Fellow Submariners, welcome to yet another edition of the Grot. Trusting you are enjoying our fortnightly editions.
IN DEPTH
Submarine Trials by Peter Smith
In the late 1940s the Royal Navy began depth trials on various surplus submarines. The deepest hole that exists anywhere around the British Isles was chosen for the test area. The hole (1,050 feet) is in the Inner sound between the Islands of Raasay and South Rona and the mainland of Ross-shire, Scotland. HMS
Stoic (P-231)
, a riveted submarine was the first chosen to be tested. The boat was stripped of her fittings, machinery and batteries, the conning tower was removed and replaced by a 36-foot-high steel tube over the lower conning tower hatch with a water tight hatch on top. Many forms of gauges and wire were fitted throughout the boat to register all stresses and strains which were electrically recorded on the research ship. To compensate for the loss of weight, which included stores and torpedoes removed from
Stoic, her battery compartments and other internal tanks were flooded, plus the engine room was partially flooded to compensate the loss of main engines, only the main ballast tanks were left empty. These were so fitted that they could be flooded or blown from the surface or by divers working on top of her hull.
HMS/m Stoic
On 2 May 1949,
Stoic was lowered to her safe diving depth of 400 feet, then for the next six hours she was lowered to 580 feet and then foot by foot, pausing every foot for the scientist to read and note strains recorded. Having passed 600 feet which was over 200 feet past the safe diving depth and about 20 feet below the constructor’s calculated collapse depth the scientists reported that the collapse of
Stoic was imminent. A colossal bang, like a mine going off, announced the failure of
Stoic’s hull, the instant flooding of the boat pulling the bows of the lifting craft steeply down into the sea.
Nine days later
Stoic was raised and beached where the scientists could review and continue their research. It was found that
Stoic’s weakest point was the forward torpedo loading hatch, this was found wrapped in a roll of steel in the tail of the submarine, 145 feet aft of its usual position.
The next submarine to be depth tested was HMS
Supreme (P-522) whose hull had been welded. After the trials on
Supreme were complete, five more submarines were used in trials in Loch Linnhe, where the boats were suspended at a deep, but safe depth to study the effects of depth-charges, which were detonated at closer and closer ranges until the combination of shock and pressure burst them. The boats involved HM Submarines
Sceptre, Stygian, Upshot and two others believed to be
Spark and
Surf.
In a separate trial in Loch Striven the incomplete ‘A’ boat, designated HMS
Ace was used in experiments to test the effects of depth-charges on the submarine both below and on the surface. After the Scottish trials the hulks were sold for scrap.
Flooded torpedo compartment after a test.
A second incomplete submarine,
Achates, was used to test the collapse depth of the ‘A’ class. The boat was taken to Gibraltar, then during May and June 1950,
Achates was lowered into deep water (1400 feet) in Gibraltar Bay. The collapse occurred below but close to predicted depth. During raising of the hulk it was found that 60 feet of the stern had fallen off, 90 feet of the bows were missing to be found hanging by twisted metal to the rest of the hulk, later to fall off while under tow back to port. On completion of beaching and examination by scientists the centre section was taken out, slipped and sunk into a grave east of the “Rock” later to be used as a target for sonar operators in identifying sunken submarines.
One for the next Grot.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-50260427?intlink_from_url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world&link_location=live-reporting-story
Howard
And from Geoff Anderson:
Happy Halloween from the denizens of the deep
Date: 31 Oct 2019
ISA/USA Website:
www.ISAUSA.Org
International Submariners Swedish Congress website: www.57isc.com
For those that are going to Sweden, Join Ouida and me on this great deal to cruise the Baltic after the ISA Congress (several have already signed up):
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Or go directly to Princess Lines Vacation planner:
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Welcome our newest members to the ISA/USA fraternity:
EM 1 (SS) William T. O’Connor who resides at Oregon, OH with his wife Mary Pat and served onboard the USS Tunny SSN (682)
EM 3 (SS) Dennis Mahar who resides in Tucson, AZ with his wife Carolyn and served onboard USS Darter SS (576)
Just arrived our newest vest pin that is twice as large and can be read by us old coggers without our glasses.
Actual Size 1 1/2” by 7/10” For just $6.50 each free shipping.
Join 28 other Nation’s Submariners and us for fun and travel.
Consider becoming a member of the ISA-USA; you will benefit in many ways.
1. Be part of a 50-year tradition of international friendships of submarine sailors. Check out www.submariners.org for the history of the International Association
2. Travel to foreign countries to participate in conventions that usually include twenty-five countries in attendance.
3. Establish friendships with submariners in foreign nations.
4. Contribute your Submarine history and experience in our World Wide e-mail blast.
5. We Cheerfully accept members that have not served but are interested in worldwide submarine activities
Lifetime membership only $50.00.
