Sōryū-class submarine

Hakuryū (SS-503) visits Pearl Harbor, Feb 2013
Class overview
Name: Sōryū
Builders:
Operators:  Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Preceded by: Oyashio-class submarine
Built: 2005–
In commission: 2009–
Building: 3
Planned: 11
Completed: 8
Active: 7 (1 launched)
General characteristics
Type: Attack submarine
Displacement:
  • Surfaced: 2,900 tonnes (2,854 long tons)
  • Submerged: 4,200 t (4,134 long tons)
Length: 84.0 m (275 ft 7 in)
Beam: 9.1 m (29 ft 10 in)
Draught: 8.5 m (27 ft 11 in)
Depth: 500m
Propulsion:
  • 1-shaft 2× Kawasaki 12Ｖ 25/25 SB-type diesel engines diesel-electric
  • 4× Kawasaki Kockums V4-275R Stirling engines
  • 3,900 hp (2,900 kW) surfaced
  • 8,000 hp (6,000 kW) submerged
Speed:
  • Surfaced: 13 kn (24 km/h; 15 mph)
  • Submerged: 20 kn (37 km/h; 23 mph)[1]
Range: 6,100 nm @ 6.5 knots
Complement: 65 (9 officers, 56 enlisted)
Sensors and
processing systems:
Electronic warfare
& decoys:
Armament:

The Sōryū-class submarines (16SS) are diesel-electric attack submarines that entered service with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force in 2009. The design is an evolution of the Oyashio-class submarine, from which it can most easily be distinguished by its X-shaped tail planes. The Sōryūs have the largest displacement of any submarine used by post-war Japan.

It is Japan's first AIP submarine. The class are fitted with air-independent propulsion based on Kockums stirling engines license-built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, allowing them to stay submerged for longer periods of time. Some recent information suggest that the last units in the series will have their air independent propulsion systems replaced with banks of Li-Ion batteries.[2]

The cost of the sixth submarine (Kokuryū) was estimated at 540 million USD.[3] The 11th Soryu class submarine, with improved underwater endurance, etc. compared with the existing Soryu-class submarines by mounting lithium-ion batteries, was given a budget of ¥64.3 billion/US$536.7 million under the 2015 Japanese Defense Budget. [4]

Naming convention

Japanese submarines since World War II were named after ocean currents. The JMSDF changed its naming convention with the Sōryū,[5] and submarines will now be named after mythological creatures. Sōryū (そうりゅう) means blue (or green) dragon in Japanese and is named after the World War II carrier Sōryū, which was sunk during the Battle of Midway.

Exports

Japan may offer Sōryū-class submarines to Australia to replace the Royal Australian Navy's Collins-class submarines as part of the Collins-class submarine replacement project.[6][7] On 9 April 2014, Australian Defence Minister David Johnston, while discussing Australia's future submarine options, described the Sōryū class as "extremely impressive".[8] India too has approached Japan and expressed interest to buy Sōryū-class submarines. During a visit of Defence Minister Manohar Parikkar to Japan he asked Japanese government to participate in the multi-billion dollar Project 75I-class submarine project.[9]

Hakuryū (SS-503) visiting Guam in 2013
Zuiryū (SS-505) under construction

Boats

Project no. Building no. Pennant no. Name/namesake Laid down Launched Commissioned Home port
S131 8116 SS-501 Sōryū (そうりゅう) / Blue Dragon 31 March 2005 5 December 2007 30 March 2009 Kure
S131[10] 8117 SS-502 Unryū (うんりゅう) / Cloud Dragon 31 March 2006 15 October 2008 25 March 2010[11] Kure
8118 SS-503 Hakuryū (はくりゅう) / White Dragon 6 February 2007 16 October 2009 14 March 2011 Kure
8119 SS-504 Kenryū (けんりゅう) / Sword Dragon, Stegosauria 31 March 2008 15 November 2010 16 March 2012 Kure
8120 SS-505 Zuiryū (ずいりゅう) / Auspicious Dragon 16 March 2009 20 October 2011 6 March 2013 Yokosuka
8121 SS-506 Kokuryū (こくりゅう) / Black Dragon 21 January 2011 31 October 2013 9 March 2015 Yokosuka
S131[10][12] 8122 SS-507 Jinryū (じんりゅう) / Benevolent Dragon 14 February 2012 8 October 2014 (March 2016) ?
S131[10][12][13] 8123 SS-508 Sekiryū (せきりゅう) / Red Dragon 15 March 2013 2 November 2015 (March 2017) ?
S131[14] 8124 SS-509 ?　 22 October 2013 May 2016 (March 2018) ?
S131[15] 8125 SS-510 ?　 ? ? ? ?
S131[16] 8126 SS-511 ?　 ? ? ? ?

References

  1. ↑ SS-501 Soryu Specifications - Globalsecurity.org
  2. ↑ "First Improved Oyashio-class boat takes to the water". Jane's Information Group. 2007-12-06. Retrieved 2007-12-09.
  3. ↑ "Japan launches newest submarine Kokuryu amid party atmosphere". The Japan Daily Press. 2013-11-04. Retrieved 2013-12-14.
  4. ↑ "Japanese Ministry of Defense website, 2015 Defense Budget." (PDF).
  5. ↑ 海上自衛隊訓令第３０号, Japan Maritime Self Defense Force
  6. ↑ http://www.webcitation.org/6B5F7Dxp6
  7. ↑ "Japanese Media Now Openly Talking about Japan-Australia Soryu Deal."
  8. ↑ http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-09/defence-minister-david-johnston-collins-submarines-replacement/5377266
  9. ↑ http://www.janes.com/article/48448/india-asks-japan-to-offer-soryu-subs-for-project-75i-requirement.
  10. 1 2 3 They are equipped with a new sonar ZQQ-7B.
  11. ↑ "Submarine Unryu Delivered". Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. 2010-03-25. Retrieved 2010-02-14.
  12. 1 2 They are equipped with a new satellite communication device.
  13. ↑ She is equipped with new torpedo counter measures.
  14. ↑ http://www.mod.go.jp/e/d_budget/pdf/241107.pdf
  15. ↑ http://www.mod.go.jp/e/d_budget/pdf/251009.pdf
  16. ↑ http://www.mod.go.jp/e/d_budget/pdf/270414.pdf

External links



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