Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Henson
688's can go pretty fast. Seawolf can go ungodly fast. Akula? I have no idea.
|
I'm going to go with Henson as far as Seawolf's speed. It just has that reputation. That 12ft diameter hull isn't for nothing and it probably has a pretty large peak power output when compared to smaller reactors. The internal volume of its reactor compartment is substancially greater that of the other subs... which may support an pretty good advantage in power output.
Considering the fact that the Akula is larger, with more drag, but with a relatively small reactor when compared to the SW, (remember that the Akula's is double hulled, so the internal volume of its pressure hull isn't that large), I'ld support a greater peak power output for the SW coupled with a better power/weight (power/drag) ratio would result in a 4-6 knot speed advantage.
As far as the Akula II over the Akula Ii. My intuition is that the size increase is purely quieting measures (better reduction gearing, better rafting) with no change in peak reactor power. The Akula II hull size (and therefore hull drag) has been suggested to be greater than the Akula Ii as well.