ISA/USA Membership Application. All new members of ISA/USA receive a Membership card, ISA/USA Patch and Vest Pin. Click on the link below for a downloadable member application:
https://nebula.wsimg.com/a06e11df9dcf28c2ae0ec803786d400d?AccessKeyId=4BBB4A7A11A45D3E3BF9&disposition=0&alloworigin=1
Send to:
John Bud Cunnally ETC (SS) Ret. USN – President
International Submariners Association of the U.S.A. (ISA/USA)
4704 Coppola Drive
Mount Dora, Fl 32757-8069
US Navy takes delivery of Virginia-class sub-Delaware (SSN 791)
Delaware (SSN 791) sails the open waters after departing Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding division during sea trials in August. Photo: Ashley Cowan/HII
The US Navy has taken delivery of its newest fast-attack submarine from Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding.
Delaware (SSN 791), which successfully completed sea trials earlier this month, is the ninth Virginia-class submarine to be delivered by Newport News and the 18th built as part of the teaming agreement with General Dynamics Electric Boat.
“Like the last two submarines we delivered to the Navy, Delaware has received some of the highest quality scores since the Virginia-class program began,” said Dave Bolcar, Newport News’ vice president of submarine construction.
The submarine is the second ship to be named for the country’s first state, the first being the dreadnought battleship USS Delaware (BB 28), which was delivered by Newport News in 1910.
More than 10,000 shipbuilders from Newport News and Electric Boat have participated in Delaware’s construction since the work began in September 2013. The submarine was christened by Jill Biden, the former Second Lady of the United States and the ship’s sponsor, during a ceremony in October 2018.
The future USS Delaware (SSN 791) will be commissioned next year.
Attack submarine USS Louisville arrives in Washington for inactivation
USS Louisville (SSN 724) arrives at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, May 2, 2019. Photo: US Navy
The US Navy’s Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Louisville (SSN 724) has arrived at Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton to start her inactivation and decommissioning process.
The submarine departed Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on October 7 and arrived in Washington on October 22.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as a commanding officer on this fine ship,” said Cmdr. Robert Rose.
“The crew’s ingenuity, hard work, and effort have been incredible through a Western Pacific deployment, then shifting our focus to moving our families and submarine to Bremerton for decommissioning.”
During the inactivation process, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility will de-fuel the submarine, with the hull retained in safe storage until decommissioning.
Commissioned Nov. 8, 1986, Louisville is the fourth United States ship to bear the name in honor of the city of Louisville, Kentucky. She is the 35th nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine of the Los Angeles-class design. She returned from her final deployment on May 2, where she conducted operations vital to national security in the 5th and 7th fleet’s areas of operation.
Los Angeles-class submarines make up the majority of the navy’s fast-attack submarine force that is made up of three classes. As the Los Angeles-class reaches the end of their operational life, the navy is slowly decommissioning the submarines to make room for the next generation of submarines, the Virginia-class.
Currently, there are 16 active Virginia-class submarines, armed with several innovations that have significantly enhanced its warfighting capabilities. The third class of fast-attack submarines is the Seawolf-class. These faster and quieter submarines were developed towards the end of the Cold War, with three currently in service.
Russian Submarine Force as of 27 Oct 2019
New Submarine Killing Autonomous Underwater Drone
H I Sutton Contributor
Aerospace & Defense
I cover the changing world of underwater warfare.
The pace of change in underwater warfare has become palpable. There are signs that the long-promised dawn of underwater robots is upon us.
Barely a month after
China revealed its first large underwater robot, another country has stepped into the arena with an even more ambitious project: a submarine-hunting unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV). That county may not be the one you are expecting.
The South Korean Navy's Anti-Submarine Warfare Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (ASWUUV) appears larger ... [+]
H I Sutton
South Korean manufacturer Hanwha Systems unveiled the ASWUUV (Anti-Submarine Warfare Unmanned Underwater Vehicle) in a
defense show on October 22. It is designed to prowl the ocean, at a depth of up to 1,000 feet, hunting for enemy submarines. Once detected, it will alert friendly forces so the prey can be trapped and destroyed. It is not yet in production but is expected to hit the water next year.
The ASWUUV will be a high-tech vehicle. As well as powerful sonar to listen for enemy subs, it will be powered by an innovative fuel-cell system. This is like a miniature version of the Air Independent Power (AIP) found on some of the latest submarines. This contrasts with the batteries used on most underwater vehicles.
Based on the model and 'large displacement' label it has been given, the ASWUUV appears to be about 30 feet long and 5 feet across. However large it turns out to be, it is unlikely to be in the same league as the U.S. Navy's planned Orca extra-large UUV. Those will be around 85 feet long. But it is likely larger than existing U.S. Navy ‘large displacement’ UUVs and the closest Chinese equivalent. Few if any other Navies are even in the game, and none of the designs are optimized for anti-submarine warfare in the way that the ASWUUV is.
