Recently, Taiwan leaders are very determined to build their own submarines. On March 21, Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen presided over the signing ceremony for the launch of the "submarine self-made" design and the signing ceremony. On the same day, when Zhang Guanqun, the President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Taiwan, signed a contract with Zheng Wenlong, the chairman of the Taiwan Shipbuilding Company, suddenly a strong wind blew away the contract, which made many officials at the scene embarrassed. They quickly sent someone to pick up the contract and continued to complete the ceremony. This small accident may indicate the future fate of Taiwan's "submarine self-made" project.
BBC reported on April 5 that Taiwanese officials announced on Wednesday (April 5) that they would build eight submarines on their own based on the existing four old submarines. This is also the first time that Taiwan has announced the specific number of self-built submarines. Previously, it was reported that the Taiwan Navy and the Taiwan Submarine Manufacturing Team had gone to several European countries to negotiate, hoping to obtain the original design drawings of the submarine hull and patent authorization, but it "hits a wall everywhere".
boiler technology can be used to build submarines?
As we all know, Taiwan is an integral part of China and does not have the right to independently develop military power. However, due to historical reasons, Taiwan has not been embraced by the mainland so far. Taiwan does not have the basic right to purchase weapons, equipment and related technologies from the international market. Although the United States and other Western countries will sell some weapons, equipment and technology to Taiwan in violation of the international spirit, those are outdated and very limited after all.
Taiwan lacks a perfect military system and a necessary talent team, and has no solid technical foundation. It can be said that Taiwan has no basic conditions to build a submarine. There are too many gaps in the industrial system in Taiwan and lack the integrity of R&D capabilities. It is necessary to cultivate a large number of talents in new fields to establish a complete submarine R&D and production system and complete the construction of independent submarines.
However, the Taiwanese authorities have put forward a bold idea, which is to use boiler technology to build submarines. As we all know, after years of development, Taiwan's civilian technology is still good, especially the boiler technology is quite advanced.
Pingtung's Mingrongyuan Industry is the top five pressure vessel manufacturer in the world, specializing in manufacturing large boilers, refinery pipelines, etc. Taiwan's Liberty Times analyzed that Mingrongyuan Industrial has the technology to build high-strength HSLA-80 alloy steel solids. HSLA-80 uses medium steel steel and has undergone underwater shock and explosion testing. It has the advantages of high strength and easy construction, and will become the main material for building submarine pressure shells. As for the welding technology of submarines, Taiwanese shipbuilders naively believe that the welding technology of yachts is completely fine for building submarines.
2016html At the end of 6, Taiwan " " Ministry of Defense " launched the " submarine self-built " plan, trying to spend 30 US$600 million to build 8 conventional diesel-electric submarines with displacement 1200~3000 6 tons. This year, 3html, June 21html On June 6, Tsai Ing-wen came to the Kaohsiung Zuoying Naval Base to witness the signing of a memorandum of submarine construction by the Taiwan Navy, Taichung Academy of Sciences and Taiwan Shipbuilding. This means that Taiwan's " submarine self-built " plan was officially launched.
Construction of submarines involves multiple systems such as hulls, power systems, weapons and equipment systems. Taiwan lacks basic experience in building hulls. Submarine design and construction are different from surface ships. If there are errors in surface ship construction, it will only affect the draft depth. The entire hull of the submarine is in the water, and the displacement is determined during the appearance design. If it is too heavy or too light, it may not be able to float or dive. The hull " center of gravity " and " floating center " must also have very small errors, otherwise it will seriously affect the control and submarine noise. Taiwan's shipbuilding industry lacks experience in hull construction.
Foreign media analysis believes that Taiwan does not have the ability to produce special steels required to produce submarines, and the relevant supporting technologies are also blank. The self-built submarine plan proposed by Taiwan may be just a slogan to win public support. But Taiwan doesn't think so.
Taiwan-related institutions believe that Taiwan’s submarine manufacturing technology is not weak at all. All the most advanced boilers in the world can be produced. Can’t submarines be produced? According to Taiwan's Liberty Times on the 22nd, a Kaohsiung shipbuilder said that some of the key parts manufactured by submarines belong to regulated exports. For example, the periscope "cannot be circulated internationally without the consent of the United States". It may be difficult to assemble, but in terms of underwater pressure resistance and other materials and technologies, Taiwan's technology is not inferior to South Korea.
Han Bixiang, chairman of the Taiwan Shipbuilding Association, said that as long as the upper class is determined, the business will definitely have a way. In the past, some countries only wanted to sell submarines and did not let Taiwan do it themselves. For the first time in decades, they saw the determination that Taiwan's technology is not inferior to South Korea, and they will be supplemented from outside if they are not enough. "The key parts still need the help of the United States."
Taiwan believes that Mingrongyuan Industrial, the world's largest pressure vessel manufacturer, has the technology to create high-strength HSLA-80 alloy steel solids, and has undergone underwater shock and explosion tests. It has the advantages of high strength and easy construction, and is expected to be the main material for self-made submarine pressure shells.
Taiwan authorities are blindly optimistic and forcefully implementing the plan to build submarines without regard for reality. It is likely to follow India's footsteps. The ultimately built submarine may be expensive and have mediocre performance. India is far stronger than Taiwan in submarine use experience, hull construction, and submarine equipment integration technology. Its self-built " Kalvari " took 13 years to complete the finalization and equip the troops.
In addition, for technical shortcomings, Taiwan may seek help from countries. Due to Taiwan's sensitive international status, in addition to the United States and Japan, it is possible to provide technical assistance to Taiwan, other countries such as Germany, France, , Sweden, and that are capable of providing submarine technology to them will be very cautious. Overall, Taiwan’s plan to use boiler technology to build submarines by itself seems grand, and the Taiwanese authorities are also very determined, but the result is difficult to be optimistic. Perhaps this is just the political strategy of the Taiwan authorities.
