The final submarine scheme that became the V class has been finalised!
Vampire Class Fleet Submarine (Nuclear)
The Vampire-class is a class of nuclear-powered fast attack submarines (SSN) currently in service with the Royal Galenian Navy. The class was the intended successor to both the preceding Sabre and Terrible classes. Initial design work began in 1982. Originally it was intended that a fleet of 24 submarines was to be built over a ten-year period. This was later reduced to eighteen and then in turn sixteen submarines. The end of the Cold War and ergo budget constraints led to the cancellation of any further vessels by 1994 leaving a shortfall in nuclear modern boats. This, in turn, led to the design of the larger Revenge class.
The Vampire's basic design was intended to combat the threat of large numbers of Soviet ballistic missile submarines such as the Typhoon class and fast attack submarines such as the Akula and Alfa classes in a deep ocean environment. The double-hull of the Vampires is constructed entirely from Titanium rather than the various grades of magnetic and non-magnetic steel previously employed, in order to withstand increased water pressure at greater depths.
When compared to the Sabre class the vampires are larger, faster, quieter and deeper diving as well as carrying more weapons. The Vampires possess a high degree of automation reducing manning requirements and allowing for each crew member to be individually berthed rather than 'hot bunking', the Vampires are also the first submarines in Galenian service to embark female crew-members.
As a whole, the class embody some revolutionary technologies and ideas, such as:
- Electro-Optical masts which do not pierces the pressure hull
- Hydrodynamic sensors - Much like various Russian boats the Vampires incorporate sensors capable of detecting changes in salinity, temperature and
- All-round sonar - The sonar suite on the Vampires is comprehensive consisting of a spherical (now conformal) array in the bow along with the intercept array as well as arrays on the and along the hull allowing for as yet unrivalled coverage. There is also a towed fibre-optic array deployed from the stern.
- EM signature reduction and management systems
- Fly-By-Light control surfaces
- Deep-submergence rescue suits and capsule
Specifications
Displacement:
- Nominally 8,000tonnes
Length:
- 106.7m
Beam:
- 13.33m
Draught:
- 8.5m
Propulsion:
- Nuclear with auxiliary AIP
- Franco/Galenian Fourth Generation Pb-Bi LMFR for ~200MW
- Galenian developed MAFC producing up-to 2MW
- manoeuvring / emergency propulsion device well forward.
Speed:
- 20kt surfaced
- 28kt submerged silent
- 40kt operational maximum
- 43kt obtained with Vampire on sea trials
Test Depth
- 600m
Operating Depth
- 500m
Range:
- Essentially unlimited - No refueling expected during life of class
Endurance:
-120 days
Complement:
- 72 (28 officers and 44 enlisted) - Permanent Accommodation for 12 extra personnel and temporary accommodation for another 12 on top of that
Armament:
- Six 660 mm torpedo tubes and six multipurpose silos for the following:
- MBDA Spearfish wire-guided heavyweight torpedoes
- Lockheed Martin ASSLM (Mach 4+ AShM)
- Boeing Sea Lance (Conventional and Nuclear)
- Raytheon MGM-129 (Scaled for use in Mk41 and 533mm tubes)
*40 Weapons (Torpedo Room)
*36 Weapons (Silos)
Revenge Class Cruise Missile Submarine
Essentially these are follow-on Vampires. After much deliberation about down which route to go it was decided that an improved/modified Vampire was the best way to go, regardless of the magnificent cost implications it might have.
As before a Ti boat with near enough all the trimmings. They're slower than the Vampires, only being able to make 38knots flat-out but carry substantially more weapons The Revenges can act as fleet boats in a pinch when required but are usually deployed either on SOF operations or deterrent duties.
The Revenge class is also the first RGN class to receive successors to SSLAM (in this case a matured and embiggened Hy-Fly). ~1,100km @ Mach 6 or 1,500km at Mach 4. The HyFly (Tsetse Fly in Galenian use) will start to supplant the conventional MGM-129 in the next few years at least on first-strike vessels.
~Mark.