09V/09VI (095/096) Nuclear Submarine Thread
- Thread starter Hendrik_2000
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Even with a 10-11-meter diameter hull, with VLS cells/multipack VLS tubes installed, a tutleback hump design for SSNs is unavoidable. However, the turtleback hump will be much less pronounced and easier to optimize on SSNs than SSBNs (perhaps similar in style to the Triomphant SSBNs of the French Navy).
The following 3D model is made by SOYO on Weibo. Please do note that the 3D model is neither indicative of the actual number of multipack VLS tubes to be installed on the upcoming 095/A SSNs, nor indicative of the actual (cross-sectional) hull design of the 095/A SSNs. It must be noted that the 3D model is only meant for illustrating the aforementioned points in the paragraph above.
The following 3D model is made by SOYO on Weibo. Please do note that the 3D model is neither indicative of the actual number of multipack VLS tubes to be installed on the upcoming 095/A SSNs, nor indicative of the actual (cross-sectional) hull design of the 095/A SSNs. It must be noted that the 3D model is only meant for illustrating the aforementioned points in the paragraph above.
Indeed, a slight hump for the VLS tube sections will be inevitable for a multipack tube that has two in a row like this.
Even the block v Virginia will have a slight hump for its VPM section, though it of course has a smaller pressure hull but countered by only having a single centerline column of VLS tubes.
If anything, using a notional 12m pressure hull (slightly larger than drawn but imo more consistent with rumours?) specification with a two row tube set up like depicted (which I agree seems consistent with some indicators at this stage), would give it a similar geometry to Ohio class in terms of VLS tube to pressure hull positioning and how a slight turtle back hump may look.
A follow-up progress, with the number of multipack VLS tubes reduced to 8 to match the number of VLS cells on the 093B SSN. Made by SOYO on Weibo. Similar cautions apply.
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Yes. SOYO clarified that his/her CG model only has a hull diameter of 11.25 meters in a response comment to Cute Orca's quote posting.
A larger hull diameter of 12 meters (same as the Seawolf SSNs) or even at 13 meters (if that particular hull section spotted in the satellite photography is indeed meant for the 095 SSN) certainly would better fit the multipack VLS tubes, or permit larger and/or longer multipack VLS tubes to be used.
From my post in the 093/094 thread:
Whilst I can't show every image, this one I can. Three bow pressure hulls waiting to go into the new assembly halls on 4/2/25. Two smaller ones are approx. 10 metres, the larger 11 to 12.
What looks like a dual deck piece is also 11 to 12 metres. This could well be launch tubes.
They were gone around a month later.
This could possibly imply two (093B's ???) and something larger in the halls now.
Whilst I can't show every image, this one I can. Three bow pressure hulls waiting to go into the new assembly halls on 4/2/25. Two smaller ones are approx. 10 metres, the larger 11 to 12.
What looks like a dual deck piece is also 11 to 12 metres. This could well be launch tubes.
They were gone around a month later.
This could possibly imply two (093B's ???) and something larger in the halls now.
Wasn't there a 13-meter diameter hull section from a few years ago? Perhaps this one is for the double-hull segment (assuming that the 095/A SSN is hybrid hulled)?
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We don't know, given that the latest observation of new ~12-meter diameter hull modules just occured in early-Febuary this year. That's about 6 months ago.
Plus, given that we already have visual on the first (or one of the first), similar-sized hull modules sometime in December 2022 - If this time is confirmed to be a 093B and not a 095, then I'd say that end of this year could be the absolute earliest where we can expect the first 095 to be launched.
The safer assumption should be sometime in 2026, though.
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