# Swedish Sub Bests US NAVY? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 24, 2007, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swedish-sub-bests-us-navy/423876 "2007-10-24T22:03:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swedish-sub-bests-us-navy/423876/1 "2007-10-24T22:03:21Z")
I read that the Swedish navy has developed a new class od small submarines, that run on a closed cycle Stirling Engine. The sub is capable of storing enough liquid oxgen, to enable it to stay down for up to 3 weeks. Plus, the running gear is very quiet-US Antis Submarine sonars can’t detect it! Is this type of small submarine likley to make nuclear subs obsolete? ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swedish-sub-bests-us-navy/423876/2 "2007-10-24T22:13:48Z")
Paging **casdave** and **robby**. But IIRC modern diesel subs are quieter than nukes anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swedish-sub-bests-us-navy/423876/3 "2007-10-24T22:39:58Z")
[QUOTE=ralph124c] … stay down for up to 3 weeks…Is this type of small submarine likley to make nuclear subs obsolete? [/QUOTE] Three weeks isn’t soon likely to make six-month duration obsolete. There’s also the point that nuclear subs can do impressive speeds submerged (some say 50+ knots); is it likely that this new one can match that? ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swedish-sub-bests-us-navy/423876/4 "2007-10-24T22:56:16Z")
The subs in question are the [Gotland](http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/gotland/) class. The US Navy leased one along with the crew for a year, and then extended the lease for a further year. Presumably the USN was keen to hone its ASW techniques. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swedish-sub-bests-us-navy/423876/5 "2007-10-24T22:59:55Z")
[QUOTE=Quartz] Paging **casdave** and **robby**. But IIRC modern diesel subs are quieter than nukes anyway. [/QUOTE] Well, until the batteries run out. Then not so much. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swedish-sub-bests-us-navy/423876/6 "2007-10-24T23:00:10Z")
[QUOTE=ralph124c] Is this type of small submarine likley to make nuclear subs obsolete? [/QUOTE] Nuclear subs have their own advantages, but a very quiet boat that can stay submerged for a couple of weeks instead of the usual couple of days is an increased danger to surface units, I’d expect. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swedish-sub-bests-us-navy/423876/7 "2007-10-24T23:28:16Z")
Handy for coastal defense ASW, not so much for Delivering The Bomb And Safeguarding Our Precious Bodily Fluids… and cruise missile strikes. I suppose it’d work for merchant convoy escorts, if I’m reading right, but that’s kinda’… obsolete, I suppose.