AIR-INDEPENDENT PROPULSION: TRIALS GET UNDER WAY

The prospect of diesel-electric submarines having an underwater endurance approaching that provided by nuclear powerplants has generated renewed interest in air-independent propulsion (AIP). The Royal Australian Navy has specified AIP as an option for its new submarine program, and Sweden and Germany are seriously studying moves in a similar direction. Most of the major submarine developers are already testing AIP schemes or have plans to do so in the near future. The Federal German Navy's Type 205 submarine U-1 was converted by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft during 1987 to accommodate the fuel-cell propulsion system developed by HDW, IKL and Siemens. In Sweden, Kockums is inserting a plug in the hull of an A14-class submarine to accommodate a Stirling-engine propulsion module. Closed-cycle diesel systems have several significant advantages, not least the fact that they use existing technology and are not perceived as being unacceptably radical. The Italian company Maritalia MLM, formerly known as Sub Sea Oil Services (SSOS), has designed a family of submarines based on its C3 (compact closed-circuit) diesel engine. Maritalia is promoting its designs, which range from midget submarines to feasibility studies of a 2,400t fleet boat in association with Fincantieri. The British company Cosworth Engineering has developed its Argo closed-cycle system for use with any type of turbocharged diesel engine.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Intl. Defense Rev., 21 (1988), p. 531 (No. 5) [2 pp., 1 fig., 1 phot.]
• Authors:
  • Hewish, M
• Publication Date: 1988

Language

• English

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Submarines
• Old TRIS Terms: Diesel propulsion
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00693809
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: British Maritime Technology
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 14 1995 12:00AM