JMSDF Commissioned its 1st Li-Ion Battery Submarine SS-511 JS Ōryū おうりゅう

JS Oryu is the 11th Soryu-class submarine delivered to the JMSDF (the 6th built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the other 5 ones having been built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries). Oryu (おうりゅう) means Phoenix Dragon. SS-511’s keel was laid in November 2015, the SSK was launched in October 2018.

About Sōryū-class submarine

The keel for the first submarine in the class, Soryu (SS-501), was laid down in March 2005. It was launched in December 2007 and commissioned in March 2009. The latest Soryu class SSK to joint the fleet is SS-510 JS Shōryū which was commissioned on March 18, 2019. The 12th and final submarine SS-512 JS Tōryū (とうりゅう) was launched in November 2019. Twelve Soryu-class submarines are currently planned for the JMSDF.

The Soryu-class is an improved version of the Oyashio-class submarine. Soryu-class submarines are the world’s largest conventionally powered submarines. All submarines of the class are named after dragons: Soryū means Blue Dragon, Hakuryū (2nd in the class) White Dragon, Sekiryū (8th in the class) Red Dragon, Shoryu (10th in the class) means Soaring Dragon…

Li-Ion batteries

The design features improved underwater endurance thanks to lithium-ion batteries from the eleventh submarine in the class. Previous submarines use Lead-acid batteries. Designed by GS Yuasa, the high-performance Li-Ion batteries are said to store about double the power. The last two submarines of the class, fitted with the new battery technology, will probably serve as test-bed for the next generation of Japanese SSK.

Soryu-class Main characteristics

Length 84.0m
Width 9.1m
Depth 10.3m
Draft 8.4m
Displacement 2,950 Tons
Engine:
– Kawasaki 12V 25 / 25SB type diesel engine 2 groups
– Kawasaki Kokkamusu V4-275R Stirling engine four
Propulsion motor: 1
Number of propellers: 1
Speed 20 knots