South Korea has a natural focus on anti-submarine warfare because its longstanding foe, North Korea, has one of the largest submarine fleets in the world, possibly the largest, with around 70 vessels. While none are particularly modern, they have repeatedly demonstrated their potency. In 2010 a suspected North Korean Yono Class midget submarine sank a South Korean warship with a torpedo. The victim, ROKS Cheonan, was broken in half, sinking with the loss of 46 lives.
On several other occasions, North Korean submarines have been detected in South Korean waters. They are used to drop off agents or conduct reconnaissance.
In 1996 a North Korean sub grounded itself on rocks off the South Korean coast while inserting agents. In the 49-day chase which followed 16, South Koreans died. All but two of the North Korean crew died, many murdered by their side.
Two years later, another North Korean sub got into trouble while on a covert mission of the south. All 9 people aboard died, again with some of them being murdered by their own side.
South Korea may also be looking towards China which is modernizing its massive navy at an impressive rate. China has a massive fleet of submarines which are increasingly potent.
Electric Boat Building Columbia-Class Subs, Waiting on Block V Virginia Contract
By:
Ben Werner
October 24, 2019, 4:37 PM
Rendering of Block V Virginia-class submarine with Virginia Payload Module. General Dynamics Electric Boat Image
General Dynamics Electric Boat is preparing for Columbia-class submarine production while a contract for Block V Virginia-class submarines is in limbo as company and Navy officials work out final details.
Work on both classes of submarines is progressing, Phebe Novakovic, chief executive of General Dynamics, said during a Wednesday conference call with analysts. General Dynamics is
spending $852 million to expand the Groton, Conn.,-based Electric Boat facility to accommodate each multi-billion dollar submarine programs.
“We have completed the design of Columbia and are 54 percent complete on the production drawing, which reflects good progress,” Novakovic said of the new submarine class. Speaking about the Virginia-class, she added, “We expect the Block V contract to be awarded this year, resulting in a considerable addition to backlog.”
However, the Navy and Electric Boat have not yet inked a contract to build the Block V Virginia boats. The yard is currently operating under an underfunded contract action until the Navy awards the actual Block V contract, she said.
“Until we get that contract executed, our progress billings are temporarily limited,” Novakovic said.
The Block V contract will cover at least ten boats, from FY 2019 through FY 2023. The contract should have been finalized before the fiscal year ended, though, money for acquisitions programs does not have to be spent in the fiscal year its appropriated.
The Block V contract is not just a priority for Electric Boat but also the Pentagon.
In August, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and James Geurts, assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development, and acquisition, met privately with Novakovic during a tour of Electric Boat’s Groton facility.
Esper and Geurts did not provide details of the meeting, but at the time, Geurts did tell members of the media negotiations with General Dynamics involved the final details of a Block V contract.
“Having the SECDEF down here today, I mean, it shows the importance and shows why for the nation we’ve got to be all in working between the shipbuilders, between the Navy, between suppliers, and quite frankly a lot of workforce development programs to get this enterprise in the shape we need it to, to deliver for the nation,” Geurts said on the plane ride back to Washington from Connecticut.
An added pressure facing both the Navy and General Dynamics is future spending on both submarine programs could be affected by the prospect of Congress not being able to pass the Fiscal Year 2020 budget. The fiscal year started Oct. 1, but the Navy, along with the rest of the Department of Defense and the federal government, is operating under a continuing resolution, which funds the government at FY 2019 levels and limits the government’s ability to sign new contracts. There is a chance government agencies will be forced to operate under a CR for all FY 2020.
USS Springfield Conducts Change of Command and Change of Homeport
Story Number: NNS191024-06Release Date: 10/24/2019 2:45:00 PM
From Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs
PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (NNS) -- The Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Springfield (SSN 761) conducted a change of command ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Oct. 23.
The change of command occurred shortly after Springfield arrived in Pearl Harbor, following a change of homeport from Kittery, Maine.
“Today, not only do we get to witness and be part of the time-honored tradition of a change of command, we get the opportunity to formally welcome USS Springfield to Squadron 7 and our Pearl Harbor ohana,” said Capt. Paul Davis, commodore, Submarine Squadron 7. “Less than 48 hours ago, the boat pulled in, following a one-month transit from the East Coast. That transit was fresh on the heels of an extremely successful two and a half year overhaul at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Due to the hard work of the captain and crew, the boat emerged from the overhaul in great shape. I cannot wait to unleash this boat on the Pacific theater.”
Cmdr. John Nilles, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, relieved Cmdr. Brent Spillner, from Chicago, Illinois, as Springfield’s commanding officer.
