According to The Star and Bernama on Friday Jan 9, Malaysia's newly acquired submarines are anticipated to arrive at the Sepanggar naval base in July, 2009.
Sepanggar Naval Base is located in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. It is TLDM's HQ Naval Region II. TLDM Tanjung Gelang, Pahang is HQ Naval Region I.
The names of the two Scorpene submarines are
1) KD Tunku Abdul Rahman - expected in July
2) KD Tun Abdul Razak - expected at the end of the year
See also:
Scorpene Launch
Showing posts with label Maritime. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Maritime. Show all posts
Monday, January 12, 2009
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Submarine classes
Submarines can be divided into a few classes depending on their powerplant systems and their use.
Submarine powerplants basically fall into two categories:
1. Diesel-electric powerplants
2. Nuclear powerplants
Diesel-electric powerplants were the first successful powerplants introduced in submarines. The system consists of diesel engines, electric motors and batteries.
Diesel-electric submarines obtain their power from diesel engines while running on the surface of the sea and batteries (charged by the diesel engines) powering electric motors while submerged. Since WW2 snorkels have allowed submarines to run their diesel engines submerged, thus giving them more stealth.
These subs come in two basic types:
1. Hunter-killer subs (SSKs), whose mission is to seek out and destroy enemy subs;
2. Ballistic-missile subs (SSBs, now obsolete), whose mission is to carry ballistic nuclear missiles(SLBMs) for deterrence.
Examples of SSKs are the Russian Kilo class, the French-Spanish Scorpene class, WW2 German U-boats and the WW2 USA Gato class.
An example of an SSB is the Russian Zulu-class.
A Russian Kilo SSK
The Scorpene-class SSK
Nuclear-powered submarines only came about during the 1950s-1960s period of the Cold War, with the first, USS Nautilus commissioned in 1954. These submarines draw power from a nuclear powerplant in the hull, which provides electricity to power electric motors which drive the propeller/pumpjet.
The USS Nautilus, the first nuclear sub
Performance-wise, these submarines surpass diesel-electric subs by a wide margin as they can travel much faster, longer and in some cases, deeper. They do not need to surface for air as nuclear powerplants do not need it. However, they are quite large, complicated and in some cases less stealthy than SSKs due to their nuclear reactor (SSKs can run silently with secured electrical and diesel motors whereas nuclear subs need to keep running coolant pumps to prevent the reactor from overheating).
These subs again can be divided into two types:
1. Attack submarines (SSNs) - same use as SSKs;
2. Ballistic nuclear submarines (SSBNs) - same use as SSBs
Examples of SSNs are the US Los-Angeles, Seawolf, and Virginia class, the Russian Alfa, Victor, and Akula class, the British Trafalgar class,the French Rubis class, and the Chinese Han class.
A US Seawolf-class SSN
A Russian Akula-class SSN
Examples of SSBNs are the US Ohio class, the Russian Typhoon and Delta class, the British Vanguard class, the French Le Redoutable and Le Triomphant class, and the Chinese Xia class.
Ohio-class SSBN
Typhoon-class SSBN
A SLBM launch
Note: SS means Submersible Ship; B means Ballistic(Missile); K means Killer (Hunter-Killer); N means Nuclear.
SSNs are already considered as attack submarines; there is no need for SSKN.
Submarine powerplants basically fall into two categories:
1. Diesel-electric powerplants
2. Nuclear powerplants
Diesel-electric powerplants were the first successful powerplants introduced in submarines. The system consists of diesel engines, electric motors and batteries.
Diesel-electric submarines obtain their power from diesel engines while running on the surface of the sea and batteries (charged by the diesel engines) powering electric motors while submerged. Since WW2 snorkels have allowed submarines to run their diesel engines submerged, thus giving them more stealth.
These subs come in two basic types:
1. Hunter-killer subs (SSKs), whose mission is to seek out and destroy enemy subs;
2. Ballistic-missile subs (SSBs, now obsolete), whose mission is to carry ballistic nuclear missiles(SLBMs) for deterrence.
