The 'V' Class attack submarines represent somewhat of a capability leap over the submarines which they replace. Originally meant to be a class of 8 budget cuts in early 2000s resulted in only 5 being laid down. The lead ship of the class, 'Vampire' entered operational service in late 2010 and is currently serving with CSG-Atlantic with the carrier Ark Royal and her task group. They are roughly equivalent to the USN 'Seawolf' in capability and just like the Seawolves, cost a hell of a lot to build compared to their predecessors. Their sensor fit includes 6 conformal sonar arrays as well as the bow array, a towed variable depth array and collision avoidance arrays. Valkyrie and Venom are expected to receive ducted props and are having a 10m stretch incorporated forward of the sail.
Design inspiration comes from the Sōryū and Seawolf types.
Tentative Specifications:
Displacement:
7,500tonnes (surfaced), 8,700tonnes (submerged)
Length:
105.9m
Beam:
12m
Draught:
9.7m
Propulsion:
Nuclear with auxiliary AIP - ~245MW from the reactor (PWR) ~2MW from AIP (Distributed between eight 250KW hydrogen fuel cells)
4x thrusters: Fore and aft horizontal thrusters and fore vertical thrusters
Speed:
20kt surfaced
27kt submerged silent
34kt operational maximum
36kt obtained with Vampire on sea trials
Test Depth
600m
Range:
Essentially unlimited
Endurance:
150 days
Complement:
94 - 8 officers and 86 enlisted - Permanent Accommodation for 24 extra personnel and temporary accommodation for another 32 on top of that
Armament:
8x 533 mm torpedo tubes - Four UGM-84 compatible
Weapons carried include Spearfish wire guided torpedoes, UGM-84M Sub Harpoon, UGM-109E TLAM-E and UGM-109A TLAM-N
The panels fore and aft of the sail can be fitted with modular pallets capable of carrying various payloads from Torpedoes and Mines (illustrated) to UDVs and USVs
In total the vessels carry up-to 50 weapons to be launched from the tubes as well as the 12 cell launcher for TLAM-N and TLAM-E
Note however that TLAM-N' are not currently carried on this class of submarines, they are only carried as of now on the two SSGNs Andromeda and Atlantis
Other Features:
Dry/Wet room for SOF and attachment points on deck for two UDVs
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Regards, Mark.