The JMSDF operates two classes of submarines:
1) Harushio -class submarines - 2 boats
2) Oyashio-class submarines - 11 boats
3) Sōryū-class submarines - 3 boats
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Harushio -class submarines
The SS Harushio class is a 3rd generation submarine, and uses a tear drop type hull. It is technically derived from the previous Yushio class and there is no major advancement, but silent running quality is improved [with a decrease of self noise] and there are some improvements in underwater capability.
Because is is a slightly enlarged and revised edition of the Yushio type, the silhouette is similar, but there is a projection section of the countermeasure intelligence sonar where it differs in the appearance extending to the bow top that makes it is possible to distinguish them. The hull was extended about 1 meter in total length attendant upon inside of warship space enlargement in comparison with the Yushio type.
Many characteristics of the submarines of the Maritime Self Defense Force are not published, with secrecy concerning maximum depth. The Harushio class uses the NS110 high strength steel in portions of the pressure-resistant boat hull, and the operating depth is presumed to be 300 meters or more. Making use of NS90 steel and the NS110 steel, the safe operating depth for the pressure-resistant boat hull is said by some sources to be 500 meters.
The Harushio class, is equipped with the the ZQQ sonar and TASS for bow sonar. The torpedo system uses the domestic 89 type torpedoes to assure improving the torpedo attack power.
The budget for the Harushio class was estimated at 38,673,000,000 Yen, but construction expenses increased substantially, to 44,266,000,000 Yen ago. As for the breakdown, the hulls cost 26,558,000,000 Yen, the main electric motors 1,433,000,000 Yen, the main generators 1,792,000,000 Yen, and the main
storage
batteries reached 2,185,000,000 Yen. The remainder of the electronic equipment and the like probably is 10,000,000,000.
The last unit of this class, the Asashio, began a new practice of the Submarine Division which was executed in 1999. In March 2000 the Asashio was redesignated as a
training submarine (the TSS 3601), and was modified for this role. Until recently, modifying an old-fashioned submarine into an auxiliary vessel was the norm for training submarine crew members. But because these older vessels had restricted periscope depth, range and the like, this became less useful for training. It was decided to use as a training ship a vessel which had the characteristics of newly-built ship, and which possessed the same search and attack equipment.
The National Defense Program Guidelines in and after JFY 2005 and Mid-Term Defense Program (JFY 2005-2009) were adopted by the Security Council and the Cabinet on 10 December 2004. The latest changes to MSDF organisation was elaborated in the December 2004 guiding documents, the National Defence Program Outline (NDPO) and the Mid-Term Defence Program (MDP). It called for maintaining the number of combat-coded submarines at 16. This would imply withdrawing two additional Harushio class submarines from service by 2010 that would otherwise remain in service through the 2015 timeframe. Possibly these boats would also be redesignated as training submarines.
Standard Displacement 2,450ton
2,500ton (SS589)
Boundary Dimension Length: 77m
Width: 10.0m
Depth: 10.5m
Draft: 7.7m
Boat Shape Complete double shell system (tear drop type)
Main Engine Kawasaki 12V25/25S Diesel x2,
Main motor x1;
1 shaft propulsion
Horsepower 7,200ps (submerged)
Maximum Speed 12kt (surfaced)
20kt (submerged)
Crew 75
Primary Armament HU-603 underwater torpedo tubes x6
(dual use with Harpoon USM),
Type 89 torpedo
Surface Radar ZPS-6
Sonar ZQQ-5B, TASS
ESM ZLR-7
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Oyashio Class Submarines
Key Data
- Standard Displacement 2,750t
Oyashio is an advanced diesel-electric patrol submarine class operated by the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF).
Eleven submarines of this tupe were built by Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries between 1994 and 2006. The Oyashio Class is preceded by the Harushio Class and succeeded by the Soryu Class.
Oyashio Class submarines can conduct both anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare missions. Oyashio is one of the quietest and largest submarine classes of the JMSDF.
The keel for lead submarine in the class, also known as Oyashio (SS 590), was laid down in January 1994. It was launched in October 1996 and commissioned in March 1998.
Other submarines in the class are: Michishio (SS 591), Uzushio (SS 592), Makishio (SS 593), Isoshio (SS 594), Narushio (SS 595), Kuroshio (SS 596), Takashio (SS 597), Yaeshio (SS 598), Setoshio (SS 599), and Mochishio (SS 600).
Mochishio was the final ship of the Oyashio Class to be built, and was commissioned into the JMSDF in March 2008.
Design and features
The Oyashio Class incorporates a leaf coil hull design in place of the tear drop hull form used in previous submarines of the JMSDF. The earlier bow mounted sensor arrangement was also changed and conformal sonar was fitted on the hull side to achieve improved detection capability.
"Oyashio Class submarines can conduct both anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare missions."
The Oyashio Class has higher displacement over the Harushio Class due to its large flank sonar arrays. Anechoic rubber tiles were installed on the high tensile steel hull to improve acoustic stealth efficiency, while cigar-shaped hull enhances underwater operations and propulsion performance.
The Oyashio Class also features an advanced combat intelligence processing system, and the placement of the torpedo tube was changed due to a new sensor arrangement.
Submarines of this class are operated by a smaller crew compared to similar types of submarine operated by other nations, due to their highly automated systems.
