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Gotland-class submarine

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HMS Gotland
Class overview
BuildersKockums
Operators Swedish Navy
Preceded byVästergötland
Succeeded byA26
Planned3
Completed3
Activelist error: <br /> list (help)
HMS Gotland
HMS Uppland
HMS Halland
General characteristics
TypeSubmarine
Displacementlist error: <br /> list (help)
Surfaced: 1,494 tonnes (1,470 long tons)
Submerged: 1,599 tonnes (1,574 long tons)
Length60.4 m (198 ft 2 in)
Beam6.2 m (20 ft 4 in)
Draft5.6 m (18 ft 4 in)
Propulsionlist error: <br /> list (help)
2× Diesel-electric MTU engines
2× Kockums v4-275R Stirling AIP units
Speedlist error: <br /> list (help)
Surfaced: 11 knots (20 km/h)
Submerged: 20 knots (37 km/h) on batteries; 5 knots (9.3 km/h) on AIP
Complementlist error: <br /> list (help)
18 Officers
6 Seamen
Sensors and
processing systems		CSU 90-2 Integrated sonar sensor suite
Armamentlist error: <br /> list (help)
4× 533 mm (21.0 in) Torpedo tubes
2× 400 mm (15.7 in) Torpedo tubes
48x Externaly Mounted Naval Mines [1]

The Gotland class submarines of the Swedish Navy are modern diesel-electric submarines, which were designed and built by the Kockums shipyard in Sweden. They are the first submarines in the world to feature a Stirling engine air-independent propulsion (AIP) system, which extends their underwater endurance from a few days to weeks.[2] This capability had previously only been available with nuclear powered submarines.

Features

As of 2008, the Gotland-class attack submarine is one of the most modern submarines of the Swedish Navy in service, mainly designed for submarine missions such as anti-ship/anti-submarine warfare, collecting of intelligence (communications intelligence (COMINT), electronic signals intelligence (ELINT)), forward surveillance, special operations and mine-laying tasks.[2]

On the water surface, the submarine is powered by two sets of MTU engines. While submerged, the Kockums-built Stirling engine Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system is used to drive a 75 kilowatts (101 shp) generator for either propulsion or charging the batteries. A Stirling engine is particularly well suited for a submarine because the engine is near silent and can use the surrounding sea water as a heat sink to increase efficiency. Submerged endurance is dependent on the amount of liquid oxygen stored on-board and is described as "weeks". The class is characterized by its low acoustic signatures, extreme shock resistance and a competent combat system.[2]

Kockums touts extreme maneuverability for this class due to the hull design and a well-placed X rudder. The X rudder provides four control surfaces, along with two mounted on the sail, which enables sharp turns and the ability to operate very close to the seabed. Ship automation and computerized steering allow a single operator to steer the submarine in depth and course, which also results in a smaller crew complement, leading to good accommodation standards and low operating costs.[3]

The class has many features that enhance stealth, helping it to remain undetected. All shipboard machinery are isolated and mounted on rubber dampeners to reduce vibrations and noises; a hydrodynamic hull design to reduce noise, infrared signature, and active sonar response; counteracting its magnetic signature with 27 independent electromagnets; short circuiting extremely low frequency (ELF) electrical fields; various hull coatings to reduce active sonar response; and coating the mast with radar absorbing material. Combined with the near silent operation of the Stirling generator and slow turning propeller to prevent cavitation, the boats are very difficult to detect underwater, especially in their normal area of operations, the Baltic Sea.[3]

Drawing of the ships in the class


Units

Ship name Laid down Launched Commissioned Service Status Coat of arms
HMS Gotland 10 October 1992 2 February 1995 1996 1st Submarine Flotilla Active
HMS Uppland 14 January 1994 8 February 1995 1996 1st Submarine Flotilla Active
HMS Halland 21 October 1994 27 September 1996 1996 1st Submarine Flotilla Active

Deployments

After being refit and upgraded to sustain the higher temperatures of tropical water,[4] HMS Halland took part in a multi-national exercise in the Mediterranean from September 16, 2000. Allegedly, there she remained undetected while still recording many of her friendly adversaries, attracting interest from the participating countries. In early November the same year, she participated in a NATO "blue-water" exercise in the Atlantic. There she reportedly won a victory in a mock "duel" with Spanish naval units, and then the same in similar duel against a French SSN, a nuclear-powered attack submarine. She also "defeated" an American SSN, the USS Houston.[4]

Secondment to United States Navy

HMS Gotland onboard M/V Eide Transporter in San Diego.
HMS Gotland transits through San Diego Harbor with the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) following close behind during the “Sea and Air Parade” held as part of Fleet Week San Diego 2005.

In 2004, the Swedish government received a request from the United States of America to lease HMS Gotland – Swedish-flagged, commanded and manned, for a duration of one year for use in anti-submarine warfare exercises. The Swedish government granted this request in October 2004, with both navies signing a memorandum of understanding on March 21, 2005.[5][6] The lease was extended for another 12 months in 2006.[7][8][9] In July 2007, HMS Gotland departed San Diego for Sweden.[10]

HMS Gotland managed to snap several pictures of the USS Ronald Reagan during a wargaming exercise in the Pacific Ocean, effectively "sinking" the aircraft carrier.[11] The exercise was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the US Fleet against diesel-electric submarines, which some have noted as severely lacking.[12][13]

See also

References

Notes
  1. ^ http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/gotland/
  2. ^ a b c "The Gotland class submarine - submerged several weeks". Kockums. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
  3. ^ a b "Kockums Promotional" (PDF). Naval Technology. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  4. ^ a b Kockums.se: News 2000
  5. ^ "US Navy Leasing Swedish Gotland-Class Submarine". Deagel. Retrieved 2004-11-05.
  6. ^ "U.S., Swedish Navies Sign Agreement to Bilaterally Train on State-of-the-Art Sub" (Press release). United States Navy. 2005-03-23.
  7. ^ "US Navy to continue hunt for Swedish sub". The Local. 2006-04-18. Retrieved 2006-07-21.
  8. ^ "Gotland extends US stay for another year" (Press release). Kockums AB. 2006-06-13. Retrieved 2006-07-21.
  9. ^ "HMS Gotland's Stirling propulsion system basis of success in the USA" (Press release). Kockums AB. 2007-05-09.
  10. ^ "SSK Gotland Class (Type A19) Attack Submarine, Sweden". Naval Technology. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
  11. ^ "Pentagon: New Class Of Silent Submarines Poses Threat". KNBC. 2006-10-19. Retrieved 2006-07-21.
  12. ^ Polmar, Norman (2006). "Back to the Future". U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings. 132 (3): 22–23. 0041-798X. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  13. ^ "US Navy Struggles to Recapture, Keep ASW Proficiency". The Nav Log. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
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