Japanese Wakashio class Nuclear Fast Attack Submarine:
The Japanese Imperial Navy was utterly wrecked during the course of World War Two. Only a handful of light vessels survived to form the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force. From these humble begins however, the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force grew to one of the most powerful naval forces by the end of the Twentieth Century. It had several Aegis class destroyers similar to the United States Burke class. Throughout the Twenty-First Century, the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force grew steadily and eventually threw out the title of "Self Defense Force."
The Japanese Imperial Navy was quite innovative with submarine designs. One of these, know as Sen Toku, was the largest submarine until Ballistic Missile submarine entered service in the Nineteen-Sixties. The submarine carried three float plane aircraft. The Japanese Navy also had the fastest submarine design, known as Submarine No. 71, it was capable of speeds of twenty-three knots underwater. This boat predated the German Type XXI by five years.
When the Wakashio class submarine was designed, the Japanese Navy already had a quite large submarine force, one of the largest submarine forces in the world. All previous Japanese Navy submarine classes had been conventional in design. The Wakashio class however was a nuclear design. A nuclear reactor would give indefinite range and had become far less expensive and more practical with the introduction of fusion plants.
The first of the class was laid down in 2048 with approximately one vessel built per year. The boats took about four years to build each and they were built on the yards of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation. A total of twelve boats were originally planned but this was increased to eighteen boats. Except for a pair of boats kept for training purposes, all of the conventionally powered submarine of the Japanese Navy were retired.
Wakashio class submarine remained in commission up until the coming of the Rifts. A newer submarine class had been developed just before the coming of the Rifts but only four had been completed. Two Wakashio class submarines were in port at Kure and were brought forward in time. Eight of the class were at sea at the time. Of those, three boats survived and joined the New Navy. Like the Farncomb class in New Navy service, the boats are used mostly for training purposes although these boats are fully armed. Crews have long been fully amalgamated on these boats although the New Navy might be willing to return these boats to the Japanese Republic if the two forces were to develop a relationship with each other.
The design of the Wakashio class is often compared to the Australian Farncomb class submarine with both being of similar displacements. Both are much smaller than most American and British designs. Both designs are a basic teardrop design, the Japanese boat is a bit fatter than the Australian boat and displaced forty six hundred tons submerged. It uses an "X" type tail similar to the Australia boat. The Japanese boats are usually operate by a crew of just over seventy and there is berthing for a small special forces team. Up to six special forces personnel can be embarked although are rarely embarked. There are no provisions for carrying any vehicles for the special forces aboard.
While the Farncomb class uses a German fusion reactor design, the Wakashio uses a slightly less powerful Japanese designed fusion reactor design. Maximum underwater speed of the Japanese submarine is 33 knots compared to 36 knots for the Australian design. The high strength alloys and composites used in the construction of the boats allow them to dive far deeper than previous Japanese submarine classes with a maximum depth of two kilometers. These materials are also virtually immune to corrosion. Along with an extremely quiet turbo electric propulsion system, the hull of the submarine is covered in a advanced sound absorbing rubber coating to reduce submarine noise. It also does not use a conventional propeller but instead uses a pump jet.
The sonar system of the Wakashio class were designed in Japan. The performance is slightly inferior to the newer German systems carried on the Farncomb class. The boat mounts both a hull and towed array sonar system. There are two hull arrays on each side of the hull with a bow sonar array. For defense against torpedoes, the Wakashio class has a decoy dispenser which launchers incredibly advanced decoys. As well, the submarine has the ability to fire noise makes as a final means of defense.
As far as weaponry, the boat mounts six 533 mm torpedo tubes. A total of thirty torpedoes are carried. Instead of torpedoes or mines can be carried instead of torpedoes. A single missile replaces a single torpedo or two mines can be carried instead of a single torpedo. Rocket boosted torpedoes can also be carried. The submarine lacks any form of automatic reload system. On either side of the sail, the submarine carries six cruise missiles for a total of twelve missiles total. The submarine also mounts a single retractable laser cannon in front of the main sail of the submarine.
Model Type: SS-645 Wakashio class
Class: Fast Attack Submarine
Crew: 72; 7 Officers, 9 Chief Petty Officers, and 56 Enlisted
(Has a high degree of automation)
Troop Capacity: 6
Robots, Power Armors, and Vehicles:
None
M.D.C. by Location:
| Retractable Laser Cannon Turret (1, Bow): | 200 | |
| 21 Inch (533 mm) Torpedo Tubes (6, Bow of submarine): | 100 each | |
| Vertical Cruise Missile Launchers (12, Side of Submarine): | 120 each | |
| Laser Cannon Turret (1, forward of Sail): | 125 | |
| Main Sail: | 500 | |
| [1] Bow Planes (2, Bow): | 160 each | |
| [2] Pump Jet Propulsor (1): | 320 | |
| [3] Main Body: | 1,800 |
Notes:
[1] Destroying the submarines bow planes will reduce the submarine's
ability to change depths but will not eliminate it. It also makes it difficult
for the submarine's crew to control the submarine giving a penalty of -25%
to all piloting rolls.
[2] Destroying the submarines Pump Jet Propulsor causes serious problems.
The submarine will no longer be able to use forward momentum and the bow
planes to keep the submarine level. It is recommended that ballast takes
are immediately blown so submarine comes to surface.
[3] Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body destroys the submarine's
structural integrity, causing it to sink. If the submarine is underwater,
the entire crew will die unless protected by environmental armors that
can withstand the pressure that the submarine is under. If on the surface,
there are enough flotation devices and inflatable life rafts to accommodate
everyone aboard.
Speed:
Surface: 23.0 mph (20 knots/ 37.1 kph)
Underwater: 38.05 mph (33 knots /61.2 kph)
Maximum Depth: 1.24 miles (2.0 km)
Range: Effectively Unlimited due to fusion engines (needs to
refuel every 20 years and requires maintenance as well). Boat carries 6
months of supplies on board.
Statistical Data:
Length: 290.68 feet (88.6 meters)
Beam: 36.75 feet (11.2 meters)
Draft: 30.18 feet (9.2 meters)
Displacement: 4,100 tons surfaced / 4,620 tons submerged
Cargo: 10 tons (9.07 metric tons) of nonessential equipment
and supplies. Each enlisted crew member has a small locker for personal
items and uniforms. Ships officers have more space for personal items.
Most of the boat's spaces are taken up by extra ammo, armor, weapons, and
engines.
Power System: Nuclear; average energy life of 20 years. Normally
refuels every 15 years
Market Cost: Not for sale; many nations and organizations would
pay hundreds of millions of credits for a new and undamaged Wakashio class
Submarine.
Weapon Systems:
Special Systems:
The submarine has all systems standard on a robot vehicle plus the
following special features:
[Golden Age Weaponsmiths and Triax are trademarks owned by Kevin Siembieda and
Palladium Books Inc. ]
[ Rifts® is a registered trademark owned by Kevin Siembieda and
Palladium Books Inc.]
By Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).
Copyright © 2011, Kitsune. All rights reserved.
