Skandara Class (Submarine)

File:Skan SSBN.jpg Skandaria class SSBN Bir Hakeim
Class overview
Name:	Skandara
Operators:	Dniegua Temuair Sieuxerr Template:Country data Austrasien
Preceded by:	Various
Cost:	$1.2bn USD
Built:	2004-
In service:	2006-
In commission:	2006-
Planned:	As ordered
Building:	6
Completed:	20
Active:	17
General characteristics
Displacement:	8,600 surfaced 13,800 tons submerged<
Length:	120m
Beam:	15m
Propulsion:	1 x KM type Pressurized water reactor All-Aspect pumpjet
Speed:	20kn surfaced 28kn
Range:	unlimited except by food supplies
Complement:	90 (32 officers)
Sensors and processing systems:	Derim ESM/ECM Snoop Pair Surface Search Radar
Armament:	40 x (8x5) VLS Modules x8 SSBNs, x40 land attack cruise missiles 10 x torpedo tubes (8x650mm and 2x533mm).

The Skandara-class SSBN is a joint Skanderan nuclear powered ballistic missile submarine in use b several nations of the Skanderan Union. Considerably stealthier than most modern submarines due to a corkscrew propeller, significant body design innovations, and a nonmagnetic hull, the Skandara-class was a joint development between all members of the Skanderan Union, and represents a major stride in submarine technology. Following a 15 year long development among members of the SU, the Skandara class standardized SSBN/SSGN technology and ships among member states in an effort to reduce unit cost, improve maintenance times and periods, and rapidly create supremacy in and around Skanderan waters.

The Skandara-class is currently operated by members of the Skanderan Union with submarine launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) within their arsenal; with the acceptation of Temuair, whom uses them primarily as nuclear-powered cruse missile submarines (SSGNs). There are currently 17 subs in service, with more planned as the Skanderan continental ambitions grow.

Design and Operational History

National Involvement

The Skandara-class SSBN first began development in the early 1980s under the supervision of design firms from Skanderan member nations. The hull design was undertaken by a joint Dniegua-Austrasien design firm, drawing engineering teams, design features and technologies from an earlier submarine design ambition, Project Concept Formulation (CONFROM), which the two nations jointly developed and tested before the cancellation. The firm originally proposed a sailless design utilizing specialized control surfaces that conformed to the submarine; such surfaces would create minimal cavitation during travel and reduce drag when traveling submerged.

File:SKASSBN Concept 1.jpg

The original Skandara-class SSBN proposal, with retractable sensor suite.

Electronics, periscopes and antenna would be stored in retractable bays within the submarine, thereby eliminating unnecessary hull protrusions and further reducing drag. The hull was to be constructed of non-magnetic materials with sonar absorbing properties, which would reduce any probably of sonar return.

The propulsion system was a undertaken by Sieuxerr, whom designed the reactors for the ship. Temuair supplied an advanced corkscrew, helix drive and propeller system, which would cavitate less than normal propeller designs. Also proposed were water-powered high-speed pushing systems. These systems utilized a mass intake of water and, utilizing great force, forced the water though a set of four independently angled propulsion ports which would control the subs pitch, yaw and speed. While fast, especially with the ships low-drag body, this was deemed both too complex, large and and too noisy; the sound of water entering collection bays would be extremely loud, so much so the sub would need to do so at depths greater than 1000 meters to acutely avoid detection. The ship would need several partitioned areas with independent pressure equalization systems in order to do so properly. In addition, the collection bays would make the ships far too large, if it were to continuously sustain operations at depths which it would be able to attack enemy forces. Maneuvering would have been extremely difficult, and the proposal was scrapped in favor of Temuair's proposed drive and pumpjet system.

The Hull is composed of HY-130 steel.

Weapon systems and sensors were handled by Dniegua. The Skanderan standard 533 mm and 650 mm Torpedo tubes were fitted in several configurations to several design proposals, eventually settling on a standard configuration array. The VLS modals were planned to fit in two separate locations, both aft and fore, though the design team eventually deciding on aft. The project VLS systems were to carry 50 cells, later reduced to 40. Weapon systems were supplied by Dniegua, Temuair and Sieuxerr.

Gratislavia provided technical, monetary and emotional support, and stole crafted commemorative pots upon the completion of the first submarine.

Semi-Sailless

While efficient and quite underway, the sailless deign proved to be complex and have a number of drawbacks. The test submarine found itself unable to communicate with command with retracted antenna beyond certain depths, and often found itself without electronic sensors as a result of the retracted electronic systems. The opening, raising and closing of the systems proved to be too noisy. In addition, projections showed the design would be unable to reliably break though large amounts of ice buildup, as is common in Skanderan waters.

This spelled an end for the sailless design of the Skandara-class, resulting in a "semi-sailless" design. The inclusion of the conventional sail was forgone, resulting in a conformal sail design with a gradual upward slope and very low-drag curved design. While not as efficient as the sailless design, it represented a major improvement over conventional designs, and reduced the cost of the sub.

Operational testing

The first prototype submarine, Skandara, entered operational testing in 2000, wherein it underwent excessive sea trials.During testing, the sub was sent to infiltrate various battle groups of member nations fleets, "sink" ships, and avoid detection. No member state was able to detect the submarine, much to the mixed emotional response of various military commanders. The Dnieguan Naval Commander Gustav Temorvich in particular, was quite conflicted when the ship "sunk" a pair of submarine-hunting ships within the Torvland class ships escort group. The ship made a number of deep test dives before finally being declared combat ready. The Skandara now exists as an active museum ship, changing location every 3 months, and is the only jointly-owned ship of the Skanderan Union.

Ships in Service

Ship name	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Nation	Status
Sigrun	20 March, 2003	1 May, 2005	17 June, 2006	Template:Country data Austrasien	Active
Swanhild	20 March, 2003	1 May, 2005	5 June, 2006	Template:Country data Austrasien	Active
Saxa	29 March, 2006	15 April, 2008	13 May, 2009	Template:Country data Austrasien	Active
Sidonia	5 May, 2009	16 April, 2011	2 April, 2012	Template:Country data Austrasien	Active
Sunna	17 May, 2012	7 June, 2014		Template:Country data Austrasien	Trials
Skaland	10 January 2003	14 March 2005	12 November 2006	Dniegua	Active
Vordland	10 January 2003	14 March 2005	12 November 2006	Dniegua	Active
Sonderland	17 December 2006	23 Febuary 2008	2 October 2008	Dniegua	Active
Turmland	14 November 2008	23 Febuary 2009	2 January 2010	Dniegua	Active
Skoorland	14 December 2012	23 April 2014		Dniegua	Undergoing trials
Jorgland	14 December 2012	26 April 2014		Dniegua	Undergoing trials
Bir Hakeim	April 11, 2004	August 23, 2006	January 6, 2008	Sieuxerr	Active
Marne	April 11, 2004	August 25, 2006	January 16, 2008	Sieuxerr	Active
Ypres	May 1, 2004	November 19, 2006	March 22, 2008	Sieuxerr	Active
Verdun	May 30, 2004	October 4, 2006	June 6, 2008	Sieuxerr	Active
Belleau Wood	May 30, 2004	October 9, 2006	June 24, 2008	Sieuxerr	Active
Koufra	May 30, 2004	October 11, 2006	June 25, 2008	Sieuxerr	Active
Chimera	21, June 2003	29 December 2006	11 May, 2008	Temuair	Active
Bala	2 February, 2012	24 December, 2014		Temuair	Sea trials , expected early 2016