Narwal
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Narwal-class nuclear-powered attack submarine |
| Operators: |
 Velikoslavia |
| In service: | 2020 - present |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Nuclear attack submarine |
| Tonnage: |
8,923 Metric tons surfaced 14,523 submerged |
| Length: | 118.5 m |
| Beam: | 13.7 m |
| Propulsion: |
1 x nuclear reactor 2 x Steam turbines 1 x single shaft pump-jet propulsor 2 x secondary dorsal and ventral propulsion motors |
| Speed: | 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) or over |
| Range: | unlimited |
| Endurance: | Only limited by food and maintenance requirements. |
| Test depth: | 1,850 ft (563.8 meters) reported |
| Complement: | 140 (20 officers, 120 enlisted) |
| Armament: |
8 x 26.5-inch torpeod tubes for 21-inch weapons
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The Narwal-class nuclear powered attack submarine in service with the Velikoslavian Navy. Designed to achieve goals set forth by the admiralty for a competent, long-range submarine capable of operating alone in hostile waters in order for extended durations to achieve a complicated set of objectives. The first Narwal-class submarine was launched in 2018 and has been in service since 2020.
Design
The Narwal-class design is based off of the older XXXX-class submarine, which it is slated to replace. The class, which was titled Project 15124 until the navy announced it's lead ship, the Narwal. The ship measures at 118.50 meters in length with a beam of 13.7 meters with a displacement of 8,923 metric tons surfaced and 14,523 metric tones when submerged. The test depth, or the depth of which the submarine is allowed to operate at and tested at during design trials, is reported to be 1,850 feet but analyists estimate the true test depth of the design may be greater than 2,000 feet.
The hull of the design is constructed utilising HY-100 nickel-alloy steel to allow it operate at such depths as previously described and is built in one phase around a completed pressure hull with special cutting areas for reactor replacement during refits. The submarine is covered in more than 43,500 classified anechoic tile which minimises sonar detection by both absorbing and distorting sonar waves and are attached utilising high-strength adhesive designed by the Velikoslavian government specifically for the role. The tiles, which are produced and attached in parts, have previously been prone to failures (falling off due to impacts with sea-life or underwater objects), have so far not suffered failures following the introduction of the new high-strength adhesive on the first ship of the class.
The class has stowage for a reported 50 munitions within the forward torpedo storage bay which ranges from the EF58 Scorpo heavy torpedoes to cruise missiles. The vessels operate a new command system, referred simply as the Nawal Management System, which eases the translation of data from external sensors to displays within the command rooms. High-precision echosounders, hydrophones and a new generation of non-penetrating optronic masts allows the crew a 360-degree view of the area both above the waves with radar masts and underwater with sonar and hydrophones. The class' eight 26.5-inch torpedo tubes allow it to both operate the munitions previously described or be used for special operations, allowing special forces to deploy a torpedo-shaped mini-submersible for extended range operations from the vessel in question, although the class is also designed to be able to operate a mini-sub docked on the top of the boat, a specialised dry-garage to allow the operation of smaller mini-submersibles, or potentially unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV).
Designed to utilise a pressured water reactor and outfitted with a pump-jet propulsor, the class is rated to be able to achieve almost permanent operation at seas with the exception of maintenance, refits and food supplies. The reactor utilised onboard the design has been previously seen aboard the larger guided-missile submarine classes of the Velikoslavian navy. The sail of the class is designed to be able to pierce through ice caps and the vessels cross-shape stern planes are reinforced to either breach through or 'rest' against the ice with the upper sections of the submarine able to remain surfaced above the ice. The aforementioned food supplies required for the submarines operation are often limited to 90 days of food carried, and practices of resupplying at sea with friendly vessels of the Velikoslavian navy or other friendly nations is commonplace while on deployment.
The designed speed of the class is 25 knots officially, but in testing it was reported that in emergency situations the vessel was capable of exceeding 30 knots.
Ships in class
| Name | Number | Builder | Launched | Comissioned | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Narwal | TBD | TBD | 8 August 2018 | 13 February 2020 | Active service |