【Military Subplane】Author: Sky Wolf
Recently, a master's thesis from Harbin Engineering University sparked heated discussions on the topic of the next-generation 20,000-ton multi-purpose destroyer concept based on the current design of China's Type 055 large destroyer. According to the paper, the ship is about 200 meters long, 25 meters wide, has a full load displacement of 20,000 tons, and will also use an integrated all-electric propulsion system and pod-type thrusters.
Judging by open sources, this new destroyer has not only increased in size and displacement, but also introduced more advanced equipment and technologies. For example, it will be equipped with a 144-cell vertical launch system (VLS), which is another 112 more launch units than the existing Type 055 destroyers. In addition, the ship may also integrate new weapon systems such as electromagnetic guns, high-energy laser cannons, projectile and artillery integrated close defense weapons, microwave weapons, stealth drones, unmanned speedboats, and unmanned underwater vehicles to further enhance its comprehensive combat capabilities.
Compared with the existing Type 055 destroyers, this newly designed destroyer has significantly improved its firepower, informatization level, and comprehensive protection capability. The Type 055 destroyer has broken through a series of key technologies such as the overall design, information integration, and final assembly and construction of large ships, and is equipped with advanced weapons and radar systems, with a high level of informatization and automation. On this basis, the next generation of 20,000-ton destroyers will further increase the number of weapons and improve the technical level, which will undoubtedly make it a more versatile and powerful maritime combat platform.
But the highlight is that the new generation of destroyers may be the first to adopt a pod-type thruster design to improve their maneuverability and flexibility. What is a pod thruster? The pod thruster is a new type of ship propulsion system, and its core advantage lies in its unique installation design and efficient performance. The thruster combines the motor with the propeller in a hollow "pod" and is suspended from the bottom of the hull, allowing for a 360-degree full rotation to generate thrust in any direction.
The main advantages of the pod thruster include: high maneuverability – it is able to provide extremely high lateral maneuverability due to its ability to move in all directions in the horizontal plane; Vibration and noise reduction - after using the pod thruster, the main engine can be installed with vibration and noise reduction devices, which significantly reduces the vibration and noise of the ship and improves stealth performance; Space-saving – the pod thruster can save space in the ship's cabin and make the interior layout more flexible; Ease of maintenance – Since the propeller shaft is no longer required, the pod thruster can be installed in any suitable position for easy installation and service. In addition, pod-type thrusters have excellent braking/deceleration characteristics and typically feature an integrated permanent magnet motor due to their compact and efficient design.
However, in actual construction, the construction of pod thrusters is very difficult, and it needs to meet the excellent closure of the propeller shaft and the pod at the same time, and the power transmission is efficient, so it is rarely used in the field of military ships. Even the United States Navy, which has been exploring the frontier of technology, only uses pod thrusters in the "Independence" class littoral combat ships and "Perry" class frigates, and the pod thrusters are only used as an auxiliary propulsion mode on these two warships, and the main propulsion mode is still the traditional "main engine + transmission shaft + propeller" model, and the rudder and propeller are not integrated.
At present, China has also made significant progress in the research and development of pod thrusters. For example, the 704 Research Institute of China State Shipbuilding Corporation has successfully developed and manufactured a 10-megawatt T-pod thruster and passed the Shanghai full-load dynamic test to ensure its smooth operation. In addition, the 712th Research Institute of China Shipbuilding has also developed a certain type of integrated pod thruster, and has successfully passed a number of test items.
Although pod thrusters have obvious advantages in terms of economy, maneuverability and energy saving, their development still faces some challenges. For example, China has just started its research on pod-type electric propulsion, and its key technologies and main equipment still rely on imports. Therefore, it is urgent to carry out relevant research to accelerate the development and industrialization process of domestic pod electric propulsion.
In short, as an advanced ship propulsion system, pod thrusters have shown broad application prospects in modern ships due to their advantages of high maneuverability, vibration and noise reduction, space saving and easy maintenance. With the continuous progress of technology and the acceleration of the localization process, pod thrusters will be used in more large warships and civilian ships in the future.
Overall, the concept of a next-generation 20,000-ton multifunctional destroyer based on the Type 055 large-drive design proposed in this master's thesis from Harbin Engineering University demonstrates the Chinese Navy's ambition and innovation capabilities in the development of future surface ships. By introducing more advanced equipment and technology, if this new destroyer can really be realized, it is expected to maintain the world's leading level in the coming decades and provide stronger support for the protection of China's maritime rights and interests.