Gotland-class submarine
HSwMS Gotland
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: | Kockums |
| Operators: |
 Swedish Navy
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| Preceded by: | Västergötland |
| Succeeded by: | A26 |
| Planned: | 3 |
| Completed: | 3 |
| Active: |
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| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Submarine |
| Displacement: |
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| Length: | 60.4 m (198 ft 2 in) |
| Beam: | 6.2 m (20 ft 4 in) |
| Draft: | 5.6 m (18 ft 4 in) |
| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: |
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| Complement: |
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| Sensors and processing systems: |
CSU 90-2 Integrated sonar sensor suite |
| Armament: |
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The Gotland-class submarines of the Swedish Navy are modern diesel-electric submarines, which were designed and built by the Kockums shipyard in Sweden. They are the first submarines in the world to feature a Stirling engine air-independent propulsion (AIP) system, which extends their underwater endurance from a few days to weeks. This capability had previously only been available with nuclear-powered submarines.
As of 2008, the Gotland-class attack submarine is one of the most modern submarines of the Swedish Navy in service, mainly designed for submarine missions such as antiship/antisubmarine warfare, collecting of intelligence (communications intelligence (COMINT), electronic signals intelligence (ELINT)), forward surveillance, special operations, and mine-laying tasks.
On the water surface, the submarine is powered by two sets of MTU engines. While submerged, the Kockums-built Stirling engine AIP system is used to drive a 75-kilowatt (101 shp) generator for either propulsion or charging the batteries. A Stirling engine is particularly well suited for a submarine because the engine is near silent and can use the surrounding sea water as a heat sink to increase efficiency. Submerged endurance is dependent on the amount of liquid oxygen stored on-board and is described as "weeks". The class is characterized by its low acoustic signatures, extreme shock resistance, and a competent combat system.
Kockums touts extreme maneuverability for this class due to the hull design and a well-placed X rudder. The X rudder provides four control surfaces, along with two mounted on the sail, which enables sharp turns and the ability to operate very close to the seabed. Ship automation and computerized steering allow a single operator to steer the submarine in depth and course, which also results in a smaller crew complement, leading to good accommodation standards and low operating costs.
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Wikipedia