Other Fan Fiction ❯ Technical Files ❯ Balao-class Attack Submarine (Japanese Bat, American Eagle, North Korean Dragon) ( Chapter 3 )

BALAO II-CLASS FLEET SUBMARINE

 

 

To counter the spiraling cost of nuclear attack submarines, the US Navy undertook a study in the late 1990s to determine the feasibility of diesel-electric submarines in direct support of special operations in littoral waters, in conjunction with the Benjamin Franklin-class special operations attack submarines. The suggested proposal was a return to an updated design of the World War II Balao-class fleet submarines.

The recommendation was to keep the same basic design as the original, but use two turbodiesel engines, in place of the four normally aspirated engines, ceramic batteries and fuel cells for electrical power, add the capability for tube-launched Harpoon and Tomahawk missiles, Mk 48 ADCAP torpedoes, and the sensor bulge modifications from the Korean-war vintage Grouper-class killer submarines to house a modified AN/BSY-2 sonar/fire control system. Additional design changes include water-jet propulsion in place of standard screws or shrouded propulsors, bow and stern thrusters for additional maneuverability, anechoic tiles for the hull and decking, and snorkel.

Design recommendations also included keeping the original World War II conning tower design and replacing the 5”/25 calibre deck gun with a 5”/54 calibre deck gun for surface operations and commonality for ammunition. To provide air defense capabilities against helicopters and anti-ship missiles, two Mk15 20mm CIWS are to be mounted on the fore and aft decks of the conning tower, in place of the optically guided, manual 20mm or 40mm anti-aircraft guns. Universal pintle mounts allow mounting of M2 .50 calibre machine guns and Mk19 40mm automatic grenade launchers.

The first boat, the USS Balao, SS-800, was launched on September 15th, 2000, returning the Navy to the era of the diesel submarine.

 

BALAO II-CLASS SPECIFICATIONS

 

LENGTH: 312 FEET

BEAM: 27 FEET

DRAFT: 17 FEET

DISPLACEMENT: 1800 TONS (SURFACE)/ 2500 TONS (SUBMERGED)

SPEED: 30 KNOTS (SURFACED)/ 15 KNOTS (SUBMERGED)

DEPTH: 400 FEET (STANDARD)/ 600 FEET (EMERGENCY)

HULL: HY-80 STEEL

RANGE: 20,000 MILES AT 15 KNOTS

ENDURANCE: 75 DAYS

CREW: 10 OFFICERS, 70 ENLISTED

DECK GUN: 1 5”/54 CALIBRE

ANTI-AIRCRAFT WEAPONS: 2 Mk15 20mm CIWS (PHALANX) Block 1B

LIGHT WEAPONS: 6 POINTS FOR M-2 .50 CAL/ MK-19 40mm AGL

TORPEDOES: 8 21” TORPEDO TUBES

20 Mk-48 ADCAP TORPEDOES

 

2 AGM-84 HARPOON/SLAM-E

 

2 BGM-109 TOMAHAWK MISSILES

 

OR ANY COMBINATION OF MISSILES AND TORPEDOES

 

 

ENGINES: 2 CATERPILLER 3616 V-16 TURBODIESELS WITH GENERATOR SETS

SYSTEMS:

MODIFIED AN/BSY-2 ACTIVE-PASSIVE SONAR/FIRE CONTROL

 

AN/BPS-16 SEARCH AND NAVIGATION RADAR

 

AN/WLQ-4(V)1 ES RECEIVER

 

CENTRAL COMBAT SYSTEM Mk 2

 

LINK 11 TACTICAL DATALINK

 

OTCIXS TACTICAL DATALINK