Taephon Class Ballistic Missile Submarine
 Taephon Class Submarine underway
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Taephon Class Ballistic Missile Submarine |
| Builders: | Gaeges Imperial Aquanautics |
| Operators: | Imperial Huvakian Navy |
| Completed: | 6 |
| Cancelled: | 1 |
| Active: | 4 |
| Laid up: | 1 |
| Lost: | 1 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Ballistic Missile Submarine |
| Displacement: | 23,200 tons surfaced 48,000 tons submerged |
| Length: | 175m ( 574 ft 2 in) |
| Installed power: |
2 × OK-650 pressurized-water nuclear reactors, 190 MWt each 2 shafts with 7-bladed shrouded screws |
| Speed: |
23 Knots Surfaced 27 Knots submerged |
| Range: | Unlimited |
| Endurance: | 120+ Days submerged |
| Test depth: | 400m (1,300 ft) |
| Complement: | 145 enlisted 15 officers |
| Armament: |
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The Taephon Class Submarines are the largest submarines in service in the world. Nearly the size of old war aircraft carriers the ships represent some of the most advanced military construction projects of the time. Each capable of carrying 20 Peacekeeper-52 submarine launched ballistic missiles the Taephon class makes up a third of Huvakian nuclear deterrence. Powered by two nuclear reactors the Taephon class is limited in range only by the consumables of the crew. Presently the Imperial Navy operates 4 such vessels. One is currently undergoing extensive refits at Gaeges Imperial Aquanautics and one was lost due to accidental fire in 1984. In addition to the nuclear missiles the Taephon also features six torpedo tubes which are also capable of firing specially designed missiles. The Taephon class is unique in featuring multiple pressure breaking the vessel into five distinct sections inside the outer hull. Two long pressure hulls lie parallel with a third, smaller pressure hull above them (which protrudes just below the conning tower), and two other pressure hulls for torpedoes and steeing gear. This feature also greatly increases the survivability of the submarines. Even if one pressure hull is breached, the crew member in other areas are safe as flooding is more easily contained.
History
Developed under Prject 937 the Taephon class is substantially larger than competitor nuclear missile submarines. Huvakian nuclear missiles are larger and heavier than foreign counterparts as such the submarine was scaled accordingly. Despite being deisgned in 1975 the submarines are still in operational service and the Imperial Navy has no immediate plans to search for a replacement. Due to the vessels size one has been selected for modification to serve the Imperial Special Forces Division. The exact specifications of the vessel are presently unknown though sources have indicated that the vessel is being modifided to support covert aerial operations.