Author: Rainbow Kursk
Recently, with the launch of Japan's second large Whale-class submarine "Moby Dick", everyone's attention to the Japanese submarine force has become higher! Japan has maintained a high level of secrecy about the activities of the submarine force, and in addition to knowing that it is constantly expanding the number of submarines at a rate of one launch per year, it is rarely disclosed about the use of the Japanese submarine force, nor does it know where these submarines usually go.
Some people believe that Japanese submarines are mainly conventional submarines, so they will not sail long distances, and generally train around the Sea of Japan, which is not a great threat to the surrounding areas!
This is actually a big cognitive error for the Japanese submarine force! In fact, the submarines of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force not only trained in high-sea voyages, but also sneaked into the southern ocean that was widely concerned by the world, stirring up the already calm sea as an extraterritorial military force!
Photo: The Japanese submarine Kuroshio, who follows the U.S. aircraft carrier to the south to do things.
During the Cold War, the Japanese submarine force, as the main underwater force against the Soviet Pacific Fleet, was deployed in the north-central part of the Sea of Japan to defend against the Landing Operations launched by the Soviet Fleet against Japan's Hokkaido, while hunting in the outlying waters and conducting combat operations against the Soviet Navy's logistical supply routes.
However, with the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, the mission of the Japanese submarine force changed dramatically. The Russian Pacific Fleet was no longer the greatest threat to japan's Maritime Self-Defense Forces, so the main operational direction of the Japanese submarine force began to move southwards, turning to cooperate with the U.S. blockade of the first island chain.
Photo: Blocking the first island chain with surface ships is the main task of the Japanese submarine force at present.
Because the conventional power submarines previously equipped have been using traditional diesel-electric power, especially the battery uses old-fashioned lead-acid batteries, although there is snorkel technology, but the time to lurk underwater is still limited, and the combat capability in the far sea is insufficient. Therefore, Japanese submarines generally circulate in the coastal waters.
However, starting from the Soryu-class submarine, Japan has installed a Stirling engine AIP power system on the submarine, which is a power system that does not rely on air, although it cannot replace the host of the diesel-electric submarine, it can still allow the submarine to cruise at a low speed in the sea for a long time, effectively increasing the combat range of the submarine.
Photo: The grandchildren visit the Soryu-class submarine.
With the AIP system, Japanese submarines can sail farther. The late version of the Soryu class and the new whale class have been equipped with a more advanced lithium-ion battery power system, which has doubled the battery power supply range and halved the battery charging time, which is more suitable for ocean voyages.
In fact, Japan has also begun the ocean-going deployment and training of submarines.
As early as 2018, Japan sent the pro-tide class "Kuroshio" submarine (SS596, くろしお) to the south to cooperate with the US aircraft carrier battle group to do things, and also went to Vietnam for a 5-day visit. You know, the pro-tide class does not have an AIP system and a lithium-ion battery, but it still has the world's advanced level at the beginning of the 21st century.
A number of Japanese government officials triumphantly said that the sea area is an important passage for Japanese merchant ships to travel, and the participation of the Kuroshio submarine in the anti-submarine exercise here can effectively protect Japan's maritime lifeline.
Photo: At the military base in Kure Harbor, a large number of Japanese submarines are parked.
At that time, the chief of maritime staff of the Maritime Self-Defense Force, Chief of Staff Murakawa, said that this sea area is a strategic key point of Japan's maritime transportation and a sea area that is related to Japan's life and death, and if it cannot be effectively controlled, it will not be possible to ensure the free entry of Japanese warships from the Bashi Strait into the Pacific waters, which will have a great impact on the Pacific security strategies of the United States and Japan.
With this voyage, Japanese submarines may continue to expand their influence to the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean and other waters in the future.
Photo: The Kuroshio docked at Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam, and the Vietnamese Navy happily welcomed the arrival of the Japanese submarine.