Infernal Hero

Chapter 400 The Water Is So Deep

Chapter 400 The Water Is So Deep

In the rough sea, Swordfish broke through the water like a giant whale. Only after one-third of the hull of the ship was exposed to the air did it smash heavily into the sea. Immediately, the submarine was swallowed up by the huge waves. By the time the command platform appeared again, the submarine was already floating on the surface of the sea.

It was 98 metres long and 12.5 metres wide. Its entire body was dark. Its hull was like an elongated cigar. It had a streamlined command platform, a horizontal rudder with a telescopic bow, and an X-rudder. It was powered by a pump-jet propeller. Equipped with military-grade composite batteries with a mass-to-energy ratio of 12 kilowatt-hours per kilogram.

How significant is the mass-energy ratio per kilogram of 12 kilowatt-hours?

Diesel has a calorific value of 40,000 kilojoules per kilogram. Gasoline has a calorific value of 44,000 kilojoules per kilogram. A new composite battery of military grade can store 38,800 kilojoules of electricity per kilogram. It is already infinitely close to the performance ratio of diesel and gasoline.

The thermal efficiency of the direct injection internal combustion engine is about 50%, and the energy conversion efficiency of the new superconducting motor is more than 70%. The power propulsion system composed of military-grade new composite battery and superconducting motor can completely replace the power propulsion system composed of diesel, internal combustion engine and common battery, so that conventional submarines have real "AIP", that is, "air-independent propulsion". In the submarine industry, this is an epoch-making technological progress of great strategic significance.

Equipped with 500 tons of military composite batteries and an 8,600 kilowatt superconducting motor, Swordfish could sail for 8,000 nautical miles in 12 days at a maximum speed of 296 hours at 32 knots after being fully charged; If the diving speed was reduced to six knots, they could sail for 72 days, traveling 10,000 nautical miles, and not need to float on the Shanghai side to breathe during the entire patrol mission. In contrast, even a 212-class conventional submarine equipped with fuel cells can only sail for up to 21 days, or for hours at maximum underwater speed.

Apart from an emergency diesel generator set, the Swordfish submarine has no other conventional power equipment and no major source of noise. Combined with the pump-jet propulsion system, Swordfish's noise levels have been reduced to unprecedented levels. Navigating at six knots, his own noise was less than seventy decibels; Even if he increased his speed to 32 knots, it was only 98 decibels, far below any conventional submarine, and even a few decibels below the Virginia-class nuclear submarine of the United States Navy.

A 35 cm thick silencing tile was laid on the outer surface of the Swordfish, shortening the detection range of the enemy ship's active sonar by two thirds. With very low self-noise, Swordfish became the quietest submarine in the world.

In terms of cost, this is probably the most luxurious submarine in the world. Military composite batteries were extremely expensive. The price of 500 tons of batteries had already exceeded that of an attack nuclear submarine, but its durability was far inferior to that of a nuclear submarine. Members of its design team believe that adding a small fusion reactor to the swordfish would give it the ability to "endure indefinitely". Unfortunately, the mission this time was too urgent. The nuclear submarines under the Republic Navy were secretly monitored by the United States Navy and did not dare to act rashly, so they could only send them out. As a rescue mission of an acting nature, although it was a bit overqualified, the difficulty level was just right.

Dun He used to be an excellent submarine commander. Ten years ago, when he was about to become the twenty-second nuclear submarine captain of the Republic, Sun Mingshen issued a transfer order that allowed him to bid farewell to his beloved submarine and take off his military uniform to become the captain of the ocean-going cargo ship. Years of espionage did not diminish his longing for the depths of the sea, but instead increased his attachment to his beloved command of submarines.

This time, Sun Mingshen, as the chief security commander of the newly equipped experimental unit, handed over the first all-electric submarine to him. This could be considered as a compliment for his years of silent dedication and obedience to the overall situation of the country's needs.

