WHY A SINGLE VIRGINIA CLASS WILL BE ABLE TO CRIPPLE THE NORTH KOREAN FLEET OF 70 SUBMARINES?

INTRODUCTION

Tensions between US and North Korea have risen manifold with the latest test of 100-kilo ton nuke by North Korea.

As threat of war looms, we focus on North Korean underwater flotilla, which has been dubbed in many media reports as being a very potent threat to US military.

The North Korean navy is in possession of a fleet of about 70 submarines, comprised of approximately 20 Romeo class submarines (1,800 tons), 40 Sang-O class submarines (300 tons) and 10 Yono class submarines (130 tons).

In this video, Defense Updates analyzes WHY A SINGLE VIRGINIA CLASS WILL BE ABLE TO CRIPPLE THE NORTH KOREAN SUBMARINE FLEET OF 70 SUBMARINES?

BACKGROUND

The Virginia class, also known as the SSN-774 class, is a class of nuclear-powered fast attack submarines in service with the United States Navy. Virginia-class submarines are designed for a broad spectrum of open-ocean and littoral missions.

Virginia class can be used to take out surface combatants, submarines as well as can be used for land attack missions.
DESIGN & PROFILE

US plans to build about 48 of these of which 13 are already build and are currently in active service.

Virginia-class submarines will be acquired through 2043, and are expected to remain in service past 2060. Based on recent updates to the designs, some of the Virginia-class submarines are expected to still be in service in 2070

Virginia class has a length of 115 m. To give viewers a perspective, it length is slightly greater than that of football field. It displaces around 7,900 tons.

The largest North Korean submarine, the Romeo class submarines at 1,800 tons is 4 times as smaller as the Virginia class.

Virginia class is acknowledged to be able to move to depths of 240m (800 feet) but allegedly capable of going down to 490 m (1,600 feet).
SPEED/ RANGE /ENDURANCE

A single S9G reactor that produces around 30 MW powers Virginia class
The reactor features improved corrosion resistance and reduced life-cycle costs. It also has reduced size and weight and providing greater enabling the submarine to pack more weapons and sensors.
Virginia class can move at over 25 knots that is 46 km/hrs or 29 mph though the actual numbers may be significantly higher.
S9G reactor is designed to operate for 33 years without refueling. So Virginia class has practically unlimited range.
Endurance is only limited by food and maintenance requirements.

North Korean submarines use diesel-electric propulsion and were designed in the 50's or 60's. They don’t even have Air Independent Propulsion (AIP), to augment their underwater endurance and hence have to surface frequently, making them easy targets.

SENSORS AND RADARS
Virginia-class submarines feature several types of sonar arrays.

1. BQQ-10 bow-mounted spherical active/passive sonar array. This is main sonar and is considered to be one of the most powerful sonar mounted in any of the submarines in the world.
2. Two high frequency active sonars mounted in the sail and bow. These supplement the main sonar array improving anti-submarine warfare performance.
3. A wide aperture lightweight fiber optic sonar array, consisting of three flat panels mounted low along either side of the hull.
4. High frequency sonar, mounted on both sides of the submarine's sail provides coverage above and behind the submarine.

Virginia-class submarines are also equipped with a low frequency towed sonar array and a high frequency towed sonar array.

WEAPONS

The Virginia class has a very impressive array of weapons to knock out different kind of adversaries.

1. 12 individual Vertical Launch System (VLS) tubes or 3 Virginia Payload Tubes (VPT), each capable of launching 6 Tomahawk cruise missiles depending on the version of the submarine. Tomahawk is a long-range, all-weather, cruise missile that is used for land-based attacks.

2. Four 533 mm torpedo tubes for Mk-48 torpedo. There is capacity to carry up to 26 of Mk-48 torpedo in the weapons chamber. These torpedoes have arrange in excess of 50 km or 31 miles and can used to take out North Korean submarines that are in active patrol.

3. Virginia class can also lay different types of mines including the MK-60 CAPTOR Encapsulated Torpedo mines. North Korean subs can operate mainly within the 50 km exclusion zone of North Korea due to low range of their diesel engines; in this situation mines placement in this zone will be very effective.
4. An integral lock-out / lock-in chamber is incorporated into the hull for special operations. The chamber can host a mini-submarine, such as Northrop Grumman's Advanced SEALS Delivery System, to transport special warfare forces such as navy SEAL teams. This can be used to deploy SEALS to sabotage docked submarines as well as supporting vessels.

Видео WHY A SINGLE VIRGINIA CLASS WILL BE ABLE TO CRIPPLE THE NORTH KOREAN FLEET OF 70 SUBMARINES? канала Defense Updates