Posted on 03/31/2014 9:02:57 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
See? One post!
The JMSDF Soryu-class submarines are as state of the art AIP D/E conventional subs as it gets.
But they are not brand new.
The first was launched in 2007 and they have now launched six of them on the way to building ten.
They are very quiet and they do have a good weapons load.
Just the same, they do not have the endurance or the speed of a nuclear submarine and the latest Virginias (US Navy), Astutes (UK) and new Russian Yasen class submarines are also very, very dangerous, and carry a lot more weapons...and are capable of intersepcting high value military tagets on the high seas and keeping up with them...which also makes them good escorts for those high value naval vessels too.
These new AIP DEs though are going to be very dangerous in the littoral waters, at any choke point, or whenver and wherever they can lie in wait for an approaching task force.
Because of their slower submerged speed, they are hard pressed to intercept a transiting task force on the high seas...unless, as I say, they know where one is going to pass and can lie in wait for it.
The long lance did most of it’s damage from the ship launched ones. Had a range of 20,000 yards I believe.
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