Soryu-class profile
Hakuryū (SS-503) visits Pearl Harbor, Feb 2013
Class overview
NameSōryū
Builders
Operators Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Preceded byOyashio-class submarine
Succeeded byTaigei-class submarine
Built2005 – 2019
In commission2009 – Present
Planned12
Completed12
Active12
General characteristics
TypeAttack submarine
Displacement
  • Surfaced: 2,900 tonnes (2,854 long tons)
  • Submerged: 4,200 t (4,134 long tons)
Length84.0 m (275 ft 7 in)
Beam9.1 m (29 ft 10 in)
Draught8.5 m (27 ft 11 in)
Propulsion
  • 1-shaft 2× Kawasaki 12Ｖ 25/25 SB-type diesel engines diesel-electric
  • 4× Kawasaki Kockums V4-275R Stirling engines - up to Shōryū
  • 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]
RangeAIP endurance (est.): 6,100 nautical miles (11,300 km; 7,000 mi) at 6.5 knots (12.0 km/h; 7.5 mph)[1]
Complement65 (9 officers, 56 enlisted)
Sensors and
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys
Armament

The Sōryū-class submarines (16SS) are diesel-electric attack submarines. The first boat in the class 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 stern combination diving planes and rudders. The Sōryūs have the largest displacement of any submarine used by post-war Japan.[2]

The Sōryū-class is Japan's first air-independent propulsion submarine class. From Sōryū to Shōryū are fitted with Kockums Naval Solutions Stirling engines license-built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, allowing them to stay submerged for longer periods of time. The 11th submarine of the class, Ōryū, is the world's first lithium-ion battery submarine.[3] The cost of the sixth submarine (Kokuryū) was estimated at US$540 million.[4]

In 2023, the first of the replacements for the Sōryūs, the Taigei-class submarine,[5] entered service.[6]

Naming convention

Japanese submarines since World War II were named after ocean currents. The JMSDF changed its naming convention with the Sōryū,[7] and submarines will now be named after mythological creatures. Sōryū (そうりゅう) means blue dragon in Japanese and shares its name with the World War II aircraft carrier Sōryū, sunk during the Battle of Midway.

Variants

The eleventh Sōryū-class submarine (Ōryū) is the first Japanese submarine in the fleet to mount lithium-ion batteries. The JS Ōryū was given a budget of ¥64.3 billion (equivalent to ¥65.55 billion or US$601.3 million in 2019)[8] under the 2015 Japanese Defense Budget.[9]

Lithium-ion batteries have almost double the electric storage capacity of traditional lead-acid batteries, and by not only replacing them in the existing battery storage areas but adding to the already large battery capacity by also filling the huge space (several hundred tons displacement) inside the hull previously occupied by the AIP Stirling engines and their fuel tanks with these new batteries, the amount of (more powerful) batteries carried overall is massive. This has improved the underwater endurance significantly and is felt will be an advantage over the slow recharge capability of the AIP system.

In any event, JMSDF believes that lithium-ion is the way forward and intends to 'trial' this new system and compare it to the previous AIP system for operational effectiveness.

Exports

Japan offered Sōryū-class submarines to Australia as replacements for the Royal Australian Navy's Collins-class submarines, as part of the Collins-class submarine replacement project.[10] On 9 April 2014, then-Australian Minister for Defence, David Johnston, described the Sōryū class as "extremely impressive"[11] while discussing Australia's future submarine options. On 26 April 2016, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced that the Australian contract had been awarded to the French-designed Shortfin Barracuda,[12] though this deal was eventually rescinded.