“It’s hard to leave, especially now that the submarine is here in the Pacific where it belongs, getting ready to go on missions that we have been training for; but it makes it easier knowing that the submarine is in good hands,” said Spillner. “Congratulations to Cmdr. Nilles for embarking on the best and most rewarding assignment in the United States Navy.”
Spillner will be heading to the Combat Readiness Evaluation Team at Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, in Pearl Harbor.
Nilles comes to Springfield from Arlington, Virginia, where he served on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations.
“To the crew of USS Springfield, thanks for your continued service to your country, and the professionalism and hospitality you’ve demonstrated over the last month,” said Nilles. “You’ve put in countless hours to accomplish the maintenance and training necessary to prove the ship battle ready. We will continue to build on that foundation as we prepare for increasingly challenging operations. Our community is valued today as much as it ever has been. It is a great time to be a submariner.”
Springfield was commissioned March 21, 1986, and is the Navy's fourth ship to bear the name. Measuring 360 feet long and displacing more than 6,900 tons, Springfield has a crew of approximately 140 Sailors. Springfield is capable of supporting various missions, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface ship warfare, strike warfare and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
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PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (Oct. 21, 2019) - The Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Springfield (SSN 761) makes its homecoming arrival at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, after completing a change of homeport from Kittery, Maine. The submarine's ability to support a multitude of missions, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface ship warfare, strike warfare, surveillance and reconnaissance, has made Springfield one of the most capable submarines in the world. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Michael Zingaro/Released)
October 23, 2019
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191015-N-AS200-0614
MEDITERRANEAN SEA (Oct. 15, 2019) The bridge-crew of the Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Florida (SSGN 728) conducts routine navigation and watch procedures while transiting the Mediterranean Sea, Oct. 15, 2019. Florida, a 560-foot submarine displacing 18,750 tons of water, recently completed a maintenance availability and is conducting maritime security operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Drew Verbis/Released)
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Governor of Guam Visits Submarine Squadron Fifteen
Story Number: NNS191023-08Release Date: 10/23/2019 1:38:00 PM
By Lt. j.g. Meagan Morrison,
SANTA RITA, Guam (NNS) -- Governor of Guam Lourdes Leon Guerrero visited with Sailors and leadership while touring USS Key West (SSN 722) and met with Navy leadership during a brief at Commander, Submarine Squadron Fifteen on Oct. 22, 2019.
The brief and submarine tour were conducted as part of the Navy’s continuing program to coordinate with civil authorities and improve understanding of the Navy’s mission, operation, and crew training, and to validate current processes and procedures for joint notifications and response to events such as typhoons and earthquakes, if needed.
“Collaboration with our military partners is a critical part in our efforts to exercise effective communication between the local and military communities,” said Leon Guerrero. “Being able to see a submarine in person afforded me the opportunity to better understand the scope of the submarine force’s mission and its importance.”
As part of the Navy’s ongoing collaboration with local governments, Submarine Squadron Fifteen routinely conducts training and briefs with various Government of Guam agencies.
“I feel fortunate to have the Government of Guam here visiting with our staff, submarines, and Sailors. These types of interactions help us ensure that our partners understand our procedures and improves our ability to respond to problems such as typhoons as one team.” said Capt. Tim Poe, Commander, Submarine Squadron Fifteen. “It’s also important to the mission of the Navy to work closely with the Government of Guam.”
Submarine Squadron Fifteen is located at Polaris Point, Naval Base Guam in Piti, Guam, and consists of four Los Angeles-class fast attack submarines. The squadron staff is responsible for providing training, material and personnel readiness support to these commands. Also based out of Naval Base Guam are submarine tenders USS Frank Cable (AS 40) and USS Emory S. Land (AS 39). The submarines and tenders are maintained as part of the U.S. Navy's forward-deployed submarine force and are readily capable of meeting global operational requirements.
For more news from Commander, Submarine Squadron 15, visit our official CSS-15 website at
http://www.csp.navy.mil/css15 and our official Facebook page at
https://www.facebook.com/SubmarineSquadron15/.
Are you interested in taking orders to Guam? Want to learn more about the duty station and life on our island? For more information, check out the ‘Go Guam!’ website at
http://www.csp.navy.mil/go-guam/ and download the ‘1st Fifteen’ checklist.
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For more news from Commander, Submarine Squadron 15, visit
www.navy.mil/local/subron15/.
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191022-N-VR594-2042 SANTA RITA, Guam (Oct. 22, 2019) Guam Gov. Lourdes Leon Guerrero poses for a photo at a periscope during a scheduled visit aboard the Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Key West (SSN 722). The visit was conducted as part of the Navy's continuing program to coordinate with civil authorities and improve understanding of the Navy's mission, operation, and crew training. Key West is one of four forward-deployed submarines assigned to Commander, Submarine Squadron Fifteen out of Polaris Point, Naval Base Guam. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kelsey J. Hockenberger/Released)
Teledyne to build more shallow water combat submersibles for USSOCOM
US Navy photo
The US Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) has awarded Teledyne a contract modification for further deliveries of MK11 Shallow Water Combat Submersible (SWCS) systems.
