Kalistani Major History

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Kalistan and Lodamun to jointly Develop new Submarine
Sub to be built at Kaliburg Naval Shipyards, will feature fuel cell technology
Kaliburg, Ananto
September 8, 4430


Concept drawing of a new Kalistani-Lodamese Submarine, tentatively called the Indica-Class in Kalistan features hydrogen Fuel Cell technology

The Defense Ministers of Kalistan and Lodamun have agreed to put money and talent toward the development of a new class of submarine, to be built by the Kaliburg Naval Shipyards on Ananto.  Both Kalistani and Lodamese engineers are already beginning to work out the design and have released a conceptual blueprint to the Press.  The development of the new boat will benefit both nations, who have long held a close naval partnership and alliance under the 150 year old Kalistan-Lodamun Naval Cooperation Treaty.

According to Naval spokesmen, the new boat, tentatively called the Indica Class in Kalistan, will feature cutting edge fuel cell technology which will allow the engine to run without needing a supply of oxygen or a nuclear power plant.  "This technology will replace the burning of diesel for the electrical engine, allowing us to remain submerged, in theory for up to three weeks.  The ship will carry eleven fuel cells which will extend our range at sea to almost three months, and a back up diesel engine in case the powerplant fails,"  Naval Engineer Donald Ibis of Kaliburg Polytechnic Institute said.  "Lack of the need to circulate coolant through the engine will permit near silent running that both the nuclear subs and the air-dependent diesel engines lack."

The new technology will represent a hybrid of diesel and nuclear technology to power the ship.  "A smaller power plant will clearly lack the operations duration of a nuclear power plant, which can, with resupply, theoretically operate indefinitely.  However, it also allows the boat to be much smaller, and therefore far more maneuverable in the water than the larger nuclear submarines, and therefore, allows us to pose a serious threat to the nuclear fleets of larger nations.  The lack of a need to run air into our engines allows us to overcome the need to snorkel that our current submarines suffer from, and lets us stay at sea for as much as a month longer, and shrink the compliment from around 50 to around 27."

Planned armaments for the ship include standard torpedos, heavyweight torpedoes, and anti-air and -ship short range missiles.  Designers will also look into the possibility of development of tube launched guided missiles, though without expertise in such technology from Kalistan or Lodamun, it is doubtful that this option will be built into the Indica.  In addition, the sub will be able to travel to a depth of 700 meters and a distance of 9000 miles without refueling, at a submerged speed of 20 knots.  The ship will lack a deck gun, but will possess a new direct fire battery that will allow the ship to defend itself from air attacks while surfaced.

Production of prototypes are expected to begin in a year, with the first proof of concepts being produced in early 4432.  Full scale production will begin at Kaliburg in 4432.