Rumoured "mini-nuke/diesel" Submarine SSK-N(?) thread

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ACuriousPLAFan

Colonel
Registered Member
@Blitzo Discussion moved to this new thread to avoid derailing other threads.

ACuriousPLAFan said:
As many of us are caught up by the "093 somehow manage to sink in <200-meter-depth Yellow Sea for absolutely no reason whatsoever" - In the meantime, there are something from @伏尔戈星图 on Weibo, which could be worth noting:

View attachment 117512

Roughly translated:

It has been alleged that the "small tiger shark" is actually referring to the "mini-nuke" SSKN(?) that has been rumored for quite a number of years.

These could be related, also posted by the same guy:
View attachment 117513
View attachment 117514

If this claim is indeed accurate, then Jiangnan and Wuchang would be responsible for the SSKN(?)'s construction.

(And, as always, since this is from @伏尔戈星图, hence the usual caveats apply, i.e. take it with a huge grain of salt.)
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TL; DR from all previous posts in other threads: Small nuclear submarine (more commonly known as 小堆艇, or "mini-nuke" sub/SSK/SSKN(?)) rumored to begin (serial?) construction in China.

8164548196465580013.png

Simply put (especially for newcomers and those not familiar), the idea/proposal/plan is to utilize modern Chinese SSK (believed to be the 039B/C) as the starting platform to further develop into a small-size nuclear-powered submarine (hence the "mini-nuke" sub/SSN/SSKN(?) notion), with a small-size nuclear reactor substituting the conventional (fuel/battery) engines onboard.

According to the slide, this "mini-nuke" sub/SSN/SSKN(?) should have "unlimited endurance after just one fuel-up" and "comparable noise levels to conventionally-powered SSKs".
 
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tacoburger

Junior Member
Registered Member
Will this submarine have a battery and/or AIP system like diesel electric subs? Or will it's sole means of power be the nuclear reactor?
 
lcloo

lcloo

Captain
tacoburger said:
Will this submarine have a battery and/or AIP system like diesel electric subs? Or will it's sole means of power be the nuclear reactor?
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No, nuclear powered submarines do not need AIP system. AIP system is a technology that allows non-nuclear submarines to operate without access to atmospheric oxygen. Nuclear powered submarines use a nuclear reactor that does not require oxygen to generate power.
 
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ACuriousPLAFan

Colonel
Registered Member
Temstar said:
The disadvantage being in open ocean it doesn't have the high top speed of a big SSN? Any other drawbacks?
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It may not be capable of going as fast as the larger SSNs, but it certainly will be miles ahead when compared to every conventionally-powered SSKs in the world.

For reference, the 039B/C is claimed to have a speed of 12 knots max while surfaced, and 20 knots max while underwater. Although, we know that is unfeasible for any SSK to sail at its top speed for extended durations, as that quickly exhausts the energy storage onboard while reducing the SSK's endurance considerably.

Hence, if the "mini-nuke" SSN/SSKN(?) is indeed based on what has been previously described, then I do envision that said SSN/SSKN(?) will be capable of sailing at 20 (or 20+) knots underwater for greatly-extended periods of time while travelling very long distances.

On the other hand, though - I was kinda hoping that they would go for the Rubis or Suffren SSNs in terms of overall design & build, boat performance and combat capabilities, instead of just swapping out the conventional fuel/battery engines on the 039B/C and replace them with a nuclear reactor.

Hitomi said:
Maintenance complexity and higher upfront costs?
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Compared to SSKs, yes. But definitely lower than that of the larger SSNs.

One of the key points that I could think of - Perhaps they could also work on methods to refuel the SSN/SSKN(?)s onboard by outright swapping an entire spent reactor unit with an entire brand-new reactor unit (like how some EVs can swap their batteries at roadside battery swap stations across China) in order to save on cost, effort and time.

So if the PLAN is willing to accept such drawbacks, then I suppose it is fine.
 
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Temstar

Temstar

Brigadier
Registered Member
ACuriousPLAFan said:
It may not be capable of going as fast as the larger SSNs, but it certainly will be miles ahead when compared to every conventionally-powered SSKs in the world.

For reference, the 039B/C is claimed to have a speed of 12 knots max while surfaced, and 20 knots max while underwater. Although, we know that is unfeasible for any SSK to sail at its top speed for extended durations, as that quickly exhausts the energy storage onboard while reducing the SSK's endurance considerably.

Hence, if the "mini-nuke" SSN/SSKN(?) is indeed based on what has been previously described, then I do envision that said SSN/SSKN(?) will be capable of sailing at 20 (or 20+) knots underwater for greatly-extended periods of time while travelling very long distances.

On the other hand, though - I was kinda hoping that they would go for the Rubis or Suffren SSNs in terms of overall design & build, boat performance and combat capabilities, instead of just swapping out the conventional fuel/battery engines on the 039B/C and replace them with a nuclear reactor.


Compared to SSKs, yes. But definitely lower than that of the larger SSNs.

One of the key points that I could think of - Perhaps they could also work on methods to refuel the SSN/SSKN(?)s onboard by outright swapping an entire spent reactor unit with an entire brand-new reactor unit (like how some EVs can swap their batteries at roadside battery swap stations across China) in order to save on cost, effort and time.

So if the PLAN is willing to accept such drawbacks, then I suppose it is fine.
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With SSN the reactor drives the turbine which then powers the propeller shaft directly by mechanical means right?
On a SSK the propeller is exclusively driven by electric motor, even when the diesel generators are running they only provide power with no direct mechanical linkage to the propeller.

I imagine these mini-SSN would have a setup similar to SSK where the propeller is exclusively electric motor driven. They just replace the diesel generators/AIP/most of the battery with a small reactor instead. Conceptually it's an easy change.
 
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ACuriousPLAFan

Colonel
Registered Member
Temstar said:
With SSN the reactor drives the turbine which then powers the propeller shaft directly by mechanical means right?
On a SSK the propeller is exclusively driven by electric motor, even when the diesel generators are running they only provide power with no direct mechanical linkage to the propeller.

I imagine these mini-SSN would have a setup similar to SSK where the propeller is exclusively electric motor driven. They just replace the diesel generators/AIP/most of the battery with a small reactor instead. Conceptually it's an easy change.
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Should be the case. The slide only mentioned about installing a "small nuclear power plant/unit" onboard.

~~~

In the meantime, SSKs are often used as ambushers rather than hunters. Hopefully this project will transform the Chinese SSK fleet into the SSKN(?) fleet that can also behave like hunters, with endurances capable of reaching as far as the 2IC (or even the 2.5IC).
 
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