The SWCS system is a manned combat submersible vehicle specifically designed to insert and extract special operations forces (SOF) in high threat areas.
Under the $178 million contract, Teledyne is to deliver an unspecified number of SWCSs.
Under the initial contract with the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) from 2011, the company designed, manufactured, tested and delivered the initial engineering development model (EDM) SWCS system.
Under the new NAVSEA contract, TBE will continue production and delivery of MK11 SWCS Systems, including spare parts production and the provision of engineering and technical support services, through fiscal year 2024, if all options are exercised.
“Teledyne is proud to be supplying advanced technologies and systems enabling our special operations forces to perform their missions successfully,” said Teledyne president and chief executive officer Al Pichelli.
The MK 11 SWCS is replacing current MK 8 SDVs used by US Navy SOF and the Royal Navy’s Special Boat Service. Low-rate initial production of the systems started in late 2016.
Compared to their predecessors, SWCSs are 12 inches longer (30 cm) and 6 inches taller (15 cm). They also incorporate bow thrusters, higher accuracy navigation and improved software.
CBO: Navy’s Next Nuclear Attack Submarine Could Cost $5.5B a Hull
By:
Megan Eckstein
October 10, 2019 1:09 PM
Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Missouri (SSN-780) on May 31, 2018. US Navy Photo
The Navy’s next-generation attack submarine program may cost $69 billion more than the service is planning to spend,
according to a Congressional Budget Office estimate released this week, creating a major delta between the Navy’s long-term shipbuilding cost estimates and CBO’s.
In what appears to be the first public cost estimate for the SSN(X) program that would follow the Virginia-class SSNs, the Navy pegs SSN(X) costs at $3.4 billion per boat while CBO estimates $5.5 billion apiece. If the CBO estimate were correct, the Navy would be spending more than 60-percent more per hull than initially planned. Some of this comes down to the size of the future sub: CBO argues the Navy will need a bigger boat to meet the mission it has outlined for SSN(X).
According to documents accompanying the Navy’s Fiscal Year 2020 budget and associated long-range shipbuilding plan, CBO notes, the Navy “envisions a submarine that would be more capable than the Virginia in many respects but without the [Virginia Payload Module that adds more missile tubes]. Specifically, the Navy indicates that the next-generation attack submarine should be faster, stealthier, and able to carry more torpedoes than the Virginia class—similar to the Seawolf-class submarine. CBO therefore assumed that the SSN(X) would be a Seawolf-sized SSN, which displaces about 9,100 tons when submerged, and would have an all-new design in keeping with the Navy’s description of it as a ‘fast, lethal next-generation attack submarine,’” according to the report.
In comparison, the Virginia class without the VPM displaces about 7,800 tons and costs about
$2.8 billion apiece; the sub with VPM will cost about $3.2 billion, though the contract is still being negotiated. This means the Navy is assuming SSN(X) will cost just marginally more than its Block V and beyond Virginia-class SSNs despite the increased capability they plan to add to the design.
“On the basis of those assumptions, CBO estimates that the average cost of the SSN(X) would be $5.5 billion per submarine, whereas the Navy estimates the cost at $3.4 billion per submarine. That difference amounts to $69 billion and accounts for more than a third of the difference between CBO’s estimate and the Navy’s estimate of shipbuilding costs” between Fiscal Years 2020 and 2049, the report continues.
“The large difference between the Navy’s and CBO’s estimates under the 2020 plan suggests either that the Navy’s cost estimates may be optimistic in light of the SSN(X)’s proposed capabilities or that the two estimates relied on widely different assumptions about the submarine’s size, capabilities, and design. As a result, the SSN(X)’s final capabilities and costs are highly uncertain.”
The Navy is nearing the start of its fifth block of Virginia-class subs, which have become progressively easier and cheaper to build and maintain over time, and will be more capable with the Virginia Payload Module and the 28 additional missile tubes it gives the sub. However, Navy officials have acknowledged that they’re butting up against the limits of the hull design as they look to integrate unmanned vehicles, undersea and seabed warfare tools and more for the submarine community. The move to SSN(X) – coming as the Navy shifts from a focus on land-attack missions to a renewed focus on high-end blue-water warfare – would give the Navy a more capable and stealthy submarine that can also leverage these news unmanned vehicles, sensors, networks, weapons and more to set the Navy up for success in this new era of warfare.
Congressional Budget Office graphic.
