Kawasaki launches second Soryu-class for Japan Maritime Self Defense Force.

Japan's Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) has launched the second Soryu-class diesel-electric attack submarine (SSK) for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) equipped with lithium-ion batteries.

KHI launched on 6 November the 12th and final Soryu-class SSK on order for the JMSDF (Picture source: KHI)

The 84 m-longboat, which has been named Toryu (with pennant number SS 512), entered the water on 6 November in a ceremony held at KHI's facilities in Kobe.

According to SUN TV, 380 people were attending the ceremony, including employees of the Ministry of Defense and Kawasaki Heavy Industries. Hiroshi Yamamura, the chief of staff of the Ministry of Defense, cut the rope and started the launch, and big applause occurred within the venue.

JS Toryu is the 12th and final Soryu-class submarine produced for the JMSDF (the 6th built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, the other 6 having been built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries). Toryu means Fighting Dragon. The name of Toryu is derived from the famous scenic dragon fighting in Kato City, Hyogo Prefecture, where the torrent of the Kako River flows between strangely shaped rocks.

The ship, built for 69 billion yen, has a displacement of 2,950 tons and a total length of 84 meters and a width of 9.1 meters. It is capable of navigating at about 20 knots when submerged and 12 knots when surfaced. The power source uses a lithium-ion battery, which has excellent submarine capabilities and automates the system. The Submarine is equipped with a Kawasaki 12V 25 / 25SB type diesel engine and another Kawasaki Kokkamusu V4-275R Stirling engine four.

The Soryu class is fitted with six 533 mm bow tubes that can fire the Japanese-developed Type 89 heavy-weight torpedo. The boats are also capable of deploying the UGM-84C Harpoon medium-range anti-ship missile against surface targets.

The ship was laid down in January 2017 and is expected to enter service with the JMSDF in March 2021.