Tyrandis
23-04-2005, 23:18
http://www.global-defence.com/2003/images/astute_3.jpg
Dolphin-class Nuclear Attack Submarine
The Dolphin (SSN) family of fast attack submarines was conceived as a direct response to the constant development of Anti-Submarine-Warfare capability by a multitude of nations. Designed to replace the aging Gladius-series, Dolphin is in every respect superior to the older design. The State Bureau of Naval Science delivered the first of the class, TSN Dolphin, on New Year's Day, 2001. In early 2005, all existing Gladius-series submarines were phased out and replaced with Dolphins. This SSN is the epitome of Tyrandisan maritime power: swift, silent, and deadly.
The frame of the Dolphin-class is manufactured of an immensely strong transition metal alloy. The material is codenamed "Silver Pearl", and has proven its worth in laboratory and field testing. About half as dense as refined steel, Silver Pearl is just as stiff and tough. Derived from titanium, aluminum, and vanadium, production of the metal alloy begins with nanometers-thick foils of the aforementioned elements. From there, they are carefully stacked together in alternating layers, and compressed at a high temperature. The resulting reaction creates the desired Silver Pearl laminate plate and some residual waste products. The inspiration for Silver Pearl comes from the red abalone. It creates a hard shell from extremely thin layers of brittle calcium carbonate between even thinner layers of a biological adhesive. Mimicking the abalone is Silver Pearl, whose vanadium layers intermesh with the other metals, creating a stable and resistant armor plate.
For threat detection, the Dolphin-class uses a bow-mounted and flank-mounted wide-aperture passive SONAR arrays, giving operators a full three hundred and sixty degrees of listening capability. The SSN also has a pair of thin-line towed arrays, the TB-16A surveillance and TB-29B tactical. LV2N blue-green LIDAR and RSN-30 SONAR comprise the active target acquisition system suite of the SSN, used during weapons release. Finally, the Dolphin also has an I-band RADAR, INS, and MIDAS for navigation.
Dolphin’s twin hulls are built of very little metal. This was done to keep the submarine’s magnetic anomaly detection signature as small as possible. In its place, the SSN incorporates boron carbide, an immensely hard but very light ceramic, and Syndie, a polycrystalline synthetic diamond composite. Around this core are two layers of Neoprene (DuPont G-grade), to insulate and protect the center from shattering. Behind this is another hull, built of pure titanium to improve the submarine’s survivability if attacked. On the Dolphin’s exterior, anechoic tiles are used to minimize the acoustic return if hostile active SONAR pings the sub. Critical areas of the submarine, such as the torpedo room, incorporate an advanced material known as polyhydroxyamide. This plastic is molded into useful parts such as wall panels. When PHA is heated, it chemically reorganizes itself to a new material known as polybenzoxazole, which is nonflammable. Thus, the risk of catastrophic fire damage (see: USS Scorpion) is eliminated.
Every submariner’s credo is the classic “Run Silent, Run Deep.” The Dolphin-class follows this maxim to its core, being one of the quietest predators in the sea. To this end, the SSN has an installed Magneto-Hydro-Dynamic drive. In the process, the MHD runs an electric current through the water in an extremely strong magnetic field. This causes the fluid to propel, creating effectively the moving part of an electric motor. Expelling the moving seawater out of the stern generates thrust. This system is completely free of mechanical activity, and thus generates almost no noise. However, the system is not without flaws; it will run the submarine at best to 12 knots and is extremely inefficient. Thus, a standard seven-bladed screw, demonstrated previously by the Ohio-class SSBN is still the primary powerplant for the Dolphin. This single-shaft is surrounded by an acoustic housing, reducing generated noise by an order of magnitude. Dolphin also has full acoustic cladding installed, and a degaussing suite to reduce electromagnetic signature.
The Dolphin-class wields a truly devastating arsenal. Like the previous generation of submarines, all of its weapons are carried internally. Its primary armament is eight 660mm torpedo tubes mounted in the bow, a throwback from the Seawolf-class submarines. These can also launch USVs in addition to the standard complement of tube-launched munitions. Secondary armament is in the form of 32 VLS tubes and an innovative weapon system known as “Adaptable High-Speed Underwater Munitions”. This is a 25-millimeter gun integrated with the hull, and fires super-cavitating tungsten-cored projectiles. All of this firepower is coordinated by a SVL-8 combat data system in tandem with a SRNQ-5 fire control suite.
Specifications
Personnel: 85
Length: 485 ft
Beam: 46.2 ft
Draught: 38 ft
Max. Speed: 36 knots
“Silent” Speed: 25.5 knots
Max. Depth: 2050 ft
Powerplant:
The Dolphin-class uses an advanced reactor that runs on Americium-242 coated in a graphite matrix. Due to the structure of Am-242, the energy yield from the fuel is much more efficient than traditional uranium or plutonium. The plant is cooled by two molten fluoride salt systems, one being a backup if the primary malfunctions.
Secondary drive are two turbines rated at 55,000 SHP each, a Westinghouse submerged motor, and the MHD propulsor.
