Modern Submarines are silent hunters of the ocean, stalking enemy shipping,
warships, and other submarines. Attack submarines can be separated into two types,
nuclear-powered and conventional. Nuclear subs are great for power projection over long distances,
but conventional diesel-electric subs also have important advantages. They can be very silent, and
are generally better at navigating shallow waters, and are far cheaper. We examine the Top 10 most
powerful conventional submarines in the world. Number 10: Improved Kilo Class
The Improved Kilo class, Project 636, has been produced from the mid-1990s in Russia,
primarily for the export market, countries like China, Vietnam and Algeria. The Russian Navy
has commissioned a more advanced version since the mid-2010s, known the Improved Kilo II. The
class is based on the original Kilo class, built in the Soviet Union in the 1980s. The Improved
Kilo displaces 3,100 tons submerged, with an underwater speed of 20 knots, and a complement of
52 personnel. She has 6 bow torpedo tubes firing the Type 53/65 torpedoes against surface targets,
the TEST 71/76 torpedoes against submarines, and the Kalibr cruise missile versus land targets. The
Improved Kilo has the MGK-400EM active and passive bow sonar, although no flank array or towed sonar,
which is enough for a coastal defense submarine. In the 1990s and early 2000s, the Improved Kilo is
regarded as one of the quietest attack submarines in the world, so much so that it earned the
nickname ‘the Black Hole’ among NATO submariners. Number 9: Reis Class
The Reis class are new submarines built for the Turkish Navy, based on the German-designed Type
214, which is in turn based on the Type 212 U-Boat of the German Navy. The Reis
class features air independent propulsion, or AIP, using German fuel cell technology.
AIP dramatically increases the time a submarine can remain underwater, potentially to around two
to four weeks. The Reis class displaces 1,850 tons submerged, with a crew of just over 30,
suggesting a high level of automation. She will have both German and domestic Turkish technology,
with a large number of Turkish defense companies being involved in the construction, which is done
domestically in Turkey. The Reis class will have 8 torpedo tubes firing heavyweight torpedoes,
cruise missiles, and mines. She is derived from one of the quietest submarine class, the Type 212,
so the Reis is likely to be very stealthy as well. Number 8: Invincible Class
The Invincible class, formally classified as the Type 218SG submarines, serves in the Republic of
Singapore Navy. They are an extensively customized derivative of the export Type 214 submarines,
similar to the Reis class. The Invincible is slightly larger at 2,200 tons submerged,
with an underwater speed of 15 knots, and a complement of 28 personnel, pointing to
automation on a large scale. They are designed to Singapore’s requirements, which are naval
operations in littoral waters, intelligence gathering, and special forces insertion.
They have an X-shaped rudder allowing for high maneuverability in shallow waters. Due to the
small crew size, sailors onboard enjoy abundant facilities, including large living quarters,
air conditioning, plentiful storage, etc. Compared to Singapore’s preceding Archer class,
the Invincible has a larger carrying capacity and greater firepower. Like the Type 214,
the Invincible features AIP system using fuel cells, extending its maximum underwater duration.
Number 7: Lada Class The project 677 Lada is the newest diesel-electric
submarine of the Russian Navy, a highly improved version of the Kilo class. Unlike most other
submarines on this list, the Lada does not have AIP, but makes up for this with other special
features. She displaces 2,700 tons submerged, with a complement of 35 personnel. She is designed to
defend coastal area and naval bases, supporting Russian nuclear submarines in their drive to break
out into the open ocean. The Lada features a large battery storage capacity, and a special anti-sonar
coating on the outside. She has a powerful suite of sonars compared to other conventional
submarines, including a conformal bow sonar, flank array sonar, and a towed array sonar, maximizing
its capability in both active and passive sonars. She has six torpedo tubes, and the latest Russian
anti-surface torpedo, the new-generation Fizik-2. If you enjoyed our video so far, please press
the like button. Number 6: Type 212
The Type 212 is the mainstay of the German Navy submarine forces. She has an AIP system using
compressed hydrogen fuel cells, allowing the boat to stay submerged for up to three weeks. The Type
212 has a reputation for being extremely quiet, and is consequently highly popular with European
navies. The export variant of the Type 212 is the Type 214. The Type 212 displaces 1,900 tons
submerged, with an underwater speed of 20 knots, and a complement of 27 crewmen. The hull is
constructed from non-magnetic steel, making the Type 212 difficult to detect using magnetic
anomaly detectors, which are commonly found on anti-submarine patrol aircrafts. She has 6 heavy
torpedo tubes firing the potent Italian Black Shark torpedo, among other weapons.
