CRITICAL NEED TO BOOST CONVENTIONAL SUBMARINE FLEET

VENUGOPAL MENON explains why India cannot afford to view the critical deficiency in Submarine force levels lightly

- VENUGOPAL MENON

Submarines are vital assets which can conduct a vast array of missions including anti-surface and Anti-Submarine Warfare, Intelligence gathering, Mine laying, Land attacks, and Special forces/Clandestine operations. The Stealth characteristics of a Submarine and its ability to make use of the underwater environment to its advantage make it a strategic asset and a game changer in the maritime domain.

Conventional Submarines

A Conventional Submarine is propelled by diesel-electric engines on the surface and by electric motors powered by batteries whilst submerged. These batteries are charged by diesel generators. The air intake for the diesel generator is facilitated by the snorkel which exposes the snort mast when propelling close to the sea surface.

Conventional submarines are restricted in submerged endurance due to their battery capacity. Over the years, the improved efficiency of diesel engines, better batteries and power-conserving motors have attempted to limit the constraints and improved the indiscretion rate which is the total time the submarine is exposed vis-a-vis the total time it is dived in a 24-hour cycle.

The challenge to overcome limitations on endurance, speed and concealment has constantly driven innovation in submarine propulsion technologies to design a system which would not require external air to run the diesel generator which led to the development of Air Independent Propulsion (AIP). The replacement of traditional propellers with pump jet systems improved maneuverability and stealth characteristics.

Improvements in Conventional Submarine Technology