Russian Submarine Building Statistics 2017 - Yasen-Ms

The following is a translation from French, drawing from a long excellent article by "Khan" of January 12, 2018, titled "Russian Shipbuilding [Statistics] 2017". That article is contained in the French language, but mainly Russian website, The portal of the naval forces of the Russian Federation. 

The end of 2017 reveals information on the financial and industrial priorities of [shipbuilding in Russia]. This provides context to some long delays in delivery of some surface vessels and submarines...The nature of the platforms is changing, with a trend toward combat units of lower tonnage [eg. more corvettes] but still with a high weapons load (eg. Kalibr missiles). So, what do we have to remember about shipbuilding for the Russian fleet in 2017?

... Submarines

No submarines were commissioned in 2017. However 3 subs were launched in 2017 (see TABLE below):

-  the second Project 0885.1 Yasen SSGN (K-561 Kazan) was launched by Sevmash shipbuilding at

   Severodvinsk (which is by the White Sea, north of St. Petersburg). 

-  the seventh Yasen (Ulyanovsk) was put "on hold".
-  6 Project 636.3 Kilo class SSKs for the Pacific Fleet were commenced at the Admiralty shipyard, 

   St. Petersburg. This was starting with 2 Kilos (B-603 Volkhov and B-274 

   Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsk). 

TABLE of Submarines Commissioned or Launched 2013 to 2017.

2013
Commissioned	2
Launched	1
2014
Commissioned	4
Launched	7
2015
Commissioned	2
Launched	3
2016
Commissioned	2
Launched	2
2017
Commissioned	0
Launched	3

See the WHOLE ORIGINAL ARTICLE in French HERE (right-click mouse to translate into your own language).

Separately soumarsov advises regarding the Project 885 Yasen SSGN class:

-  one (the first, named Severodvinsk K-560 ) is active in the Northern Fleet. She has been in

   experimental service for years and only in March 2016 was she fully combat ready.

-  the follow-on Yasens are designated 885M or “Yasen-M”. 

-  Six Yasen-Ms only are under construction at Sevmash:

   :  the first one, Kazan, was launched in March 2017 and is expected to be commissioned at the end

      of 2018. 

   :  the last one, Ulyanovsk, is due to be commissioned 2023 at the earliest.

More on Russian SSKs, SSGNs, SSNs and SSBNs from soumarsov next week.

Pete

Russian Submarine Development as at 2018

In terms of conventional subs (SSKs) Russia has only been able to build and sell Kilo submarines (Project 877) since 1980 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilo-class_submarine#Project_877_units 

and Improved Kilo subs (Project 636) since 1996 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilo-class_submarine#Project_636_units

In 2012 Russia also 10 year leased one Akula II SSN (known as INS Chakra) to India https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_submarine_Nerpa_(K-152)

Due to a limited submarine defense budget Russia has spent more on nuclear submarine development and production (new Yasen "Multipurpose", Borey/Borei SSBNs and updated Akula SSNs, Delta SSBNs and Oscar SSGNs) with insufficient money to develop AIP for conventional diesel-electric subs. 

Thus Russia has been unable to develop and market AIP submarines which it hoped to sell under marketing names of Project Amur https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amur-class_submarine and Kalina https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Kalina

This is a good summary https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Future_of_the_Russian_Navy#Submarines

What Russia has announced as Project Haski or Husky may only produce new nuclear multipurpose and SSBNs in the 2040s or later.

Pete

Japan Increasingly its Submarine Propulsion (Diesels & Motors), Soryu TABLE

Submarine Propulsion in 7 lines. Air through snorkel is sucked into the Diesel Engine. Combustion from [spark and?] compressed diesel fuel produces the Diesel's mechanical power - Which then drives the Generator (which changes mechanical energy into electrical energy). The electricity and drives the Electric Motor which charges the Batteries. Diesels/Generator/Electric Motor/Magnets to rotate propeller to produce (about) 8-12? knot snorting speed. OR Batteries/Electric Motor/Magnets producing the silent running speed which is above 6 knots.
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Following Submarine Matters Possible Motor Modifications for Australia's Future Submarine, February 9, 2018 Anonymous kindly commented on February 5, 2018 (with a bit of further translation by Pete):

The Soryu Mk 2 (at 27SS in the Table below) importantly will have:

(A)  a modified propulsion motor (designated “SMC-8B”) [1]

(B)  accompanied by Lithium-ion Batteries (LIBs). LIBs provide various benefits such as a low 

       indiscretion ratio (IR) [a lower the ratio of time spent at periscope depth snorting to time   completely submerged 

(C)  flexibility of operation and high speed performance submerged and

(D)  12V25/25SB diesels used in the current Soryu Mk 1 Soryu Mk 2 prior to use of 12V25/31S in Soryu Mk 3.