Another big question mark in the Navy’s long-term shipbuilding plans is the Large Surface Combatant. The Navy has also been vague on what it wants out of this ship, which will not be a direct replacement for a cruiser or a destroyer but will rather fit into a family of ships concept that includes a large manned combatant, a small manned combatant, and medium and large unmanned surface vessels. Service officials have told USNI News that they’re running out of margin to add new weapons, radars and other capabilities to the Arleigh Burke-class of DDGs and have also said they like the stealth capability of the Zumwalt-class destroyers, but they have not committed to using either as the parent design for the future Large Surface combatant.
According to CBO, “the Navy says that it would buy 61 of the new LSCs through 2049 at an average cost of $1.7 billion—the same price as the Navy’s estimate for the average cost of a DDG-51 Flight III ship. … That estimate implies that the new LSC would be either a destroyer-sized ship with capabilities that represent only a modest improvement over the DDG-51 Flight III or a smaller ship with significantly improved capabilities based on new design technologies,” neither of which fits with what Navy officials have told USNI News.
“Navy officials have said that although the new LSC would have combat capabilities equivalent to those of the DDG-51 Flight III, it would have a larger hull, substantially more power, more stealth characteristics, and a greater capacity to have new weapon systems and other capabilities installed in the future. Some Navy officials have indicated that the LSC would look more like the DDG-1000 Zumwalt class destroyer than an Arleigh Burke,” the report continues.
“The Navy’s cost estimate for the future class of LSCs suggests that it would be based on a modified version of the existing DDG-51 Flight III ship. By contrast, in CBO’s estimate the new LSC would have a largely new design and would displace 12,000 tons, or about 2,000 tons more than the DDG-51 Flight III. … Thus, CBO projects that the future LSC would cost an average of $2.8 billion, roughly 65 percent more than the Navy’s projection. Over the 2020–2049 period, CBO estimates, the Navy would need $169 billion in funding for the future LSC portion of the shipbuilding program—$67 billion more than the Navy’s $102 billion estimate. That amount represents another third of the $205 billion overall difference between the Navy’s and CBO’s estimates for the total cost of the 2020 shipbuilding plan. … The great uncertainty about the ultimate size and capabilities of the future class of LSCs suggests that the true cost could differ substantially from both the Navy’s and CBO’s estimates.”
Congressional Budget Office graphic.
Overall, the CBO assesses risk in the Navy’s shipbuilding plans – risk in that the plans will require significantly more money than Congress has given the Navy in recent years, and risk in the potential to see costs increase even beyond what the Navy predicts.
According to CBO estimates, “the 2020 plan would require shipbuilding appropriations that are more than 50 percent larger than the Navy’s average funding for shipbuilding over the past five years. Including nuclear refueling and all other costs associated with the Navy’s shipbuilding budget, CBO estimates, the total shipbuilding budget would average $31 billion per year (in 2019 dollars), one-third more than the Navy estimates. Annual operation and support costs for the fleet over the next 30 years would grow from $60 billion today to about $90 billion by 2049.”
In total, “CBO estimates that buying the new ships specified in the 2020 plan would cost $865 billion over 30 years, or an average of $28.8 billion per year. The Navy estimates a lower cost—$660 billion over 30 years, or an average of $22.0 billion per year.”
Much of this delta comes in later years, when the Navy will be buying fundamentally different submarines and surface combatants than it does today – meaning it can’t rely as much on current contract costs and historical data to accurately predict shipbuilding costs.
In 2019 dollars, the recent historical average of annual Navy shipbuilding costs are $13.8 billion. In comparison, between 2020 and 2024 the Navy predicts it will spend $20.3 billion a year, though CBO pegs the shipbuilding plan for those years as having a $20.7 billion cost. From 2025 through 2029, the Navy believes it will need $24.4 billion to implement its shipbuilding plan, compared to a CBO estimate of $29.7 billion. In the out years, from 2030 to 1049, though, the Navy expects to spend $21.8 billion a year compared to the CBO estimate of $30.7 billion, largely due to differing expectations of what an SSN(X) and a Large Surface Combatant will look like and therefore what they will cost.
Virginia Block III: The Revised Bow
Oct 14, 2019 04:58 UTC by Defense Industry Daily staff
Latest update [?]
October 14/19: Lead Yard Support Electric Boat Corp. won a 434.4 million
deal for lead yard support and development studies and design efforts regarding the Virginia Class submarines. The Virginia Class replaces Los Angeles Class submarines as they retire. The
Virginia Class has several innovations that significantly enhance its warfighting capabilities, including in littoral operations....
{click to expand +}
Keep reading for the whole story with recent events put in context
Virginia Block I-II
(click for SuperSize)
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GDEB Receives $148M as Virginia Class Lead Yard” described changes to the Virginia Class submarine’s design that are expected to reach 20% of the $200 million savings goal by the time orders for the versatile sea attack/ land attack/ special forces submarines rise to 2 per year, in 2012.