Oyashio Class submarines have an overall length of 82m, a beam of 8.9m, a depth of 10.3m, a draft of 7.4m and a standard displacement of 2,750t. The submarine can complement a crew of 70.
Weapon systems
The Oyashio Class is fitted with six HU-605 533mm torpedo tubes with 20 reloads for Type 89 torpedoes and UGM-84D Harpoon anti-ship missiles. Harpoon missiles can travel at a speed of 864km/h and have a range of over 124km.
Type 89 is a wire-guided torpedo operating in active and passive homing modes. It has a maximum speed of 130km/h. The torpedoees can carry a warhead of 267kg have a maximum range of 50km.
"The class is powered by a diesel-electric propulsion system."
Sensors and radars
The Oyashio Class features Japanese-designed radar and electronics, and are equipped with JRC ZPS six I-band search radar. The sonar suite consists of a Hughes/Oki ZQQ 5B/6 hull-mounted sonar, a towed array sonar and four flank arrays.
Propulsion
The class is powered by a diesel-electric propulsion system. The propulsion system integrates two Kawasaki 12V25S diesel engines, two Kawasaki alternators and two Toshiba main motors. The power plant provides a total power output of 7,700hp. The propulsion system provides a surfaced speed of 12kt and submerged speed of 20kt.
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Oyashio (SS 590) at Pearl Harbour
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The Oyashio Class submarine can launch UGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles.
Oyashio Class Submarines - Naval Technology
JMSDF Oyashio class Submarine - SS-590 Oyashio
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SS Soryu Class Submarines, Japan
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Key Data
- Type Diesel-electric submarine
- Builders Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation
- Operator Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
The Soryu Class diesel-electric submarines are being built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). Soryu Class is an improved version of the Oyashio Class submarine.
The keel for the first submarine in the class, Soryu (SS-501), was laid down in March 2005. It was launched in December 2007 and commissioned in March 2009. Unryu (SS-502) was laid down in March 2006, launched in October 2008 and commissioned in March 2010.
Hakuryu was laid down in February 2007 and launched in October 2009 for commissioning in March 2011. The fourth and fifth submarines under construction are scheduled to be commissioned in 2012 and 2013 respectively.
The class is also referred to as the SS 2,900t and the 16SS project. Soryu and Unryu have been named after the World War II aircraft carriers. Soryu was one of the carriers that participated in the Pearl Harbour attack. Both submarines are home-ported at Kure and operated by Subron 5, S-flotilla-1 of the JMSDF.
"The Soryu Class carries a hydrodynamic design based on the Oyashio class submarine."
Soryu Class design and features
The Soryu Class carries a hydrodynamic design based on the Oyashio class submarine. It has a larger displacement than any other submarine class in JMSDF's service. The hull form is made of high tensile steel and is covered with anechoic coating to reduce the reflection of acoustic waves. Interiors of the submarine boast acoustic isolation of loud components. The submarine features computer-aided X control planes. The design incorporates highly automated systems.
The submarine is equipped with Stirling engines for increased propulsion performance and underwater endurance. The engine supports superior submerged operations. The high-performance sonar onboard improves surveillance capabilities. The submarine also features stealth capabilities and enhanced safety measures such as snorkel equipment.
The submarine has an overall length of 84m, beam of 9.1m and depth of 10.3m. The normal draft of the sub is 8.4m. It has a surfaced displacement of 2,950t and submerged displacement of 4,200t. The Soryu Class can complement a crew of 65 including nine officers and 56 enlisted members. The submarine can sail at a surfaced speed of 13kt and submerged speed of 20kt. It has a maximum range of 6,100nm at 6.5kt speed.
Weapon systems
The Soryu Class is fitted with six HU-606 533mm torpedo tubes for Type 89 torpedoes and UGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles. The Harpoon has a range of over 124km and speed of 864km/h.
Type 89 is a wire-guided torpedo with active and passive homing modes. It has a maximum speed of 130km/h and can engage targets within the range of 50km. The torpedo can carry a warhead of 267kg.
Sensors / radars
The submarine is equipped with a ZPS-6F navigation or surface search radar. The sonar suite integrates four low frequency flank arrays, a bow-array and a towed array sonar.
Countermeasures
Soryu features ZLR-3-6 electronic support measures (ESM) systems. There are two 3in underwater countermeasure launcher tubes installed for launching acoustic device countermeasures (ADCs).
Propulsion
Soryu is powered by a diesel-electric propulsion system. Two Kawasaki 12V 25/25 SB-type diesel engines and four Kawasaki Kockums V4-275R Stirling engines provide a total power output of 2,900kW surfaced and 6,000kW submerged.
"Soryu features ZLR-3-6 electronic support measures systems."
Soryu is the first submarine of the JMSDF to be equipped with Stirling engines manufactured by Sweden-based Kockums.
Stirling is a silent and vibration-free external combustion engine. The Kockums Stirling air independent propulsion system onboard reduces the need for frequent battery charging surfaced and thus increases the submerged endurance of the submarine.
The electric propulsion motor drives a propeller through a single shaft. The submarine is also fitted with an X rudder to provide high manoeuvrability to the submarine when operating very close to the seabed. This X rudder configuration was initially developed by Kockums for the Swedish Gotland class. The propulsion system provides a maximum speed of 20kt.
SS Soryu Class Submarines - Naval Technology
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