"The new SMX Ocean conventionally powered attack submarine." Topic

" At Euronaval 2014, DCNS is unveiling the SMX Ocean conventionally powered attack submarine. The new vessel draws extensively on the design of a state-of-the-art nuclear- powered submarine, with a number of key innovations that give this diesel-electric adaptation truly outstanding performance.

This innovative concept ship promises submerged endurance and deployment capabilities that are unprecedented for a conventional-propulsion submarine. With up to three months' endurance, an SMX Ocean could cross the Atlantic six times without surfacing. Its transit speed is up to 14 knots.

To achieve this level of performance, DCNS teams have developed and combined a number of innovations including a high-performance air-independent propulsion (AIP) system using second- generation fuel cells for submerged endurance of up to three weeks.
The SMX Ocean features the same combat system, provisions for special forces' missions, masts and general layout as the Barracuda SSN…"

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Amicalement
Armand

Fuel cell AIP is potentially a game-changer for smaller countries that can't afford nuclear-powered subs. Though I should be honest that developing small, high-powered pressurized water reactors will solve any foreseeable power or drinking water issues you could possibly have.

Nuclear reactors need lots of water for cooling. The simplest desalination plants need lots of heat to boil water and separate the salt from the pure H2O. Perfect match!

I'm just not sure about giving a sub enough endurance to cross the Atlantic multiple times. Seems like too much submerged endurance, which makes for a larger ship. I'd rather spend hull volume on capabilities other than extreme range.

I'd missed that the Dry Deck Shelter is actually integrated into the sail on that sub, not a bad idea. Better to have a sail big enough to completely enclose the DDS or the DDS in a turtleback, but sometimes things don't play nicely.

Now we can have those popular Commemorative North Atlantic U-Boat Wolf Pack Rallies!

This is actually very promising, even for the US. If it performs as well as a nuclear submarine but much cheaper, it means we can have more submarines for the same price. If we can get past the "not made here" thing. The west's big advantage is training and reliability, I don't see that changing even with cheaper subs.

BTW Lion I believe they use osmosis now for desalinization, not boiling. I was never on a ship that had that kind of plant so I never studied it.

Reverse osmosis works pretty well, but when you have a big honking heat source anyway, why add to the complexity?

Were I a reasonably-well-funded but freshwater- and electricity poor nation on a coastline, I would totally order nuclear powerplants and "built-in" desalination.