thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) on April 22, 2024 launched RSS Inimitable the fourth Type 218SG Invincible-class submarine for the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) at a
ceremony in Kiel, Germany. The launch was attended by Teo
Chee Hean, Singapore's Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for
National Security, and Boris
Pistorius, Germany's Minister of Defense.
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| Image: TKMS. Note the 'panel' next to the visible torpedo tube muzzle, likely a sonar module. --- |
As I mentioned in
my "State
of ASEAN Submarine Forces: Singapore" article in June 2023,
with the introduction of the Invincible class, Singapore will have undergone
three generations (Challengers, Archers, now Invincibles) of submarines in the
space of 25 years.
After a contest between TKMS and Naval Group (Scorpene), TKMS was awarded a contract for two boats (then called Type 218SGs) in 2013, and a second order of two in 2017. Construction, in Kiel, Germany, on the lead (renamed Invincible class sub) RSS Invincible, started in 2014 - it was launched in 2019. Then the second, RSS Impeccable and third, RSS Illustrious, were simultaneously launched in 2022.
TKMS states that the Invincible class, at "70m length and around 2,000 tons" displacement, currently are the largest submarines the yard has built. If this statement is true, then the Invincibles are slightly larger than their Israeli cousins, the Dolphin II (68.6m length, 2,050 tons surface displacement), through the upcoming Type-212CD class boats that entered production in September 2023, and the Israeli Dakar class, ordered in 2022, will be larger boats.
RSS Inimitable is the fourth and last of the class (as stated in a press
release by Singapore's Ministry of Defense). TKMS
will hand over the sub to the Republic of Singapore Navy in 2025,
after testing and outfitting.
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| Image: TKMS. Note flank sonar arrays (often classified items shielded from public view) have not yet been fitted. --- |
RSS Invincible still remains in Kiel for RSN crew training at the German Navy's Submarine Training Centre, at Eckernfoerde Naval Base. TKMS has also signed an MoU with Singapore's ST Engineering to 'enhance the Type 218SG Type 218SG submarines over their operational lifetimes". This further enhances the relationship the RSN and ST Marine have established with TKMS and the German Navy.
Video: RSN Youtube channel: Join ME5 Francis Lee as we follow him in a day of his life as a Submarine Project Officer in Kiel, Germany
RSS Impeccable arrived in Singapore in July 2023 (see my article) for local sea trials and workup, and will be fully operational and commissioned later this year. This will likely coincide with the retirement of the RSS Conqueror, a 57-year-old boat that has been in Singapore commission for 20 years.
Singapore media claims the RSS Inimitable will
be delivered to Singapore by 2028.
Here and above. Channel News Asia (cna) announced RSS Inimitable's launch.
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11 comments:
More countries want new subs. Though I wonder how realistic this new design is:
UAE built Kronos submarine currently undergoing tests:
https://navyrecognition.com/index.php/naval-news/naval-news-archive/2024/april/14250-uae-built-kronos-submarine-currently-undergoing-tests.html
https://interestingengineering.com/military/kronos-stealth-submarine-ukraine
Thanks Anonymous at 4/28/2024 12:01 PM
Aprils every year bring with them extraordinarily creative weapon announcements. Kronos is no exception. Its yellow and black paintwork make it super stealthy.
Here is an earlier Kronos prototype http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manta_ray#Biology
With its Manta ray wings I understand it can fly too.
Cheers Pete
"With its Manta ray wings I understand it can fly too."
A flying submarine? Cool!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVtW4CP5YW8
Another new submarine launch:
"On April 26, 2024, the Pakistan Navy launched the first
Hangor-class submarine with a ceremony hosted by Wuchang
Shipbuilding in Shuangliu Base in Wuhan, China.
The launching ceremony of the 1st Hangor-Class submarine
constructed for the Pakistan Navy was held at Wuchang
Shipbuilding Industry Group Company Ltd, Shuangliu Base
at Wuhan China. Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed
Ashraf graced the occasion as Chief Guest."
See:
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2024/04/pakistan-navy-launches-first-hangor-class-submarine-in-china/
China is also pushing to improve its submarine
force with more stressful training:
"Training has become "more realistic, rigorous, and
standardized across the fleet," according to a report
by the China Maritime Studies Institute at the US
Naval War College. "Though stressful on submarine
equipment and crews, these changes to training may
ultimately yield a more combat-capable submarine
fleet operating throughout the western Pacific.""
See:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/chinas-submarine-force-stressed-more-090001662.html
Thanks Anonymous at 4/29/2024 6:00 AM
For proof subs and pigs can fly, in the April 1st tradition.
Cheers Pete
Thanks Anonymous at 4/29/2024 6:47 AM
Naval News has pretty much nailed the first Hangor sub launch, except for the issue of the MTU diesel ban that impacted China's sub sale to Thailand also impacting the Hangor class for Pakistan. So the Hangors will be using 4 x Chinese CSOC CHD620 (probably inferior to MTU) diesel engines.
As Naval News says its still unclear if the Hangors will use China's Stirling AIP - see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hangor-class_submarine
Cheers Pete
Thanks Anonymous at 4/29/2024 8:10 AM
I can only recommend that every Chinese submarine's Commissar (who has the same status as the Sub's Captain) combine his essential Communist Doctrine of 25% training time to a heroic 75% "Thoughts of Xi Jinping" training time.
The Chinese workers and peasants submarine crews thereby will never lose
against capitalist running dogs crews.
The Wuhan base is on the banks of the Yangtze River, over 600km from salt water, so it will take this sub a couple of days to make it to Shanghai.
I’m unsure at what stage of completion the Thai S26T was. Its keel was laid in September 2019 (https://thediplomat.com/2022/04/thai-chinese-submarine-deal-faces-axe-pm-prayut/). But we simply do not know how complete the boat was when the Thais backed out - it could have had all its combat systems installed, and was just waiting for its diesel engines.
The PLAN or PN could take over the boat, but they will need to rework some bespoke Thai elements to the sub, including larger officer quarters.
Hi Pete,
A bit off the record it seems TKMS is taken the Netherlands decision of submarine to court https://swzmaritime.nl/news/2024/04/15/tkms-to-court-over-dutch-submarines-saab-damen-leaves-it-to-parliament/
"The Dutch Ministry of Defence has confirmed that Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) is starting an objection procedure over the provisional contract award for four new submarines to French Naval Group. The third contender for the contract, the Saab-Damen combination, leaves it to Dutch Parliament to review the decision."
/Kjell
Thanks /Kjell
I think the Dutch Ministry of Defence would strongly resist attempts to change (or review) the result.
But TKMS and Saab-Damen may be able to draw interest from factions in the Dutch Parliament that were unhappy with the decision that favoured Naval Group.
Regards Pete
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