Gu Tianyou and his group followed him into the interior of the mysterious submarine. They only heard Dun He's introduction. Because the Swordfish was only 98 meters long and the middle cylindrical cabin was only 65 meters long, this place was slightly narrowed. It was not as spacious as a nuclear-powered submarine. Everyone could only overcome it.

Gu Tianyou was now Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden. She would ask anything she saw. Dun He replied patiently and professionally. Perrin remained silent for a while, and then joined the discussion. His questions were much more professional than Brother Tianyou's. They were all asking about the key data in the submarine field. Dun He did not seem to be prepared to hold anything back from him and answered his questions endlessly.

The length of the passive sonar array on the Swordfish side is only 50 meters, which is nearly 30 meters shorter than the passive sonar array attacking the nuclear submarine. The performance of the passive sonar, especially the accuracy of the detection of the acoustic source azimuth, has been greatly reduced.

Because of the limited space in the bow, even if the fish bud capsule was moved backwards and the four fish bud launchers were installed on the ribs of the submarine, they could only be equipped with a six-meter diameter ball-shaped active/passive sonar. Therefore, the performance of Swordfish's active sonar was not comparable to level 096. Due to the limitations of space in the hull, Swordfish could only carry 22 fish buds and missiles. Compared to the 38 fish buds and missiles in the 096 class, it was indeed far inferior.

For a conventional submarine with only 3,850 tons of underwater displacement, Swordfish's performance was already outstanding. Not only was no conventional submarine comparable to it, even some second-rate naval offensive nuclear submarines weren't much better than Swordfish. In terms of the rules and characteristics of actual submarine combat, perhaps the actual combat performance of the Swordfish was even higher.

Faster, quieter, more aware of the existence of the other party, more aware of the other party's location, and more advanced firepower configuration were often the key factors that determined the success or failure of a confrontation between submarines. Swordfish is already ahead of the industry in terms of quieter numbers. Its speed wasn't inferior to that of nuclear-powered submarines, and its endurance far surpassed that of conventional submarines. It could be said that Swordfish might not represent the current situation of the submarine industry, but it could definitely lead the future trend of confrontation in this industry.

In addition to having a strong heart and a pair of large lungs, Swordfish has a well-developed brain.

The highly automated operating system eliminated the jobs saved by conventional power equipment, reducing the number of officers and men on the Swordfish to 36. Normally, only eight people would be needed to control the entire submarine. The highly integrated detection, search and fire control system, coupled with a central computer running 250 million times per second, gave Swordfish the sharpest response speed. In combat, Swordfish could control four fish buds to attack two of the most threatening targets while tracking eight of them.

Inside the body of steel, he felt an unprecedented pride in his heart. The dream of becoming a powerful country had never been clearer at this moment. Gu Tianyou knew very well that all of this started with his discovery. This daddy is someone who has made great contributions to this country!

Dun He was still introducing the Swordfish, and his expression was as if he was introducing his son, who had outstanding results and outstanding talent.

A good horse with a good saddle, a warrior with a sword.

Swordfish is equipped with the most advanced weapons, especially heavy fish buds.

The new type of electric fish bud uses a composite battery as the power source. Under the high-speed mode of 70 knots, the range reaches 35 kilometers; In 45 knots low-speed mode, the range can reach 65 kilometers. A lightning head filled with 250 kilograms of high-energy explosives was enough for one fish bud to heavily injure a destroyer, or two fish bud to heavily injure a cruiser, while three fish bud could incapacitate an aircraft carrier. And the accuracy and stability are far higher than the conventional fish buds commonly used today.

Inside the sailor cabin, Gu Tianyou and the others were enjoying steaming milk tea and extremely bad pastries. Dun He accompanied his anonymous deputy.

