Many believe the Japanese submarine Soryu is the best conventional submarine in the world
Reuters: Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force
Posted on 12/13/2015 2:52:58 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
Until now, the Soryu submarine and its unique technology have been a closely guarded state secret.
But the Japanese navy, or the Maritime Self Defence Forces as they are known, gave North Asia correspondent Matthew Carney an exclusive look at the Soryu at the Yokosuka Naval base on the outskirts of Tokyo.
Many believe the Soryu is best conventional submarine in the world and should be the leading contender to replace the Collins class submarines.
The Japanese are now in a race with the Germans and the French to win Australia's biggest ever defence contract worth nearly $50 billion.
I was taken to see the SS Kokuryu (black dragon), which was completed in March 2015 and is the very latest from the Soryu class.
The Japanese are hoping that the 12 submarines will be patrolling Australian waters by the middle of next decade.
Submarine warfare is determined by how quiet and deep a sub can go.
The commanding officer of the SS Kokuryu, Takehiko Hirama, said the Soryu had the edge over all other conventional submarines.
"The characteristic is secrecy," Commander Hirama said.
"We can go into enemy territory without being found out because we emit very little sound."
Every piece of the submarine is designed to minimise sound signatures or vibrations. Rubber tiles surround the sub as they deflect sound and sonar.
All the electronics are also covered in rubber to mute any noise, and even the light bulbs have had their sound signatures extracted.
The Soryu can also stay submerged for longer as a unique Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system keeps it down for two weeks.
Commander Hirama said his submarine did not have to come up for air as much.
"We used diesel engines, but sterling engines and the AIP system means we don't need much air from outside to move the engines to generate electricity," he said.
The Hull is the key to the Soryu's strength and its ability to drive deep. It is made with special steel and the Japanese say that through precision engineering they have come as close as possible to what submariners call the perfect circle.
The sub also has a secret X configuration rudder design that gives it extra stability
Master chief petty officer Katsuyuki Matsui from SS Kokuryu said he was proud to be a part of it because "its full of world-class technology and it's essential to Japan's national defence".
Australia must invest in training workers, former commander says
It has taken the Japanese 60 years of research and development to make the Soryu.
They are ready to hand over much of it but the big question remains: can these unique features be replicated in Australian shipyards?
Former Soryu submarine commander Toshihide Yamauchi said Australian investment would be pivotal.
"Investment is required on the Australian side and workers have to be created who have the skills," Mr Yamauchi said.
"If not, then it's going to be difficult to build."
Mr Yamauchi warned unless capacity is built up, budget blow-outs and maintenance issues could plague Australia's next generation of submarines.
"Japan can provide the technical cooperation, [but] I would like the Australians to learn as many techniques as possible," he said.
"A culture of excellence has to be created."
The Japanese said they were ready to train hundreds of Australian engineers.
The competitors for the submarine deal, the French and Germans, do have more defence export experience but they have yet to build a conventional submarine like the Soryu that is big enough to meet Australia's strategic needs.
Many believe the Japanese submarine Soryu is the best conventional submarine in the world
Reuters: Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force
Not quite sure the name ‘Soryu’ is the best choice...
“Best conventional submarine in the world”
What goes in the category of unconventional? Does anyone know?
“Not quite sure the name ‘Soryu’ is the best choice”
LOL. At least it isn’t Hurdyu!
Yamato wouldn’t have been a good one either.
Unconventional is a nuclear sub. The term “conventional” means a non-nuclear drive system
Thank you Fai Mao!
Looks like these cost about half a billion. That seems like a bargain. Our Virginia class subs cost $2.6B (though ours are nuclear, which has advantages, though not so stealthy).
Personally, I’d think about passing over the names Hiryu, Soryu, Kaga, and Akagi - and, of course, Yamato, but....
...well, whatever.
I’d pass on the list of ill-fated carriers too.
Nuclear power (and maybe space alien technology?)
The US Navy needs about 40 of these in inventory.
Our Nuke subs are the best in the world but they are designed for blue water operations.
They are not nearly as dominant in the littorals like the South China Sea, Persian Gulf, Mediterranean etc.
Our current fleet is designed to operate in the open oceans, hundreds or thousands of miles from any land. They are big, and a little bit noisier than one of these little AIP boats.
But, since there is NO SUBSTITUTE for Nuke sub (eventually those AIP boats have to come up to breathe and they are instantly targets when they do), we should augment them with these cost-effective, and deadly little boats.
This is more like a mini-Virginia shape.
You can use a lot of superlatives for the Japanese Soryus, but “little” doesn’t fit! They are probably 40% longer than the Swedish subs the USN leased and nearly thrice the displacement.
Since the USN is predominantly an expeditionary force, a smaller sub like the German Type-214 would make more sense.
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