November 4, 2016

"Indonesia's" Mini-Sub Likely TKMS+South Korean Designed

Indonesia's 22m long mini-concept-submarine was on show at the Indo Defence 2016 Exhibition (Jakarta).  Given a mini-sub's range-endurance limitations it might be used to keep an eye on Southeast Asian neighbours, East Timor or to monitor encroaching Chinese vessels in the South China Sea. (Photo courtesy IHS Janes 3 Nov 2016).
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Drawing from two IHS Janes 3 Nov 2016 reports (here and here):

Indonesia indicated at the Indo Defence 2016 Exhibition (Jakarta) that its Ministry of Defence and shipbuilder PT Palindo Marine may want to assemble a 22m concept mini-submarine in years to come. The mini-sub would be used for missions in the littorals, eg. near in-shore surveillance and special forces delivery [targeting Southeast Asia neighbours, East Timor, even monitoring northern Australia, comes to mind].

The proposers envisage a mini-sub with:

-  "22m" [perhaps 25m if it conforms with South Korean experience]
-  beam - 3m, 
-  max operating depth - 150m, 
-  endurance – 6  days [probably about 1,500nm]
-  crew – 5 + 9 [Special Forces or 3 operators for round-the-clock use of one workstation for
   Electronic Monitoring possible], 
-  max speed - 10kt (submerged), 
-  no internal torpedos or missiles [option of strap-on 400mm-533mm torpedos is possible later] also
   [ejected or diver delivered mini-mines or charges possible].

The German TKMS designed Type 200 mini-sub concept. TKMS's regional submarine licensee South Korea's DSME could (further) design/develop and deliver the parts to Indonesia for assembly. (Drawings courtesy Turkish Navy Shipbucket).
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COMMENT

It is inevitable that Indonesia would not start from "scratch" nor "reinvent the wheel" in developing a mini-sub. In the high tech field of submarines utilising current contacts and designs is economically essential. 

It immediately occurred to me that Indonesia’s replacement submarine supplier South Korea (supplying 2 Chang Bogo Type 209s) is also a past, present and future user and designer of mini-subs. Indonesia may well be contemplating assembling German/South Korean concept subs which just happen to be in the 20 to 25 meter (long) class. 

South Korea's mini-sub experience includes its former use of the (175 tonne, 25m) Dolgorae class - see http://gentleseas.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/philippines-increasing-interested-in.html .

South Korea could develop the German TKMS Type 200 concept. This is 25m long - see 
   http://gentleseas.blogspot.com.au/2015/10/south-korean-hhis-hds-400-small.html. More specifically South Korea's DSME (being a TKMS licensee in the Asia-Pacic) could well (further) design/develop and deliver the parts to Indonesia for assembly (perhaps at PT Palindo Marine or PT Pal). The South Korean advisers already at PT Pal (for Indonesia's third Chand Bogo) could well work part-time assisting with the assembly of the "Indonesian" mini-sub, in years to come.

Pete

4 comments:

Nicky said...

Hi Pete

I think this article's may Interest you because the Russian's are ready to flood the Market with Amur/Lada class SSK submarines. What's your take on the Amur/Lada class SSK competing against the Improve Kilo class SSK.

Russia Offers Amur 1650 Submarine with AIP
http://defense-studies.blogspot.com/2016/11/russia-offers-amur-1650-submarine-with.html

RUSSIA READY TO EXPORT SUBMARINE POWER PLANT WITH ANAEROBIC
https://ria.ru/arms/20161102/1480509018.html

Anonymous said...

Daewoo Shipbuilding 's technology to build submarines is considered to have surpassed Germany, France, and Russia, which are traditional diesel submarine builders. http://www.newsworks.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=89807

Anonymous said...

MHalblaub said...
Dear Pete,

compared to the Type 200 the Indonesian submarine looks somehow strange. Just like someone glued together a plastic model of different scales.

The Type 200 has its periscopes not at the sail so they won't disturb the small room within in the tiny bridge. To lift the periscopes some kind of space is required no matter what type it is. The Type 200 has nearly no sail at all.

Due to the small sail the horizontal rudder of the Type 200 is moved away from the sail.

Where does the door right before the sail leads to?

There is a big vertical tube right inside the berth in front of the sail? Maybe for divers but rather small. The Type 200 solution looks like a bigger chamber to accommodate diver and equipment.

The engine looks far to big compared with a Type 212/214 submarine and far to few space for batteries.

The model shows some kind of thruster at the bow and some free rotating thruster at the stern.

The model shows a concept but I doubt that a real submarine will look like this.

Regards,
MHalblaub

Pete said...

Hi MHalblaub

I agree the "mini" submarine display photograph looks like a scaled down shell of a much larger sub (like a Dolphin 2).

As well as the strange arrangements you've pointed out, the sleeping "quarters" seem to consist of a barrack room bunkbed placed in a large area room.

That isn't military planning - just marketing and political showbiz.

Regards

Pete