The bow changes cover the FY 2009-2013 ships, referred to as Block III. SSN 774 Virginia – SSN 777 North Carolina are Block I, and SSNs 778-783 will be Block II. Block III begins with the 11th ship of class, SSN 784. Long lead time component orders began May 22/08, and the submarine is expected to be ready for delivery around 2015. A fuller explanation of Block III’s extensive bow changes, and an accompanying graphic, may be found below – along with contract updates that include additional improvements and sonar development.
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The Virginia Class Program: “2 for 4 in 12”SSN 777 construction
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The
SSN-774 Virginia Class submarine was introduced in the 1990s as a Clinton-era reform that was intended to take some of the
SSN-21 Seawolf Class’ key design and technology advances, and place them in a smaller, less heavily-armed, and less expensive platform. The resulting submarine would have learned some of the
Seawolf program’s negative procurement lessons , while performing capably in land attack, naval attack, special forces, and shallow water roles. In the end, the Seawolf Class became a technology demonstrator program that was canceled at 3 ships, and the Virginia Class became the naval successor to America’s famed SSN-688 Los Angeles Class.
The Virginia Class program was supposed to reach 2 submarines per year by 2002, removing it from the
unusual joint construction approach between General Dynamics Electric Boat and Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding – but that goal has been pushed back to 2012 in progressive planning budgets.
In FY 2005 dollars, SSN-21 submarines cost between $3.1-3.5 billion each. According to Congressional Research Service report #RL32418, and the Navy is working toward a goal of shaving FY05$ 400 million from the cost of each Virginia Class boat, and buying 2 boats in FY2012 for combined cost of $4.0 billion in FY 2005 dollars – a goal referred to as “2 for 4 in 12”. In real dollars subject to inflation, that means about $2.6 billion per sub in 2012, and $2.7 billion in 2013. The Navy believes that moving from the current joint construction arrangement will shave FY05$ 200 million from the cost of each submarine, leaving another FY05$ 200 million (about $220 million) to be saved through ship design and related changes.
Block III: The Changesock III bow mods
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The most obvious change is the switch from 12 vertical launch tubes, to 12 missiles in 2 tubes that use technology from the
Ohio Class special forces/ strike SSGN program. The Virginia’s hull has a smaller cross-section than the converted ballistic missile SSGNs, so the “6-shooters” will be shorter and a bit wider. Nevertheless, they will share a great deal of common technology, allowing innovations on either platform to be incorporated into the other submarine class during major maintenance milestones. Net savings are about $8 million to program baseline costs.
The other big change you can see in the above diagram is switching from an air-backed sonar sphere to a water-backed Large Aperture Bow (LAB) array. Eliminating the hundreds of SUBSAFE penetrations that help maintain required pressure in the air-backed sonar sphere will save approximately $11 million per hull, and begins with the FY 2012 boats (SSNs 787-788).
The LAB Array has 2 primary components: the passive array, which will provide improved performance, and a medium-frequency active array. It utilizes transducers from the SSN-21 Seawolf Class that are that are designed to last the life of the hull. This is rather par for the course, as the Virginia Class’ was created in the 1990s to incorporate key elements of the $4 billion Seawolf Class submarine technologies into a cheaper boat.
The SUBSAFE eliminations, plus the life-of-the-hull transducers, will help to reduce the submarines’ life cycle costs as well by removing moving parts that require maintenance, eliminating possible points of failure and repair, and removing the need for transducer replacements in drydock.
The bow redesign is not limited to these changes, however, and includes 25 associated redesign efforts. These are estimated to reduce construction costs by another $20 million per hull beginning with the FY 2012 submarine.
With the $19 million ($11 + 8) from the LAB array and Vertical Payload, and the $20 million from the associated changes, General Dynamics is $39 million toward the $200 million baseline costs goal of “2 for 4 in 12”. While the changes themselves will begin with the FY 2009 ship, the savings are targeted at FY 2012 because of the learning curve required as part of the switch. Recent discussions concerning an earlier shift to 2 submarines per year would result in faster production of the Block III submarines, but would be unlikely to make a huge difference to that learning curve.
