At SAHA EXPO 2024, DATUM Submarine Technologies, based at Istanbul Technical University, unveiled its mini attack submarine, TRANÇA.
TRANÇA is designed with advanced mobility in mind, capable of being transported via low-bed trailers and launched into the water from cranes, eliminating the need for permanent bases or specialized crews in remote regions. Dr. Munir Cansin Ozden, founder of DATUM A.Ş., emphasized the deliberate choice of TRANÇA’s compact 20-meter, 80-ton dimensions, which allow for fast and efficient land transportation. “This submarine is not just designed for attack missions; it’s versatile enough to serve as a mobile testing platform for naval technologies,” Dr. Ozden explained.
In addition to its combat capabilities, TRANÇA’s design incorporates features that will allow it to serve as a testbed for the Turkish Navy‘s future submarine systems. Dr. Ozden highlighted the importance of testing new technologies on a smaller, more cost-effective platform.
“For example, new sonar arrays, communication systems, and weapons like the SUB-ATMACA anti-ship missile and ORKA torpedoes can be integrated and tested on this submarine before deployment on larger vessels.“
Dr. Munir Cansin Ozden, founder of DATUM A.Ş.
Dr. Ozden also addressed a critical challenge that many navies face: the significant personnel requirements for operating traditional submarines. He highlighted how mini submarines like TRANÇA can offer a more efficient alternative, particularly in terms of crew needs.
“Conventional submarines often demand a large and highly specialized crew, which can be difficult for many navies to sustain,” Dr. Ozden remarked. “In contrast, mini submarines like TRANÇA are designed to operate with a much smaller crew. For instance, a team of just eight operators can manage two TRANÇA attack submarines simultaneously. Once a mission is completed, these operators can be swiftly redeployed to another region to manage a different mission, offering unparalleled flexibility and efficiency.”
This streamlined approach not only reduces the operational burden on navies but also allows for rapid, strategic response across multiple theaters of operation, a distinct advantage over the personnel-intensive demands of larger, conventional submarines.
Enhanced Combat and Seabed Operations
TRANÇA’s capabilities extend far beyond conventional attack missions. Equipped with the MÜREN combat management system, it can launch Roketsan’s AKYA torpedoes and deliver MALAMAN smart sea mines developed by MKE-Koç-SAGE. Its diver lockout chamber can transport combat swimmers and support swimmer delivery vehicles, enabling special operations up to 250 meters below the surface. With domestic sonar technology from PRS, FAS, CHA, and other local companies, TRANÇA is poised to enhance Turkey’s ability to detect and neutralize threats in both shallow and deep waters.
One of the most significant advantages of the TRANÇA design is its operational flexibility. Thanks to its small size, it can be rapidly transported and deployed in theaters where larger submarines would be impractical. This makes it an ideal solution for countries that lack extensive submarine fleets but need effective coastal defense. TRANÇA can also be delivered inside TCG Anadolu, Turkey’s flagship amphibious assault ship, further extending its reach.
General Specifications
- Length (LOA): 20m
- Beam: 2.8m
- Height: 3.6m
- Displacement: 60 tonnes
- Diving depth: 250m
- Operational speed: 4 kts
- Snorkelling speed: 8 kts
- Max Speed: 12 kts
- Range: 400 NM (battery), 2000 NM (snorkel)
- Crew: 4 operator + 6 combat swimmer
- Communications: VHF, HF, SATCOM
- Navigation: GNSS (Surface), INS+DVL (Underwater)
- Propulsion: 50kW electric engine, 400 kW diesel engine, Lithium Titanate Oxide Batteries
- Command, Control and Combat Management: TUBITAK MÜREN, HAVELSAN SEDA
- Weapons: 2x533mm torpedo tubes for SUB-ATMACA AShM, AKYA Heavyweight torpedo, 2/4 units Stidd DPD Swimmer delivery vehicles or 2/4 units MALAMAN smart sea mines
Author’s comment
In modern naval warfare, surface and air surveillance sensors are evolving rapidly, but the underwater domain remains a complex area where one can more easily hide. Sonar, the primary sensor for underwater detection, is heavily affected by underwater environmental factors. In negative gradient water conditions, submarines enjoy a significant tactical advantage, as these conditions make them extremely difficult to detect. In contrast, under positive gradient conditions or other more favorable sonar environments, submarines often choose to stay beneath the layer depth—a natural barrier where sonar signals have great difficulty reaching—further enhancing their stealth and evading detection. This strategic use of depth in varying water conditions enables submarines to maintain a low profile and avoid enemy surveillance effectively.
Mini submarines like TRANÇA are even harder to detect due to their smaller size and lower noise output, compounding the already challenging nature of underwater surveillance. In coastal waters, where sound propagation is less predictable and ambient noise further complicates detection, identifying these compact submarines becomes valuable assets.
In such scenarios, mini submarines like TRANÇA have the potential to excel in demanding operations such as enemy detection, reconnaissance, and penetration. Armed with powerful weapons like heavy torpedoes or anti-ship missiles, these submarines can inflict significant damage on enemy forces. Despite the command and control complexities that may arise from deploying numerous mini submarines, their low operational cost and minimal crew requirements make them strategically advantageous. Equipped with deep-strike capabilities, they could carry out surprise attacks on high-value targets, maximizing their impact with the element of surprise.
The ability to deploy a fleet of these agile, stealthy submarines offers a potent new dimension to naval operations, with the potential to shift the balance in asymmetric warfare.
