Kodungo-class submarine
| File:Kodungo-class.png Kodŭngŏ I-class above, Kodŭngŏ II-class below | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: | DNMI |
| Operators: |
list error: <br /> list (help) Anikatian People's Navy Anikatian Navy |
| Preceded by: | Chongo-class submarine |
| Built: | 2001–Present |
| In service: | 2001-Present |
| Planned: | 30 |
| Building: | 10 |
| Completed: | 3 |
| Cancelled: | 20 |
| Active: | 3 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Submarine |
| Displacement: |
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| Length: | 93.1 m |
| Beam: | 8.8 m |
| Draft: | 6.6 m |
| Propulsion: | |
| Speed: |
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| Range: |
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| Endurance: | 70 days endurance |
| Test depth: | 250–400 m (820–1,312 ft) |
| Complement: | 31 officers, 26 warrants |
| Armament: |
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The Kodŭngŏ-class submarine is the latest class of diesel-electric submarine built by Anikatia. The official desgination by the Anikatian People's Navy was the Kodŭngŏ-class, but the manufacturer designation of this class was Project 668; Kodŭngŏ (청어) means mackerel in the Anikatian language.
It is a new vessel based on a deeply modernised version of the Ch'ŏngŏ-class submarine with improved acoustic stealth, new combat systems, and fitted with a air-independent propulsion system equipped with Stirling engines. It is mainly intended for anti-shipping and anti-submarine operations in relatively shallow water but it can operate in all areas of the world, in all weather conditions and in shallow and deep water.
History and development
In the beginning of the 1990s the Anikatian People's Navy was seeking a replacement for the Ch'ŏngŏ-class submarine. While experience during the Seulbyeni Islands Crisis pushed development towards a quieter design utilising an air-independent propulsion system equipped with Stirling engines. Such a system was tested in a number of Ch'ŏngŏ-class submarine by the insertion of new hull sections and the results proved the system be remarkably quiet, essentially vibration-free and nearly undetectable.
The use of this systems allows the submarine to operate at high speed on the powerful diesel power systems and then switch to the air-independent propulsion system for silent slow cruising, staying submerged for weeks without surfacing and with no exhaust heat. While the new submarine was going to be based on an improved Ch'ŏngŏ design, new requirements such the ability to operate in all water and weather conditions led to significant updates to the design that it would be considered a new class.
After the fall of the DSRA government, production was halted at two vessels, research continued although at a reduced rate and as the Anikatian economy began to improve and the navy was modernised the type was given a deep modernisation which introduced a number of changes to electronic equipment and improved the sonar as well as the significant noise reduction techniques. Instead of a conventional propeller used on all previous vessels of this type, the improved design uses a pump jet propulsion system, a first for conventionally powered Anikatian submarines.
The air independent propulsion systems are thought to have been replaced with banks of Li-Ion batteries. This gives the class a better underwater range and speed due to its more efficient nature when compared to the previous air-independent propulsion system that required fuel to operate which means that it does not need to return to port to refuel. It can recharge its batteries at sea if required. This significantly increases the mission endurance and operational capability of the vessels. Since there are no moving parts in the battery operated system is said to be significantly quieter than the air-independent propulsion system.
Variants
- Kodŭngŏ I (Project 668): The baseline configuration, these were diesel-electric attack submarines that first saw service in 2001; 2 were built before the fall of the DSRA. They had 6 torpedo tubes and carried 26 torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, or mines.
- Improved Kodŭngŏ (Project 668A): Improved design, improvements were new electronic equipment, improved sonar, improved acoustic stealth with the addition of a pumpjet propulsion system, 1 has been built. They had 6 torpedo tubes and carried 26 torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, cruise missiles, surface to air missiles or mines.
Units
Following is a list of the 3 submarines built.
| Number | Shipyard | Project | Laid down | Launched | Decommissioned | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 S-145 |
DNMI Namsong Shipyard | 668 | 2001 | 2001 | - | Active service |
| S-146 |
DNMI Chongnam Shipyard | 668 | 2001 | 2002 | - | Active service |
| S-147 |
DNMI Namsong Shipyard | 668A | 2010 | 2012 | - | Active service |
Operators
- Anikatian Navy - 3 units consisting of 2 Kodŭngŏ I's along with 1 Improved Kodŭngŏ's active with a further 10 Kodŭngŏ's on order.
- Anikatian People's Navy (passed on to successor states)
Orders
- Template:Country data Hornatyia Royal Hornatyian Navy - X units on order.
- File:Flag of Rodarion.png Papal Navy - X units on order.
- Template:Country data Minnysota Arkian Navy - X units on order.