Replacing the Subs

[Kirkhill]

I am not saying that it is. Pure speculation.

On of the characteristics of the UUVs seems to be a wet payload bay which simplifies the build and cost as well as allowing for deeper dives.

I wonder what the cost of a 120m UUV would look like? I am not sure that it is entirely implausible.

 

[Cloud Cover]

On of the characteristics of the UUVs seems to be a wet payload bay which simplifies the build and cost as well as allowing for deeper dives.

I wonder what the cost of a 120m UUV would look like? I am not sure that it is entirely implausible.

Rust never sleeps.

 

[Kirkhill]

Rust never sleeps.

Assuming they are made of metals and not 3D composites of carbonfibres and polymeric resins.

 

[SeaKingTacco]

Assuming they are made of metals and not 3D composites of carbonfibres and polymeric resins.

What if there is no pressure hull?

 

[Kirkhill]

What if there is no pressure hull?

Isn't that the case with the Dive-LD / Ghost Shark?

"One of the key differences from a traditional crewed submarine is that most of this weapon can be flooded, with sensors and weapons encased in pressure sanctuaries, instead of the entire hull being primarily designed to protect the crew inside."

Ghost Shark for Navy; The Extra-Large Autonomous Underwater Vehicle - Naval Historical Society of Australia

This article first appeared in Australian Warship Issue No 117 published in March 2023 and is reproduced by kind permission of its editor. With so much attention being paid to

navyhistory.au

 

[Colin Parkinson]

Isn't that the case with the Dive-LD / Ghost Shark?

"One of the key differences from a traditional crewed submarine is that most of this weapon can be flooded, with sensors and weapons encased in pressure sanctuaries, instead of the entire hull being primarily designed to protect the crew inside."

Ghost Shark for Navy; The Extra-Large Autonomous Underwater Vehicle - Naval Historical Society of Australia

This article first appeared in Australian Warship Issue No 117 published in March 2023 and is reproduced by kind permission of its editor. With so much attention being paid to

navyhistory.au

My experience and listening to people in the industry, a leak always develops, the pressure is relentless, often water seeping in along cabling through the glands.

 

[Kirkhill]

My understanding is that the power pack and controls are all in one compartment and encapsulated.

The payloads are designed to operate at particular depths. The cargo comparments in which the payloads are carried are wet. The water pressure, in fact the water itself, inside the coparment is the same as the water and pressure outside the comparment. There is no pressure differential. There are no glands in the cargo holds.

In addition these things are cheap to build and fast to replace.

As the man said about Highlanders "and no great loss if they die".

 

[Oldgateboatdriver]

There are many possibilities here.

It could be that the Chinese have developed technology for multiple expansion masts and periscope (i.e., instead of a single pole with the length of the hull + sail that slides up, one that slide up the size of the hull+ another one nested inside then sliding up an equal distance. It could also be that this is not a boat intended to carry out surface attacks, but only sub on sub attacks (i.e. a hunter-killer sub hunter), in which case, you don't really need a periscope. Or it is an under water intel gathering vessel only, which need not surface except when leaving or returning to harbour.