Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Commissions First Taigei-class Attack Submarine

The Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) commissioned the attck submarine “Taigei” (S513) the first vessel of the Taigei-class (Great whale), with a ceremony at the Kobe Shipyard of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. The Taigei-class submarines is a new class of attack submarines developed for the JMSDF. It is the successor to the S?ry? clas swith better underwater endurance than its predecessors. The Taigei class is equipped with a large amount of lithium-ion batteries, as is the case with the eleventh and twelfth submarines of the S?ry? class, making it possible for the submersible to travel longer and at higher speeds under water than conventional diesel-electric submarines.

Taigei was laid down at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe Shipyard on 16 March 2018 as the 2017 plan 3000-ton submarine No. 8128 based on the medium-term defense capability development plan (26 medium-term defense), and in 2020. It was named Taigei at the naming and launching ceremony held at the factory on 14 October. It was handed over to the Maritime Self-Defense Force on March 9, 2022 and deployed to the Yokosuka Naval Base. In addition, in response to the lifting of restrictions on the placement of female SDF personnel on submarines, the work of female SDF personnel is being supported by establishing partitions in the living quarters and securing bedrooms for women.

The hull design of the Taigei class is said to not differ too much from the S?ry? class but will be 100 tons heavier than its predecessor. However, the Taigei-class submarines will be more advanced as they are equipped with newer equipment such as sonar systems, snorkel power generation system. The Taigei class will use lithium-ion batteries much like the JS ?ry? and JS T?ry? submarines. The submarine will likely use the Type 18 torpedo, which project name as “G-RX6”. Taigei, will be converted to a test submarine,the JMSDF can increase operating days and strengthen monitoring activities with their attack submarines while the test submarine will accelerate research and development.