Examples of SSKs are the Russian Kilo class, the French-Spanish Scorpene class, WW2 German U-boats and the WW2 USA Gato class.
An example of an SSB is the Russian Zulu-class.
A Russian Kilo SSK
The Scorpene-class SSK
Nuclear-powered submarines only came about during the 1950s-1960s period of the Cold War, with the first, USS Nautilus commissioned in 1954. These submarines draw power from a nuclear powerplant in the hull, which provides electricity to power electric motors which drive the propeller/pumpjet.
The USS Nautilus, the first nuclear sub
Performance-wise, these submarines surpass diesel-electric subs by a wide margin as they can travel much faster, longer and in some cases, deeper. They do not need to surface for air as nuclear powerplants do not need it. However, they are quite large, complicated and in some cases less stealthy than SSKs due to their nuclear reactor (SSKs can run silently with secured electrical and diesel motors whereas nuclear subs need to keep running coolant pumps to prevent the reactor from overheating).
These subs again can be divided into two types:
1. Attack submarines (SSNs) - same use as SSKs;
2. Ballistic nuclear submarines (SSBNs) - same use as SSBs
Examples of SSNs are the US Los-Angeles, Seawolf, and Virginia class, the Russian Alfa, Victor, and Akula class, the British Trafalgar class,the French Rubis class, and the Chinese Han class.
A US Seawolf-class SSN
A Russian Akula-class SSN
Examples of SSBNs are the US Ohio class, the Russian Typhoon and Delta class, the British Vanguard class, the French Le Redoutable and Le Triomphant class, and the Chinese Xia class.
Ohio-class SSBN
Typhoon-class SSBN
A SLBM launch
Note: SS means Submersible Ship; B means Ballistic(Missile); K means Killer (Hunter-Killer); N means Nuclear.
SSNs are already considered as attack submarines; there is no need for SSKN.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Scorpène subs laid down and launched
The two Scorpène class submarines built by French shipbuider DCNS (Direction des Constructions Navales Services) and Spanish company Navantia have been laid down with KD Tunku Abdul Rahman launched in October '07 and KD Tun Abdul Razak launched in October '08. The two subs are expected to be commisioned in January '09 and October '09 respectively.
Right now approximately 150 RMN personnel are undergoing training in France on a Agosta-class SSK, the predecessor of the Scorpène-class sub.
DCNS and Navantia market the Scorpène in three main configurations: Basic, Basic-AIP (Air Independent Propulsion), and Compact. The Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tun Abdul Razak are both in Basic config.
AIP equipment allows SSKs(diesel-electric submarines) to run their diesel engines underwater without the need of snorkels for obtaining air for combustion, thus giving an advantage in loiter capability and increasing the subs' time underwater without surfacing.
Among some notable AIP systems are the German Walter turbine(developed in WW2), the French MESMA, the Stirling cycle engines and fuel cells.
Other SSKs with AIP configs are the German Type 209, 212 and 214 U-boats, the Russian Amur-class, the Japanese Asashio and Sōryū-class, and the Swedish Gotland and Södermanland-class submarine.
Right now approximately 150 RMN personnel are undergoing training in France on a Agosta-class SSK, the predecessor of the Scorpène-class sub.
DCNS and Navantia market the Scorpène in three main configurations: Basic, Basic-AIP (Air Independent Propulsion), and Compact. The Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tun Abdul Razak are both in Basic config.
AIP equipment allows SSKs(diesel-electric submarines) to run their diesel engines underwater without the need of snorkels for obtaining air for combustion, thus giving an advantage in loiter capability and increasing the subs' time underwater without surfacing.
Among some notable AIP systems are the German Walter turbine(developed in WW2), the French MESMA, the Stirling cycle engines and fuel cells.
Other SSKs with AIP configs are the German Type 209, 212 and 214 U-boats, the Russian Amur-class, the Japanese Asashio and Sōryū-class, and the Swedish Gotland and Södermanland-class submarine.
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