Saab Offers A26s for Netherlands' Walrus Submarine Replacement Program

View A. Sideview of Dutch A26 concept (Image Saab via MarineSchepen.nl)

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On October 8, 2018 Anonymous reported regarding concept A26 submarines for the Netherland's (Dutch) Navy's Walrus submarine replacement program - along the lines:

Currently, Sweden's Saab and the Netherland's Damen have teamed up to offer a large concept submarine based on Saab's A26 [1].

The information on A26 may provide some insights into the concept submarine. It is likely:

1.  the pressure hull material: Strenx® 700 (proof strength, Rp0.2=690MPa).
     Using https://www.convertunits.com/from/psi/to/MPa this is equivalent to US measure HY100.
     Also see Table for Sweden's Weldox 700.
2.  Propulsion electric motor: PMSM by JEUMONT ELECTRIC (3.3MW)
3.  Four Stirling AIPs (60kW x 4 =300kW)
4,  Diesel generators: 2 x 12PA4 V200 SMDS by MAN Diesel & Turbo (total electrical output 
     2,128kW) [2]

[1] https://marineschepen.nl/nieuws/Details-voorstel-Saab-Damen-nieuwe-Nederlandse-onderzeeboot-010618.html At “a displacement of about 2900 tons, the design is slightly larger than the current Walrus-class submarine's [2,650 ton (submerged) displacement]. The concept submarine is currently about 73 meters long and has a diameter of about 8 meters. “

View B. Above is an artist's impression, of the propulsion components.
On top is the Stirling AIP motors and Diesels. 
On bottom the "tanks" for liquid oxygen (LOx) and Lithium-ion? Batteries. 
MarineSchepen.nl explains "All engines are equipped with a hood. This ensures noise reduction, but also a more pleasant working environment for the technicians. In the engine room it is a lot quieter and cooler." (Image Saab via MarineSchepen.nl)
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[2]  In View B. The length of diesel module seems to be about 4.5m long - a bit smaller than MTU 12V4000U83's length of 4.58m.

View C. Closeup sideview of Dutch A26 concept. "KOMBUIS" means Galley. (Image Saab via MarineSchepen.nl).
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Pete Comments

Saab and Damen have been pointing to a Walrus replacement concept since early 2015. "Kevin" has pointed to the strategic uses of Walrus submarines since 2015. 

Germany and probably France and Spain would also be offering concept submarines for the Walrus replacement program.

The Walrus upgrade program may mean the 4 Walrus submarines will remain operational up to mid 2025.

Anonymous and Pete

Different Weights and Prices of LIB and LAB Batteries on Soryu Submarines

On October 6, 2018 Anonymous commented (following Submarine Matters, October 5, 2018 article on the launch of the first large Lithium-ion Battery (LIB) submarine) along the lines:

As the length of the Lithium-ion Batteries LIB-Soryu (27SS) is the same as that of the preceding lead-acid batteries LAB-Soryus, the structure of the LIB-Soryus (27SS and the next 28SS) might be very similar to the LAB-Soryus. 

The major differences are:

1.  the large liquid oxygen LOx tanks and Stirling AIP on the LAB -Soryus will not be on the 

     LIB-Soryus. Instead the LIB-Soryus will have an extra 192 LIB modules (12 columns x 16 rows)

     to make up a total of 672 LIB modules. 672 was predicted in the Submarine Matters article of

     April 4, 2017.

2.  there will be a not easily quantified weight difference between LIB-Soryus and LAB-Soryus

     given:

     LIBs weigh 770kg per module and there are 192 extra LIB modules

     Compared to LABs weighing 880kg per module, and

     The heavy LOx, LOx tanks and Stirlig AIP will not be on LIB-Soryus
     [But extra sleeping accommodation and a toilet for women will be on LIB-Soryus.]

3.  The major prices increases of LIBs over LABs, with Totals of:

      -  US$97 million for the 672 LIB modules (at US$144,000 /module) on LIB-Soryus

      -  compared to US$13 million for 480 LABs (at US$27,000 /module) on LAB-Soryus.

Pete Comment: As LIBs for submarines become more common their unit and Total prices are likely to decline significantly.

