SamuraiBlue
Captain
It was a technical demonstrator and have ended it's requirements. It's now on display at some JASDF base I believe.
SS-513 Taigei cruising at high speed off Osaka Bay... presumably on the way to her commissioning ceremony in Kobe. Will she make it in time? 
SS-513 Taigei cruising at high speed off Osaka Bay... presumably on the way to her commissioning ceremony in Kobe. Will she make it in time?
That must be at least 18 knots...
Quite a bit faster than the Soryus, that's for sure. Kawasaki certainly know their engines.
Apparently the JMSDF looked at some French and German diesels but found them lacking, so they went back to their trusted systems integrator in Kawasaki.
This is a somewhat interesting claim because the MTU powered U-212A has a better power to tonnage ratio than the Souryuu-class. Not much known is about the Taigei-class but it will be interesting to see how the latest German and Japanese submarines compare - which are going to be closer as ever.
Japan has superior battery tech, I think they'd edge out.
She can go faster underwater tho, by snorkeling.