The newly modified propulsion motor (designated “SMC-8B”) will benefit from the more powerful diesel and the more electrically powerful LIBs quick charging of LIBs in order to achieve flexibility of operation and high speed performance submerged. In Soryu Mk 1, low speed performance is emphasized because of low effective capacity of LABs. 

In the Soryu Mk 2, higher silent (6> knots) speed performance will be emphasized, because of drastically improved LIB and motor capacity. This allows higher silent speed fully submerged for a much longer period. 

In other words, the main objective of the SMC-8B is the improvement of maximum silent speed. Key factors will be optimized to reduce vibration/noise, in Anonymous's opinion. As result, maximum speed from point to point somewhat changes as shown in [2] and [3]. Even a tiny improvement in the existing 5 minute duration of the 20 knots maximum speed would require a much more powerful engine. Anonymous does not think such a tiny improvement has meaning in actual operation. [4]

[1]       Budget of Japanese Ministry of Defense (MoD)

Soryu Mk 1s have propulsion motor SMC-8 and Mk 2s have SMC-8B (where the B means first revision) see Table below. The degree of revision can be measured by the first year cost which is the cost of new equipment and so on in the first year.  In SMC-8B, the first year cost was budgeted suggesting that SMC-8B experienced huge modifications or SMC-8B is actually a new model. So overall the last Soryu Mk 1 (26SS with SMC-8) costs ¥51.7B FY2014 (see Table below). Then the cost for the first Soryu Mk 2 (27SS) jumps to ¥64.4B FY2015 of which the development and unit costs of the first SMC-8B are a part.

[2]       “FY2014 Annual Report on Life Cycle Cost Management”, Equipment

Procurement and Construction Office, Ministry of Defense (MoD), page 78, Tabale 2. The maximum submerged speed of 26SS (Soryu Mk 1 with Lead-acid Batteries (LABs) + AIP) and 27SS (Soryu Mk 2 with LIBs) are both 20 knots.

[3]       Using English wikipedia websites - LIBs have a greater average charge and discharge efficiency 80%-90% (see LIB sidebar) compared to LABs with a lower average in the 50%-95% (see LAB sidebar). A Soryu Mk 2 submarine using LIBs, like a Soryu Mk 1 submarine using LABs both will not exceed 20 knots.

[4]       Additional comments by Anonymous of February 13, 2018. Japanese submarines are not equipped with reduction gear. Their speeds are electrically adjusted. The DC motors of Oyashios and AC motors (PMSM) of Soryus have different adjustment systems. In the Soryu Mk 1 (SMC-8), maximum silent speed is greater than 6 knots. This may correspond to the maximum operating output of a small rotor. In the Soryu Mk 2 (SMC-8B) an increased maximum silent speed for a longer period is expected.

Since 20 knots for 5 minutes is a performance limitation of the SMC-8, achieving 20 knots for an hour would require major modifications such as an increased cooling system, bigger rotor and stator, reinforced bearing and shaft. The speed of a submarine is proportional to cubes of output of the propulsion motor. A 10% increase in maximum speed (from 20 knots to 22 knots ) would need a 33% increase in output (from 5.9MW to 8MW). This requires major modifications. These modification may cause additional vibration leading to greater submarine noise.

Achieving a higher silent speed for a longer time within the framework of the submarine's current output is a more realistic objective.

