JS Taigei (SS-513)

History

The JS Taigei (SS-513) is the newest attack submarine in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), the seventh ship in the new Taigei class overall. This type is in the 3000 ton range and can launch torpedoes and anti-ship missiles at long distances.

After the aging Soryu-class in service, it uses lithium-ion batteries to improve range and overall straight-line performance compared to conventional diesel-electric boats.

The main ship was ordered in 2017 and built by defense contractor Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI). Her keel was laid in Kobe, Japan on March 16, 2018, and launched on October 14, 2020, with an expected commissioning date around March 2020. She is currently (2021) getting ready for service.

The first ship of the class is used in a testbed role to expedite the technical development of subsequent ships.

Following the proven lines of the previous Soryu class design, the new vessel is 275.6 feet long, 29.9 feet beam and 34 feet draft. The design carries the ZPS-6H ground and low-altitude air search radar suite and the Oki ZQQ-8 series sonars.

The armament consists of 6 x 21" (533mm) HU-606 torpedo tubes that support the Type 18 or Type 89 torpedo series and can also fire Harpoon anti-ship missiles, giving the ship a two-pronged attack capability. Space for up to seventy crew members.

The overall configuration of the boat is traditional, with a round nose, tapered stern, and set sail forward. The sails carry dive planes, and the fins are arranged in an X-pattern like on other modern submarines. The propulsion scheme involved a single propeller unit located aft of the tail.

Specification

BASIC

Year of Service

2022

Origins

Japan

Status

under construction

Program is running.

supplement

0

staff

SHIPBUILDER

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Japan

Class information

Class

Tai Chi

Class Size

7

ships

Class

JS Taigei (SS-513); JS White Ghost (SS-514); No Name Ship (SS-515); No Name Ship (SS-516); No Name Ship (SS-517); No Name Ship (SS-518) ); Nameless Ship (SS-519)

Carrier

Japan

Roles

Underwater Attack

Travel below the surface to find, track and/or attack or explore areas.

Sea Patrol

Active patrolling of critical waterways and sea areas; also serves as a local deterrent against air and maritime threats.

Fleet Support

Provide support (fire or materiel) to major surface fleets in blue water environments.

Distinctive Features

Rocket Weapons

The ship supports long-range missile launches to air, sea or land-based targets; typical of modern design.

Torpedo

Able to launch torpedoes at distant targets.

Dimensions and Weight

Length

275. 6 feet

84.00m

Ray

29. 9 feet

9.11m

Draft

34. 0 feet

10.36m

Shift

3,305 t

Power and Performance

Installed Power:

A power unit with a lithium-ion battery pack drives a propeller unit at the stern.

Surface Velocity

15. 0 nodes

(17.3 km/h)

Underwater speed

25. 0 nodes

(28.8 km/h)

Armament

6 x 21" (533 mm) HU-606 torpedo tube, supporting Type 89 or Type 18 torpedo series and Harpoon anti-ship missiles.

Aircraft

None.