Chilean submarine O'Higgins (SS-23)

O'Higgins (SS-23) is a Scorpène-class submarine built for the Chilean Navy by DCNS in Cherbourg and Navantia in Cartagena, Spain.

O'Higgins
History
Chile
NameO'Higgins
NamesakeBernardo O'Higgins
Ordered1997[1]
BuilderDCNS Cherbourg & Navantia, Cartagena
LaunchedNovember 2003[1]
CommissionedSeptember 2005[1]
HomeportTalcahuano
StatusActive
General characteristics
Class and typeScorpène-class submarine
Displacement
  • 1,525 long tons (1,549 t) surfaced
  • 1,668 long tons (1,695 t) submerged
Length66.4 m (217 ft 10 in)
Beam6.2 m (20 ft 4 in)
Draft5.8 m (19 ft 0 in)
Installed powerDiesel 3005 kW Electric 3810 kW
PropulsionMechanical: 4 diesel engines

Electric: 1 main electric motor

1 propeller
Speed
  • 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) surfaced
  • 22 kn (41 km/h; 25 mph) submerged
Range12,000 km (7,500 mi) at 8 kn (15 km/h; 9.2 mph)
Complement31
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Long-range passive
  • Intercept
  • Active sonar
Armament6 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes for 18 Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subacquei Black Shark heavyweight torpedoes and 4 SM-39 Exocet anti-ship missiles and 30 mines in place of torpedoes

O'Higgins is the first of two units, ahead of Carrera built to replace the old Oberon-class submarines that served in the Chilean Navy for 30 years. It is currently serving in the Submarine Force with a base port in Talcahuano.

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c "SSK Scorpene Class Attack Submarine". naval-technology.com. 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2012.