TABLE SORYU & Oyashio Program as at March 14, 2018 

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 2 Toshiba motors	8105 Oyashio	SS-590/ TS3608	¥52.2B FY1993	LABs only	Jan 1994	Oct 1996	Mar 1998	KHI
6SS-15SS Oyashios  10 subs 2 Toshiba motors 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 Soryu Mk 1 12V25/25SB SMC-8	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	15 Mar 2013	2 Nov 2015	13 Mar 2017	KHI
25SS	8124 Seiryū	SS-509	¥53.1B FY2013	LABs + AIP	22 Oct 2013	12 Oct   2016	12 Mar 2018	MHI
26SS end of SMC-8s	8125 Shoryū	SS-510	¥51.7B FY2014	LABs + AIP	2014	6 Nov 2017	Mar 2019?	KHI
27SS First Soryu Mk 2 12V25/25SB first SMC-8B	8126	SS-511	¥64.4B FY2015	LIBs only	2015	2018?	Mar 2020	MHI
28SS  Second Soryu Mark 2 12V25/25SB SMC-8B	8127	SS-512	¥63.6B FY2016	LIBs only	2016?	2018?	Mar 2021?	KHI
29SS First Soryu Mk 3 12V25/31S SMC-9?	8128	?	¥76B FY2017	LIBs only	?	?	2023?	MHI?
30SS Second Soryu Mk 3 12V25/31S	8029?	?	¥71.5B FY2018	LIBs only	?	?	2024?	KHI?

Table from 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. On Feb 13 2018 Diesel and Motor types were added.

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Anonymous and Pete

China Critical of Indian Nuclear Submarine's Major Accident

The following is part of a Chinese Global Times article of February 6, 2018 by "Beijing-based naval expert" Li Jie at http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1088479.shtml :

“...[India's first indigenous nuclear submarine] INS Arihant passed all trials in February 2016 and was commissioned into service in August [2016], making India the sixth country in the world to put a nuclear-armed submarine into operation. That was considered a milestone in the history of Indian Navy's development.

However, it was recently disclosed that the vessel had suffered a mishap after less than two years and not sailed for more than 10 months.

According to the Hindu, INS Arihant's propulsion compartment was damaged after water rushed in when a hatch on the rear side was left open by mistake. Since the accident, the submarine has been undergoing repairs and clean-up. Besides other repair work, many pipes had to be cut open and replaced. "Cleaning-up" of a nuclear submarine is a laborious task that requires a lot of effort, money and time.

The Indian submarine was built at a cost of $2.9 billion. Why did such a silly human error occur so as to damage it? The direct causes seem to be inadequate management, indiscipline and slackness among officers and soldiers of the Indian Navy.

...India has long dreamed of becoming a military power. It hopes to acquire more core defense technologies as soon as possible. However, most of India's weapons are purchased from major military powers including Russia, France, the UK and the US. The sources of India's weaponry and equipment are complicated.

Norms and technical standards that various countries follow to make weapons are different. Coupled with the fact that India is also developing indigenous weapons, it's fair to say that the country's arsenal is a hodgepodge.

...Improvement in military technology does not come about overnight. It is a long process that is not solely a military issue, but also related to a country's comprehensive strength, level of technology, manufacturing capability and quality of personnel. But the Indian military has been over-anxious for quick results in recent years and has paid too much attention to dealing with China. This will inevitably lead to adverse consequences."

SEE WHILE GLOBAL TIMES ARTICLE.

(Illustration by Liu Rui/GT in Chinese Global Times article, February 6, 2018 at http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1088479.shtml)

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COMMENT

All submarine services have accidents, some tragically fatal. China would do well to remember the fate of Chinese Navy’s (PLA-N's) Type 035 Ming submarine No. 361:

In 2003, “all 70 crew members [of 361] died when the submarine's diesel engine used up all the oxygen (because it failed to shut down properly) while the boat was submerged on April 16, 2003. The submarine, which was [extraordinarily] commanded by [a] Commodore Cheng Fuming (程福明), had been taking part in naval exercises east of Inner Changshan Islands in the Bohai Sea of Northeastern China. Along with its normal complement, the crew also included 13 trainee cadets from the Chinese naval academy.^[3]

After the disaster, the crippled submarine drifted for ten days because it was on a silent, no-contact exercises. The boat was discovered by Chinese fishermen who noticed its periscope sticking above the surface on April 25, 2003.”

See a less critical Submarine Matters article of January 15, 2018 on INS Arihant's accident.  

Possible Motor Modifications for Australia's Future Submarine

wispywood2344's diagram of a Soryu class submarine. To accommodate more powerful motor(s) changes like a longer section 12 (at the back) would be required. See larger, more readable, image of the diagram at http://blog.livedoor.jp/wispywood2344/others/Soryu_cutaway.svg. 

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Submarine Matters has lately concentrated on diesels for Australia Future Submarine but motors are equally important in submarine generator sets (gensets).

Anonymous has kindly made comments of January 19, 2018 on submarine motors. The comments have been further translated by Pete.