Gu Tianyou said, "I never thought that I would be able to return on this trip with this advanced thing." He looked up and saw that Sun Jingfei seemed to be a little uncomfortable. His brows knitted tightly and his face turned deathly pale. He casually asked, "What's wrong with you?" "I'm a little sensitive to claustrophobic spaces," Sun Jingfei said. "It's hard to restrain myself."

Dun He's deputy was codenamed Kun Peng, and he was a relatively young major officer. He could tell that he was curious about Gu Tianyou and the others. However, due to the restrictions of the rules of the trade, it was difficult to speak as much as one wished.

As the chief mate and chief assembler of the submarine, he was the one who understood the submarine the best. Perrin was asking him how long it would take to assemble such a submarine in the Republic's current industrial level. Kun Peng only smiled. His authority wasn't as great as Dun He's, so he couldn't be as knowledgeable as Dun He. He only said a few words if he could answer, but he smiled and didn't say anything if he couldn't.

Perrin was already a prisoner and would never have the chance to leave the Republic in his lifetime. Gu Tianyou did not feel that there was anything worth hiding from him. For the rest of his life will be spent in a secret cell of national security. Before boarding the ship, Gu Tianyou had already searched his body carefully. Several miniature electronic devices, including the miniature communicator implanted under his eardrums, had been found. At this time, he should not have the qualifications to leak secrets.

Dun He gestured for the others to rest. Then, he threw a glance at Gu Tianyou and left the watertight cabin with the Kun Peng. Gu Tianyou knew that he had something he wanted to say to him alone. He told the little dragon girl that I would go take a look and follow him.

In the command room, the Kun Peng stood in front of the console with his hands behind his back, staring fixedly at the number that the electronic depth gauge could not stop beating.

200 meters, 250 meters, 300 meters … When the reading turned to 350, the Kun Peng pressed down on the helmsman's shoulder.

"Top five, bottom ten, maintain your speed."

The helmsman understood. First, he adjusted the index on the depth controller to 330. Then, he adjusted the index on the speed controller. Finally, he stabilized the steering wheel that looked like a car. Next, the automatic control equipment on the submarine would adjust the sailing state of the submarine without needing the helmsman to directly control it. A submarine with a displacement of several thousand tons was not a car. It took about ten seconds for the submarine to slow down.

The sonar captain kept his hands on his headphones, listening very attentively. From time to time, he adjusted the knob of the sonar control panel and stared at the sonar screen without blinking. Kun Peng looked at him with concern and asked, "How is it? Did you hear anything?" The sonar chief shook his head, indicating that he hadn't received any sound.

"I didn't discover it. It's not the best answer, but the worst answer!" Dun He's expression was somewhat solemn. His saber-like face did not contain the slightest emotional fluctuation, but his pitch-black eyes flickered with fiery and fierce emotions. "Three hours ago, we detected a sound reflex in the northwest strait, most likely an Ohio-class submarine of the United States Navy. The sonar recorded the characteristic noise of the submarine, but now we have lost track of it," he added in a deep voice.

Gu Tianyou was a baseball mallet in this respect. He asked, "If they can't find it, then it means they're gone. Isn't this a good thing?"

Dun He shook his head solemnly. "Of course not. However, this is a problem of tactical command. It's my problem. I invited you here to convey Bureau Sun's orders to you." As he spoke, he handed over a USB disk. "This thing has a self-destruct program. It can only be opened once. After reading it, it will automatically be destroyed."

Gu Tianyou followed Dun He's instructions and walked into the captain's dormitory beside the command room alone. There was a laptop computer already booted up and placed there. He plugged in the USB drive and opened it to look at the contents. He couldn't help but be dumbfounded. Sun Mingshen actually asked him to find an opportunity to rescue Perrin after landing and send him back to the United States! As the screen quickly turned into a snowflake, the self-destruct program started in time.

Perrin had followed him on his own initiative. Just now, Dun He had told him so much about the core secrets of this electric submarine, but now Sun Mingshen had ordered him to save this fellow back to the United States? What the hell was this Old and Bad Sun doing?