India, Morocco, Norway, Netherlands, and Taiwan have also approached Japan, and expressed an interest in buying Sōryū-class submarines. During a visit to Japan, India's then-Union Minister of Defence, Manohar Parrikar, invited the Japanese government to participate in their US$8.1 billion Project 75I-class submarine procurement program.[13]

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

Boats

Project no.Building no.Pennant no.NameJapanese NamesakeLaid downLaunchedCommissionedHome portNotes
S1318116SS-501Sōryūそうりゅう Blue Dragon31 March 20055 December 200730 March 2009Kure
8117SS-502Unryūうんりゅう Cloud Dragon31 March 200615 October 200825 March 2010[14]KureThese five submarines are equipped with a new sonar ZQQ-7B.
8118SS-503Hakuryūはくりゅう White Dragon6 February 200716 October 200914 March 2011Kure
8119SS-504Kenryūけんりゅう Sword Dragon31 March 200815 November 201016 March 2012Kure
8120SS-505Zuiryūずいりゅう Auspicious Dragon16 March 200920 October 20116 March 2013Yokosuka
8121SS-506Kokuryūこくりゅう Black Dragon21 January 201131 October 20139 March 2015Yokosuka
8122SS-507Jinryūじんりゅう Benevolent Dragon14 February 20128 October 20147 March 2016KureThis submarine is equipped with a new sonar ZQQ-7B and a new satellite communication device.
8123SS-508Sekiryūせきりゅう Red Dragon15 March 20132 November 201513 March 2017[15]KureThis submarine is equipped with a new sonar ZQQ-7B, a new satellite communication device and new torpedo counter measures.
8124SS-509Seiryūせいりゅう Pure Dragon22 October 201312 October 201612 March 2018Yokosuka
8125SS-510Shōryūしょうりゅう Soaring Dragon28 January 20156 November 201718 March 2019Kure
8126SS-511Ōryūおうりゅう Phoenix Dragon16 November 20154 October 20185 March 2020KureThese two submarines utilize Li-ion battery propulsion technology
8127SS-512Tōryūとうりゅう Fighting Dragon27 January 20176 November 201924 March 2021Yokosuka

See also

Submarines of similar comparison

References

  1. 1 2 Pike, John. "SS-501 Soryu / 16SS / SS 2,900 ton Class". www.globalsecurity.org. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  2. ↑ "SS Soryu Class Submarines". Naval Technology. 2017-09-03. Archived from the original on 2018-07-19. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
  3. ↑ Japan commissions first Soryu-class submarine equipped with lithium-ion batteries Jane's, 05 March 2020
  4. ↑ "Japan launches newest submarine Kokuryu amid party atmosphere". The Japan Daily Press. 2013-11-04. Archived from the original on 2013-11-08. Retrieved 2013-12-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. ↑ Mizokami, Kyle (2019-06-25). "Taking a Closer Look at Japan's Futuristic Attack Submarine". Popular Mechanics. Hearst Digital Media.
  6. ↑ Roblin, Sebastien (2019-11-07). "Meet the 29SS: Japan's New Stealth Submarine". The National Interest.
  7. ↑ 海上自衛隊訓令第３０号 Archived 2011-07-22 at the Wayback Machine, Japan Maritime Self Defense Force
  8. ↑ 1868 to 1938: Williamson J., Nominal Wage, Cost of Living, Real Wage and Land Rent Data for Japan 1831-1938, 1939 to 1945: Bank of Japan Historical Statistics Afterwards, Japanese Historical Consumer Price Index numbers based on data available from the Japanese Statistics Bureau. Japan Historical Consumer Price Index (CPI) – 1970 to 2014 Retrieved 30 July 2014. For between 1946 and 1970, from "昭和戦後史". Retrieved 2015-01-24.
  9. ↑ "Japanese Ministry of Defense website, 2015 Defense Budget" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-05-09.
  10. ↑ "Japanese Media Now Openly Talking about Japan-Australia Soryu Deal". Asia Security Watch. Archived from the original on 25 February 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  11. ↑ "Government struggling to find replacement design for Collins Class subs: Defence Minister". ABC News. 9 April 2014. Archived from the original on 23 March 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  12. ↑ "France wins $50b contract to help build Australia's new submarines". The Age. 26 April 2016. Archived from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  13. ↑ "India asks Japan to offer Soryu subs for Project 75I requirement - IHS Jane's 360". Archived from the original on 2015-01-31. Retrieved 2015-04-03.
  14. ↑ "Submarine Unryu Delivered". Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. 2010-03-25. Retrieved 2010-02-14.
  15. ↑ Japan receives Soryu-class attack submarine Archived 2017-04-24 at the Wayback Machine, Brahmand.com, 2017-03-16, accessed 2017-04-24
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