Japan Launches Oryu, World's 1st Large Lithium-ion Battery (LIB) Submarine - Table

Thanks to Anonymous for providing much of the following information on October 4, 2018.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) in Kobe, Japan on October 4th, 2018 launched the world's first large (full sized) submarine that utilises Lithium-ion Batteries (LIBs). LIBs are an advance on the traditional lead-acid batteries (that have powered conventional submarines world wide for over 100 years). 

This new Japanese submarine has been given the name Auspicious Dragon (translatable as Oryū) [1]. 

More Detail 

In this conventional "diesel-electric" submarine its diesel engines charge the batteries. Once the submarine is fully submerged these new Lithium-ion batteries can turn the electrical motor (then propeller) [for 8 days?] before recharging by diesels is required again.

This new Japanese submarine is of the Soryu class and carries submarine number 27SS (see TABLE below). Its pennant number which will be on its fin/sail when in port is SS-511. It began being built ("Laid Down") in 2015 and may be commissioned into the Japanese Navy in 2020. It weighs 2,900 tonnes (surfaced) and about 4,200 tonnes (submerged) and is 84m long. 

Unlike previous Soryu submarines it carriers no Stirling Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) equipment. Hence it does not suffer the weight/volume disadvantages of carrying two large AIP [40 tonne?] liquid oxygen (LOx) tanks and does not use dangerously explosive hydrogen gas in its AIP process. Instead it carries a greater tonnage of more efficient Lithium-ion Batteries for improved range (in nautical miles) and "endurance" measured in days fully submerged.

While AIP may be the best solution for short range missions (eg. Baltic nations in the Baltic Sea) AIP is not the most efficient solution for Japan with the mid-range (4,000 nautical mile round trip) missions that Japanese submarines often travel.

Other nations, like South Korea, China, France and Germany are experimenting with LIBs for full sized submarines and may launch such submarines within 3 to 15 years. These and other countries are very interested (China using covert methods) in how this new Japanese LIB submarine performs. 

Some very small mini-submarines (called Diver [or SEAL] Delivery Vehicles of around 5 - 10 tonnes) in some navies are already using LIBs. These mini-submarines are housed in dry deck shelters on much larger nuclear or conventional submarines.

On a related matter - Japan's Ministry of Defense is planning to appoint woman submariners [2] in 2023 to travel in this new submarine [and perhaps older submarines?]. New equipment on the new submarine (such as a womens' sleeping room and a toilet) is needed by law [3]. This overall increase in accommodation weight/space will partly impact the improvement in range/endurance achieved by LIBs in 27SS.

[1] http://www.sankei.com/west/news/181004/wst1810040017-n1.html
      [right click mouse to Translate from Japanese]

[2] https://www.sankei.com/west/news/180831/wst1808310047-n1.html

      [right click mouse to Translate from Japanese]

[3] Japanese Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health Part III Chapter IIV Cleanliness (Article 628)

      The employer shall install lavatories as provided by the following. “To be constructed separately

      for men and women."...“To provide one or more toilets for every 20 women or less working at the

      same time.”

TABLE for SORYU & Oyashio Program as at October 5, 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  diesel first SMC-8B motor	8126 Oryū	SS-511	¥64.4B FY2015	LIBs only	2015	4 Oct 2018	Mar 2020?	MHI
28SS  Second Soryu Mark 2 12V25/25SB SMC-8B	8127	SS-512	¥63.6B FY2016	LIBs only	2016?	Oct 2019?	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. 

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Technical Details

Drawing from advice from Anonymous on February 13, 2018  

The Lithium-ion Batteries (LIBs) provide various benefits such as:

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

   completely submerged]

-  due to faster charging of LIBs by the diesel engines

-  providing greater operational flexibility for the submarine 

-  silent [4 knots?] speed performance over a longer medium distance [?? nautical miles for 8

   days?] fully submerged 

-  slightly longer period [probably less than 3 hours?] at the maximum speed (around 20 knots).

LIBs have a greater average charge and discharge efficiency within 80% - 90% (see LIB sidebar) compared to lead-acid batteries which have a lower average of around 70% (see lead-acid battery sidebar). 

Anonymous and Pete

Polands Future Submarine Project: Competition could be close.

On September 29, 2018 Anonymous commented on TKMS Type 212A and Type 212CD submarines:

For potential customer Poland's "ORKA" submarine - the competition between the TKMS Type 212CD and Saab A26 may be tight on price and other criteria.