Japan’s proposed submarine design “SEA-J” for the Australian Future Submarine (SEA 1000) competition was to be 92m long. Naval Group of France won the competition in April 2016, but it is still relevant how Japan would have handled the more powerful propulsion solutions for a large Australian submarine. Relevant because Naval Group will need to resolve similar propulsion issues.

SEA-J is 8m longer than Japan's already built Soryu submarine’s 84m. In the cutaway diagram above the main motor section (12) was lengthened by 2m to improve the performance of the main motor. As SEA-J would have been required to transit long distance (perhaps 3,000 km each way) and at high speed, the durability and reliability of the main motor is all the more essential. The motor’s durability could be improved by measures such as adopting a tandem connection of two main motors. This results in longer length.

Neodymium magnets (which experience thermal and electrical environmental degradation) and bearings (which experience wear) are used in a submarine’s Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM). A PMSM uses permanent magnets embedded in a steel rotor to create a constant magnetic field. The stator carries windings connected to an AC supply to produce a rotating magnetic field. To prevent damage, the magnets, made out of Neodymium are kept cool. This is achieved by limiting the rotation speed/load and limiting bearing temperature. 

Japan's current Soryu Mk.I (with LABs and AIP) is equipped with one SMC-8 main motor. This is the first time the Soryu’s motor has been named in English to Pete’s knowledge.) 

The SMC-8 consists of two rotors and three bearings (two journal bearings which support the cylindrical rotating shaft at bow and stern sides, and one thrust bearing in which supports the axial load caused by propulsion at stern side). The SMC-8’s maximum output is 5.9 MW.

The tandem motor consists of two motors (four journal bearings, one thrust bearing). The load at each journal bearing will reduce than single motor (two journal bearings, one thrust bearing) with same output, because weight of rotor per unit journal bearing reduces. Disadvantages of tandem motor are unchanged thrust load, increased size of motor, increased number of vibration sources (increased number of bearings) and so on. A tandem motor may be suitable for large conventional submarine or nuclear submarine.

Regarding motor components, of interest is the RENK Company of Hanover, Germany's “Propulsion Motor Bearings and Thrust Bearings for Naval Application (Submarines)” document (PDF 2MB). In it: 

-  A stern side picture of a PMSM motor is shown at Fig. 3, on page2.

-  Most western submarine builders including Naval Group, TKMS and Navantia (S-80s) use RENK

   products. See page 4 which indicates “Over the last 50 years RENK slide bearings [have]

   equipped...more than 160 submarines.”

By Anonymous and Pete

Japanese WWII submarine sank a US Carrier simultaneously damaging a Battleship

Takakazu Kinashi was born in 1902 on the home island of Kyushu, Japan. He decided when young  on a naval career. In 1920 he graduated from the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy 255th in a class of 255 cadets. Given this “distinction” its amazing he wasn’t kicked out of the Navy instantly. Kinashi must have redeemed himself in his later service on cruisers, destroyers and submarines to the extent he was given command of the large submarine I-19 (photo below) in 1942.

During the Guadalcanal campaign Kinashi found himself the right commander at the right time. On September 15, 1942, he sighted and attacked the American carrier USS Wasp, which was part of a task force transporting the 7th Marine Regiment and stores to Guadalcanal. Kinashi penetrated Wasp's destroyer screen, and after moving as close as 500 meters to Wasp, he launched a full salvo of six torpedoes. Three torpedoes struck Wasp, starting uncontrollable fires which soon forced abandon ship.

The remaining three torpedoes continued for another twelve miles into a separate task force, striking the newbuild, fast battleship USS North Carolina and destroyer USS O'Brien. O'Brien sank several weeks later and North Carolina was so severely damaged that it was out of commission for several months for repairs. Kinashi was promoted to commander less than two months later, and honored with a personal interview with Emperor Hirohito.

Takakazu Kinashi managed to sink the US carrier Wasp when he commanded Japanese submarine

 I-19 (above). I-19 was a large SSK then and now, displacing 2,584 tons (surfaced) and 3,654 tons (submerged). But like most WWII submarines it was an old style (pre Type XXI) submarine with limited battery capacity and no snorkel. It was thus designed to spend more time on the surface (with a speed of 23.5 knots) than submerged (speed 8 knots). It only carried 17 torpedoes partly due to I-19 being burdened with modifications for its Yokosuka E14Y reconnaisance floatplane. Requiring carriage of one or more floatplanes was a poor strategic concept forcing too many WWII Japanese submarines to be inefficiently large.