niaz
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Raison D’etre of nuclear submarine, whether SSN or SSBN is its capability to remain underwater indefinitely. Therefore in addition to the requirement for fitting a nuclear reactor and its associated paraphernalia required for power generation, there has to be room for food & provisions for about 100 officers & ratings for at 2 to 3 months.
Modern MRE (meal ready to eat) weighs a little over 500 grams per day per person. This means 50 Kg per day or 45 tons for 3 months resulting in more storage space.Longer you are under water, more need of an exercise or a gym. Hence you need a place for the work out.
A nuclear submarine normally has 2 of most things, just in case one breaks down; 2 main engines, 2 electric turbine generators, 2 motor generators (for charging batteries). All of this requires room. That is why nuclear submarines, whether SSN or SSBM need to be bigger.
Smallest SSN to the best of my knowledge was French Rubis class submarines which was 2,660 tons. However the new Barracuda class French submarine is in the 5000 DWT class. Whereas most SSK’ with AIP are about 2000 DWT range.
One must not forget that compared to SSKs nuclear submarines are noisy and not suitable for littoral waters. In my view when a modern SSK with AIP can remain submerged for about 3 weeks; unless a country has ambitions to project power far beyond her shores, nuclear submarine which costs 3 times as much to build is not needed.
Modern MRE (meal ready to eat) weighs a little over 500 grams per day per person. This means 50 Kg per day or 45 tons for 3 months resulting in more storage space.Longer you are under water, more need of an exercise or a gym. Hence you need a place for the work out.
A nuclear submarine normally has 2 of most things, just in case one breaks down; 2 main engines, 2 electric turbine generators, 2 motor generators (for charging batteries). All of this requires room. That is why nuclear submarines, whether SSN or SSBM need to be bigger.
Smallest SSN to the best of my knowledge was French Rubis class submarines which was 2,660 tons. However the new Barracuda class French submarine is in the 5000 DWT class. Whereas most SSK’ with AIP are about 2000 DWT range.
One must not forget that compared to SSKs nuclear submarines are noisy and not suitable for littoral waters. In my view when a modern SSK with AIP can remain submerged for about 3 weeks; unless a country has ambitions to project power far beyond her shores, nuclear submarine which costs 3 times as much to build is not needed.