Number 5: Scorpene Class The Scorpene class was jointly developed
by France and Spain, and aimed primarily at the export market. They serve in the navies of India,
Brazil, Malaysia and Chile. They feature a French-designed AIP system, known as the MESMA,
which relies on the combustion of ethanol and liquid oxygen to make steam, in turn powering a
steam turbine power plant. The MESMA, along with fuel cells and the Stirling engine,
are the three main ways to achieve AIP. The Scorpene has six torpedo tubes firing the
Black Shark torpedo, Exocet anti-ship missiles, naval mines, and even an experimental version of
submarine-launched anti-air missiles. In 2016, the newspaper The Australian published confidential
information on Indian Scorpene class submarine and other ships, which had been leaked. The leak
included information on noise levels, submarine combat and stealth capabilities. In response,
the Indian Navy said the leaks were viewed very seriously, but quote not a matter of much worry.
Number 4: Type 039B The Type 039B is a
more advanced variant of the China’s Type 039A, known to NATO as the Yuan class. The two classes
form the bulk of the Chinese Navy’s AIP submarine forces. They displace around 3,600 tons submerged
according to estimates, making her a large diesel boat, with an underwater speed of 20 knots, and
complement of 65 personnel. They use a domestic Chinese version of the Stirling AIP engine,
in fact probably two engines. The Type 039B has a more complete sonar suite than most conventional
submarines, including flank sonar arrays for the passive detection of ships at long ranges,
plus the standard bow sonar array. A product of incremental evolution, the 039A and B combine the
best features of the Russian Kilo class, and also certain aspects of the previous Chinese
submarine class, the Type 039 Song. The 039B is believed to be one of the quietest conventional
submarines in the world. Number 3: Soryu Class
The Soryu is the mainstay of the Japanese Navy’s underwater forces, an evolution of its previous
Oyashio class. They are very large, displacing 4,200 tons submerged, with a speed of 20 knots,
and a complement of 65 personnel. They use a Stirling AIP engine developed by the Swedish
company Kockums, who produced the world’s pioneering AIP system on Sweden’s Gotland class
submarines. Later units of the Soryu class use lithium-ion batteries instead of the traditional
lead acid batteries, which basically doubled their power storage capacity, and increased the speed of
recharging, meaning that the submarine spends far less time on the surface. This reduces their risk
of detection. The Soryu has an X configuration of diving planes and rudders around the stern,
allowing for high maneuverability in shallow waters close to the seabed. She
has six torpedo tubes armed with the Type 89 torpedo, and the Harpoon anti-ship missiles.
Number 2: Type 039C In May 2021, a new variant of the Chinese Yuan
class was seen for the first time, provisionally labelled by Western analysts as the Type 039C.
Her dimensions seem to be the same size as her predecessors, the 039A and B. Externally, the 039C
appears very different, and believed to be more capable, than previous versions. She has a new
sail with what seems to be a stealthy appearance, which is expected to mitigate detection by radar
while transiting on the surface. She also has an integral towed array sonar and possibly new
anechoic coating, both of which could make her a potent anti-submarine asset.
China has released no real information on the Type 039C, but Western analysts speculate she will have
the Stirling AIP system, and some believe that lithium-ion battery could be onboard.
Number 1: Taigei Class The Taigei class is the latest
attack submarine for the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force, the successor to the well-known
Soryu class. They are approximately of a similar dimension and displacement as the Soryu, at 4,300
tons submerged, although internally they are very different. Unlike most other boats on this list,
the Taigei does not have AIP system, but in their place, it has the high-capacity
lithium-ion batteries. They allow the boat to remain underwater for long periods, maintaining
high underwater speeds, and allow faster recharge time on the surface. This reduces the time the
Taigei needs to spend on the surface, reducing the risk of detection. The submarine is designed with
new acoustic absorbent materials and a floating floor structure to ensure quiet operation. The
pressure hull is made of high-strength steel, providing high water pressure resistance. The
Taigei’s six torpedo tubes can fire the Type 89 heavy torpedo, Harpoon anti-ship missiles,
and the new advanced Type 18 torpedo. When it comes to submarines, information
is often lacking, especially for more secretive navies like that of China and Japan. A lot comes
down to estimates and speculations by third party analysts using open-source information – reliable
individuals like HI Sutton, and others. So, the top 10 ranking of conventional submarines in this
video is necessarily based on judgement, and is subjective. What do you believe are the top
10 conventional submarines in the world? Let me know in the comments below. Thanks for watching!