The TKMS Type 212A and Type 212CD (“Common Design”) are Baltic Sea-specific small submarines. [2 x Type 212CDs have been ordered for the German Navy and 4 x Type 212CDs for the Norwegian Navy].

The Type 212A and 212CDs have non-magnetic steel alloy hulls. Judging from its composition the 1.3964 Austenitic chromium-nickel stainless pressure hull steel for the Type 212A is very expensive.

Costs of Type 212CD and Sweden’s [Baltic specific?] A26 are similar. Norway may pay a total of US$1.81 billion for its 4 x Type 212CDs according this National Interest article. This article is very interesting, as it indicates the adoption of volunteer system for the German Navy submarine service has led to a lack of crew. This has made German submarine fleet semi-dysfunctional [with only three trained crews for its six [212A] submarines!”].

In comparison Sweden is paying a total of US$0.945 billion [March 2015 dollars] for its 2 x A26s submarines. [Submarine Matters reported a slightly higher total of US$1.04 billion (June 2015 dollars)]. Maritime Today [cited by Wiki reports that] on 18 March 2015 Sweden’s A26 project was restarted after the Swedish government placed a formal order for two A26 submarines for the Swedish Navy. 

Anonymous and Pete

Likely China Protest Japan's Submarine Assistance to Taiwan During Abe's State Visit to China

On September 29, 2018 an Anonymous commented.

Will President Xi raise [Japan’s submarine assistance to Taiwan] when Japan’s Prime Minister Abe visits China around October 23, 2018?

This is at a time Abe is pushing for a rapprochement with China as a leverage against the US’s imminent tariffs on Japanese cars and components. Also Japan wishes to counter US pressure upon Japan to open its agricultural markets (a strategic electoral issue in Japan). 

How is Abe going to respond to Xi?

On defense matters, Abe cannot deny that he knows nothing, or cannot do anything, about [MHI and KHI] retirees looking for jobs as contractors on Taiwan's submarine project.

Geopolitically, [this Anonymous] has doubts on the staying power of Japanese or South Korean submarine technical assistance to Taiwan when China starts pressuring those countries. 

Taiwan's Submarine Project: Confirmed and Unconfirmed Details

Anonymous, on September 29, 2018, provided for Taiwan's Indigenous Defense Submarine (IDS) Project:

-  confirmed details of Taiwan hiring Japanese, and US contractors and

-  unconfirmed details of hiring European contractors and offers of submarine designs by India, Japan South Korea, the US and Italy.

Pete has added comments in square [...] brackets.

CONFIRMED

Taiwan's IDS team has hired Japanese contractors (who have temporarily or permanently retired from KHI and MHI).

Taiwanese companies can manufacture some submarine parts. For example, a type of pressure hull steel plate slightly weaker than the HY-80 was produced by a Taiwanese steel company and will be used for Taiwan's submarines. [The pressure hull steel may be “HSLA-80” produced by Taiwan's China Steel Corporation. See SubMatt’s September 21, 2016 article]. 

Very sensitive things will be imported by Lockheed Martin including the combat system (eg. sonar portion). [Very likely that some usually US based Lockheed Martin contractors, for combat system integration, will be at work in Taiwan].

UNCONFIRMED

Japan’s [KHI? MHI? and Government?] have proposed use of designs of improved versions of Japan's teardrop shaped  Yūshio class or Harushio class submarines.

Italy (reportedly). proposed a modern version of the Sauro class [right-click mouse to Translate from Italian].

Taiwan's IDS team has apparently hired a chief engineer who designed the teardrop shaped  Zwaardvis class submarine in the Netherlands, a German submarine technician, and even a Russian submarine technician (according to rumors).

The United States [may have] proposed a Barbel class teardrop shaped submarine design.

South Korea may have proposed a [German designed Type] 209 class submarine (according to rumors).

Lockheed Martin has advised Taiwan to adopt an X-plane  rudder, instead of a [more traditional, in attack submarines] cruciform rudder.

Apparently India offered a Kalvari class variant design of the Scorpene class submarine to Taiwan. [Although the French Naval Group designers of Scorpenes may have a right to block the sale of Scorpene designs to Taiwan].

Since many parts cannot be manufactured by Taiwan, most parts are planned to be imported from Europe.

Anonymous and Pete