The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) commissioned its ninth Soryu-class diesel-electric attack submarine (SSK). JS Seiryū with a pennant number SS-509, was delivered to Japanese Navy with ceremony held in the Hyōgo Prefecture of Kansai, Honshu on March 12.
The 10th of the class, Shoryu (with pennant number SS 510), was launched in November 2017 by Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI), which has built four more boats of the class, and is expected to be commissioned March 2019. The JMSDF plans to operate a total of 12 such boats by March 2021.
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 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.
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.
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.
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Sources:
http://www.janes.com
https://navaltoday.com
https://www.bairdmaritime.com
http://www.navyrecognition.com
https://www.naval-technology.com
