09V/09VI (095/096) Nuclear Submarine Thread

Blitzo

Blitzo

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This edit visualizes how another SSN sized hull on the adjacent 7.34m rail would look.
The clearance between the two is slightly over 5m at its narrowest.

For those who don't recall, this assembly hall has six sets of 7.34m rails + is 288m long, aka over double length of a contemporary SSN (Virginia 115m, Astute 97m).


Obviously I'm not suggesting they will be simultaneously assembling twelve SSN's worth of modules in the hall at any one time -- but it does show there's a lot of floor area involved, and as long expected, this hall and its rail gauges are oriented in such a way to likely allow two adjacent 7.34m rails to each hold an SSN adjacent to one another.

demo.jpg
 
Blitzo

Blitzo

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Interstellar said:
Actually I expect 09V to be at least partially single-hulled with a relatively small diameter.
Click to expand...

I agree that 09V would likely be partially single hull (i.e.: hybrid single/double), but how small of a diameter are we talking?

Because Virginia and LA is 10m, Seawolf is 12m, Astute is 11.3m, and Suffren is 8.8m.
Given the PLAN's own requirements, I can see them requiring a larger hull that is at least Virginia diameter if not Seawolf diameter.


This module has a diameter of 11.5-12m, and as far as I can see there is no way to determine if this is single or double hulled.
While I think this module is likely for 09IIIB rather than 09V (based on timing of appearance), but in terms of dimensions and external appearance in theory I think it could look like either.

Unless we have indications that 09V will have a lower overall diameter than the 09III family?
 
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gelgoog

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AFAIK the Astute has a relatively large diameter because of the size of the nuclear reactor.

French attack subs AFAIK mostly operate in relatively shallow waters so that explains their smaller size in comparison. Plus France has a more advanced nuclear industry than the UK presently so I think they can devote more resources to reactor design.

Given that China needs to operate on the Pacific similarly to the US I would expect the submarines to be similarly sized to the Virginia. China can devote a lot of resources to reactor design. Plus unlike Russia they can shrink their electronics more so it is unlikely they will need as much volume to be devoted to combat systems. The waters the Chinese navy traditionally protects are relatively shallow. Plus as their noise quieting technology improves I think they will likely move away from double hulled design. So that means it is likely their next attack submarine will have smaller diameter.

Of course this might not be true in the case China goes for a relatively unified attack and strategic submarine design with common parts like the reactor to reduce R&D cost. If that happens it is quite likely the submarine will be larger like the Astute or the Seawolf. This might happen if the Chinese Navy gets cash starved or decides to do a massive ramp up of their nuclear submarines with cheaper mass production types.

I think it is likely this isn't the 09V since at the current rate of construction of the large Chinese naval vessels, China needs more attack submarines as escorts. They might simply have gone of a more evolutionary design based on the 09-IIIB at this time to get those submarines in the water faster.
 
Blitzo

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Interstellar said:
The diameter of this module seems to be consistent with the diameter of 09IIIA, which is double-hulled. Though 09V is likely to have a larger pressure hull than the 09III series, I don't think its diameter will exceed 10m significantly.
Click to expand...

Thanks.

IMO the timing of this module does mean it is likely 09IIIB.

From what you're saying it seems like no one really knows how big 09V will be.
While 09V will of course have a larger pressure hull than 09III's pressure hull by virtue of being a hybrid hull, the question imo is whether 09V's pressure hull will be similar, smaller or or larger than 09III's overall diameter.

The benefits of a larger pressure hull is obviously significant, and something Seawolf sized would offer greater capability, and in keeping with USN trends for seeking a wider future hull for its future SSNX as well.


I imagine it'll be a few years until we get a similar satellite picture for 09V
 
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Kich

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How many SSN does PLAN has in service?
Wiki says
  • 3 Type 093
  • 3 Type 093A
  • 2 Type 093B
  • 1 Type 095
Is this accurate?
 
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Mirabo

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Kich said:
How many SSN does PLAN has in service?
Wiki says
  • 3 Type 093
  • 3 Type 093A
  • 2 Type 093B
  • 1 Type 095
Is this accurate?
Click to expand...

Most certainly not accurate.

I have not been keeping track of how many SSNs (or how many 09IIIs) there are in service, but to our knowledge, there are Type 091s in service, as well as 09IIIs and 09IIIAs. We can verify this because we have pictures of all those.

The Type 09IIIBs are possibly in service, but we can't verify because there are no photos. There also aren't really any concrete rumors or information leaks to indicate that there is at least one in service. Being conservative, I'd say that there are probably not. At best, there might be a couple of IIIBs under construction.

The Type 09V is even further off, and probably not even under construction yet, let alone in service. You can read the last few pages for some analysis on the latest satellite pictures on a boat under construction. We doubt that it is a Type 09V because the the module is too wide, so chances are it's a IIIA, or perhaps IIIB if the improved variant is ready.
 
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