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originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: AlaskanDad
AIP boats give everyone fits. Diesel electric has always been notoriously hard to even find, let alone track, and AIP boats make that even harder. Get into shallow water, where sonar doesn't work well, and they're almost impossible to find.
A Stirling engine is a heat engine that operates by cyclic compression and expansion of air or other gas (the working fluid) at different temperatures, such that there is a net conversion of heat energy to mechanical work. More specifically, a closed-cycle regenerative heat engine with a permanently gaseous working fluid. Closed-cycle, in this context, means a thermodynamic system in which the working fluid is permanently contained within the system, and regenerative describes the use of a specific type of internal heat exchanger and thermal store, known as the regenerator. The inclusion of a regenerator differentiates the Stirling engine from other closed cycle hot air engines.
These generators are run by a pair of diesel and liquid oxygen fueled Stirling Engines. The result of this unique, yet remarkably simple system is two weeks of submerged air independent propulsion while traveling at about 6mph
originally posted by: gort51
The Swedes are in Sweden, the opposite end of Europe....and build subs.
originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: crazyewok
The Astute and Virginia are about as quiet as you can get a nuke boat. They'll never be in the same class as a diesel, but they're quieter than anything else out there.
And yes, Australian modern conventional subs have sank US navy vessels many times in navy exercises....
The US Navy still cant work it out