Contracts and Key Events
Tomahawk launched
October 14/19: Lead Yard Support Electric Boat Corp. won a 434.4 million
deal for lead yard support and development studies and design efforts regarding the Virginia Class submarines. The Virginia Class replaces Los Angeles Class submarines as they retire. The
Virginia Class has several innovations that significantly enhance its warfighting capabilities, including in littoral operations. Virginia Class SSNs have a fly-by-wire ship control system that provides improved shallow-water ship handling. The class has special features to support SOF, including a reconfigurable torpedo room which can accommodate a large number of SOF and all their equipment for prolonged deployments and future off-board payloads. The class also has a large lock-in/lock-out chamber for divers. In Virginia Class SSNs, traditional periscopes have been supplanted by two photonics masts that host visible and infrared digital cameras atop telescoping arms. Work under the contract will take place in Connecticut, Virginia and Rhode Island. Estimated completion will be by September 2020. The contract provides lead yard support for Virginia class submarines that will maintain, update and support the Virginia class design and related drawings and data for each Virginia class submarine, including technology insertion, throughout its construction and post-shakedown availability period. The contractor will also provide all engineering and related lead yard support necessary for direct maintenance and support of Virginia class ship specifications.
DSME lands ROK Navy KSS-III submarine design, construction contract
zoomPhoto: DSME
South Korean shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co (DSME) announced that it has received a contract for the design and construction of an upgraded Changbogo III (KSS-III) submarine for the Republic of Korea Navy.
The class is also referred to as the Dosan Ahn Changho-class,
after the lead boat which was launched in 2018 and started trials in 2019.
While the shipbuilder did not specify, the 1.1 trillion won (approx. US$926 million) contract could be for design work on the second batch of the largest subs to be built in South Korea.
The Batch II Dosan Ahn Changho-class are expected to incorporate further upgrades such as the locally developed lithium-ion battery system that would enable them to stay submerged for extended periods of time. They will also have improved sonar and combat systems performance.
What is more, the second batch is expected to have 10 vertical launch cells, compared to 6 on the first batch of submarines.
A total of nine indigenously built KSS III diesel-electric attack submarines are planned for construction at DSME and Hyundai Heavy Engineering. They are part of the ROK Navy’s attack submarine program which, once complete, will equip the service with a total of 27 submarines
built in three phases.
Carl Tildon sends this report.
Chinese Nuclear Submarine May Have Been Involved In Incident In South China Sea
H I Sutton Contributor
Aerospace & Defense
I cover the changing world of underwater warfare.
Vietnamese fishermen recently may have gotten a big surprise: an 11,000-ton submarine surfacing among their boats. The incident reportedly occurred in September but has only recently come to light via social media. The Chinese Navy
Jin Class ballistic missile submarine was said to have been operating near the Paracel Islands. The islands, known as Xisha in Chinese, are in a strategic location in the South China Sea. They are controlled by China but also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan.
The Jin Class is the newest missile submarine in the Chinese arsenal. Six have been built and are already the backbone of China’s at-sea nuclear deterrent. The submarines are based near Sanya on the island of Hainan, about 190 miles northwest of the Paracel Islands.
Nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines can operate submerged for months at a time and stay hidden beneath the waves throughout their patrol. Surfacing next to another country's vessel is unusual and suggests that something has gone wrong. Something serious enough to warrant sacrificing its main asset: stealth. This is not the type of submarine you would expect to be used to send a message.
Submarines and fishing vessels do not mix well. In 1984 a Soviet submarine became entangled in the nets of a Norwegian fishing trawler. After hours of trying to free itself the submarine had to surface, exposing its mission off the NATO country. The consequences can be far worse. In 1990 a British submarine drove through the nets of a small fishing boat off Scotland. All four crew died when their boat was dragged under.
So possibly the submarine had become entangled in a fishing net, or feared that it would be. Surfacing may have saved the lives of the fishermen, or the submariners. Ironically, the risks associated with fishing nets may be a factor in Chinese missile submarines patrolling the South China Sea instead of the more congested East China Sea and Yellow Sea.
Russia’s seventh Improved Kilo submarine completes trials
Photo: Russian Navy
The seventh Russian Navy Improved Kilo-class submarine Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky has completed its trials after two months of tests.
The submarine started trials mid-August after being launched in March this year.
As explained by the shipbuilder, the submarine’s testing process was expedited as the ship completed both builder’s and state trials in a single underway, without the need to return to the yard for the duration of the trials.
In addition to being the seventh unit in its class, the submarine is first of a batch of planned six Improved Kilo (Project 636.3) submarines for the Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet.
The first batch of Improved Kilos, which are often dubbed as “Black Holes” because of their stealth qualities, are already in service with the Russian Navy’s Black Sea fleet.
Construction of the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky started in July 2017 under a two-boat contract the Russian defense ministry signed with Admiralty Shipyards and Armur Shipbuilding Plant in September 2016.
Improved Kilo-class submarines are armed with 18 torpedoes and eight surface-to-air missiles. The vessels can accommodate a crew of 52 submariners and can stay at sea for 45 days.
They displace 4,000 tonnes when submerged and reach speeds of “over 17 knots”, according the Russian Navy. The submarines are also equipped with Kalibr-cruise missiles which are also fitted on Russian nuclear-powered Oscar-class submarines.
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