway's 6 old TKMS built Type 210 "Ula" class submarines. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ula-class_submarine
Regards
Pete
Hi Pete.
ReplyDeleteThe PR magazine published by the Kinki-Chubu defense bureau states that "Toryu is the 12th vessel of Soryu class submarine."[1]
And, it was published at last month, ie after His Majesty's enthronement.
In other words, Oryu(27SS) and Toryu(28SS) are not "new class" in the latest official opinion of the Japanese MoD.
By the way, a cut-away diagram of "Toryu" was published on the japanese maritime magazine "Ships of the World".
It would be nice to compare Soryu Mk1[2] and Mk2[3].
[1]Kinki-Chubu defense bureau. Quarterly PR magazine vol.62 (2020 winter). page3.
https://www.mod.go.jp/rdb/kinchu/public_relations/magazine/data/kinki-chubu_062.pdf#page=3
[2]http://blog.livedoor.jp/wispywood2344/archives/54964300.html Fig.1
[3]http://blog.livedoor.jp/wispywood2344/archives/54964300.html Fig.13
Regards
wispywood2344
Thanks wispywood2344
ReplyDeleteI have altered the text and table accordingly, noting 27SS and 28SS are still Soryus.
Regards
Pete