Price for Export: 1.25 billion USD
Dolphin-class Nuclear Attack Submarine
The Dolphin (SSN) family of fast attack submarines was conceived as a direct response to the constant development of Anti-Submarine-Warfare capability by a multitude of nations. Designed to replace the aging Gladius-series, Dolphin is in every respect superior to the older design. The State Bureau of Naval Science delivered the first of the class, TSN Dolphin, on New Year's Day, 2001. In early 2005, all existing Gladius-series submarines were phased out and replaced with Dolphins. This SSN is the epitome of Tyrandisan maritime power: swift, silent, and deadly.
The frame of the Dolphin-class is manufactured of an immensely strong transition metal alloy. The material is codenamed "Silver Pearl", and has proven its worth in laboratory and field testing. About half as dense as refined steel, Silver Pearl is just as stiff and tough. Derived from titanium, aluminum, and vanadium, production of the metal alloy begins with nanometers-thick foils of the aforementioned elements. From there, they are carefully stacked together in alternating layers, and compressed at a high temperature. The resulting reaction creates the desired Silver Pearl laminate plate and some residual waste products. The inspiration for Silver Pearl comes from the red abalone. It creates a hard shell from extremely thin layers of brittle calcium carbonate between even thinner layers of a biological adhesive. Mimicking the abalone is Silver Pearl, whose vanadium layers intermesh with the other metals, creating a stable and resistant armor plate.
For threat detection, the Dolphin-class uses a bow-mounted and flank-mounted wide-aperture passive SONAR arrays, giving operators a full three hundred and sixty degrees of listening capability. The SSN also has a pair of thin-line towed arrays, the TB-16A surveillance and TB-29B tactical. LV2N blue-green LIDAR and RSN-30 SONAR comprise the active target acquisition system suite of the SSN, used during weapons release. Finally, the Dolphin also has an I-band RADAR, INS, and MIDAS for navigation.
Dolphin’s twin hulls are built of very little metal. This was done to keep the submarine’s magnetic anomaly detection signature as small as possible. In its place, the SSN incorporates boron carbide, an immensely hard but very light ceramic, and Syndie, a polycrystalline synthetic diamond composite. Around this core are two layers of Neoprene (DuPont G-grade), to insulate and protect the center from shattering. Behind this is another hull, built of pure titanium to improve the submarine’s survivability if attacked. On the Dolphin’s exterior, anechoic tiles are used to minimize the acoustic return if hostile active SONAR pings the sub. Critical areas of the submarine, such as the torpedo room, incorporate an advanced material known as polyhydroxyamide. This plastic is molded into useful parts such as wall panels. When PHA is heated, it chemically reorganizes itself to a new material known as polybenzoxazole, which is nonflammable. Thus, the risk of catastrophic fire damage (see: USS Scorpion) is eliminated.
Every submariner’s credo is the classic “Run Silent, Run Deep.” The Dolphin-class follows this maxim to its core, being one of the quietest predators in the sea. To this end, the SSN has an installed Magneto-Hydro-Dynamic drive. In the process, the MHD runs an electric current through the water in an extremely strong magnetic field. This causes the fluid to propel, creating effectively the moving part of an electric motor. Expelling the moving seawater out of the stern generates thrust. This system is completely free of mechanical activity, and thus generates almost no noise. However, the system is not without flaws; it will run the submarine at best to 12 knots and is extremely inefficient. Thus, a standard seven-bladed screw, demonstrated previously by the Ohio-class SSBN is still the primary powerplant for the Dolphin. This single-shaft is surrounded by an acoustic housing, reducing generated noise by an order of magnitude. Dolphin also has full acoustic cladding installed, and a degaussing suite to reduce electromagnetic signature.
The Dolphin-class wields a truly devastating arsenal. Like the previous generation of submarines, all of its weapons are carried internally. Its primary armament is eight 660mm torpedo tubes mounted in the bow, a throwback from the Seawolf-class submarines. These can also launch USVs in addition to the standard complement of tube-launched munitions. Secondary armament is in the form of 32 VLS tubes and an innovative weapon system known as “Adaptable High-Speed Underwater Munitions”. This is a 25-millimeter gun integrated with the hull, and fires super-cavitating tungsten-cored projectiles. All of this firepower is coordinated by a SVL-8 combat data system in tandem with a SRNQ-5 fire control suite.
Specifications
Personnel: 85
Length: 485 ft
Beam: 46.2 ft
Draught: 38 ft
Max. Speed: 36 knots
“Silent” Speed: 25.5 knots
Max. Depth: 2050 ft
Powerplant:
The Dolphin-class uses an advanced reactor that runs on Americium-242 coated in a graphite matrix. Due to the structure of Am-242, the energy yield from the fuel is much more efficient than traditional uranium or plutonium. The plant is cooled by two molten fluoride salt systems, one being a backup if the primary malfunctions.
Secondary drive are two turbines rated at 55,000 SHP each, a Westinghouse submerged motor, and the MHD propulsor.
Price for Export: 1.25 billion USD