Every year, around the world, countries spend billions of
dollars on their respective armed forces. Armies, air forces and
navies all get generous amounts of funding to maintain
existing levels of operation, add new equipment and manpower
and research new weapons and tactics. Taking up a generous
portion of the defense budgets of many of these countries
(roughly a quarter in respect to the US) are the massive fleets
of aircraft carriers, warships, support vessels and aircraft
associated with the navies. This is nothing new. Over the last
several centuries the powers of the world have come to quickly
understand the importance of a powerful and capable navy. Not
only a symbol of power and wealth, a strong navy can project
power, be used as a political tool, protect lines of commerce
and communication and deliver friendly forces anywhere that
has a port or suitable landing area. This was demonstrated
repeatedly in the era of kings and queens, during both World
Wars and, more recently, by the United States and its allies as it
tackles global terrorism.
For many nations one of the most important and versatile
components of their navies is the submarine. Dating back to the
17 century, military designers sought a method of
approaching an enemy fleet undetected. Over the next few
hundred years, the submarine went through a series of
evolutionary designs which improved its mobility, practicality,
lethality and overall capabilities. Torpedoes were introduced
and steadily improved over the years. Communication and
detection equipment followed and provided an otherwise
‘blind’ weapon with the ability to see underwater. Propulsion
systems improved in reliability and safety leading up to the
advanced diesel-electric and nuclear submarines which are
operated today. The German navy proved how deadly the
submarine could be in both World Wars. The US Navy added
further proof with the near annihilation of the Japanese
merchant fleet in the Pacific from 1941-1945. The introduction
of ballistic missile firing capability adds yet another
impressive capability to the submarine’s resume.
The following looks at the 10 largest submarine forces in the
world. This list looks at the total number of both diesel-electric
and nuclear powered boats. It is not necessarily a statement on
capability as not all navies are created equal – as you will see.
Instead, this is a sheer numbers assessment which looks at who
has the most overall military submarines. A few entries may
surprise you but rest assured, all the big players are included.

T8. South Korea – 14 Submarines. Starting off this list is the submarine force of South Korea. The
Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) currently operates a fleet of
14 diesel-electric submarines. Currently, 12 of these
submarines are German designed Type 209 and 214 class,
while two are midget submarines built in Korea. Current plans
are for Korea to take on construction of the Type 214 in its own
shipyards, providing the ROKN with a very advanced,
domestically produced submarine. The small Type 214 packs a
punch with eight torpedo tubes and the ability to fire anti-ship
missiles and lay mines. In all likelihood, any future lists of
submarine figures will see South Korea climb the ranks as its
introduces more of the Type 214s to its navy.

T8. Turkey – 14 Submarines. Next to Germany, Turkey is the largest operator of German
built submarines in the world. All of the Turkish Navy’s
submarines are diesel-electric boats belonging to the Type 209
class. This particular submarine is one of the most exported
types which can be customized in a variety of ways for
potential customers. At a cost of around $290 million each, the
newest Type 209s in Turkish service (known as the Gur class)
have the ability to fire Harpoon anti-ship missiles. Starting next
year, the Turkish Navy is planning on replacing the Type 209
with the more modern German-built type 214 diesel-electric
submarine.

T8. Israel – 14 Submarines. When you think of naval powers, you do not often think of
Israel. In military terms, most people see Israel as a land or air
power, yet, they do operate a small force of missile/patrol boats
and submarines. Like many aspects of the Israeli military,
figures and information concerning weapons platforms are
hard to get. According to globalfirepower.com, the Israeli Navy
currently operates 14 submarines (although most online
sources report a lower figure). The most well-known and by far
most capable of their forces are the Dolphin class boats. Built
in Germany since 1998, the Dolphin class submarines are
diesel-electric and reportedly capable of carrying and firing
Israeli nuclear weapons. The newest of these submarines
reportedly has air-independent propulsion which means they
are less reliant on running at or near the surface than most
other diesel-electric submarines.

7. Japan – 16 Submarines. Following the Second World War, strict regulations were
placed on the Japanese military with the country’s constitution
even stipulating that Japan must only possess defensive
weaponry. What this eventually translated into was the small,
yet very modern force which makes up the Japan Maritime
Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). Today, the submarine force of
Japan is composed of diesel-electric attack submarines – yes,
the name is a bit contradictory. This small force is composed of
two classes of very modern subs with the oldest being built in
1994. The newest submarines are from the Soryu class. They
are packed with the latest technology, have a range of 7000
miles and can fire missiles and torpedoes and lay mines.

6. India – 17 Submarines. Currently, the vast majority of India’s submarine force are
diesel-electric attack submarines built by the Russians and
Germans. These craft have allowed India to flex its muscle
around its coastal waters and into the Indian Ocean over the
past 25 years. More recently, steps have been taken to push the
Indian submarine fleet into the realm of nuclear power. The
lease of a Russian Akula class nuclear attack submarine and
the completion of a domestically constructed ballistic missile
submarine are clear indications that India wishes to greatly
expand the capabilities of its submarine fleet. Given the time
and expense associated with building nuclear submarines, it is
likely diesel-electric boats will remain the backbone of the
Indian Navy for the next several years. That said, don’t be
surprised to see this nation climb up this list as they look to
expand their naval power.

Ftc!! buh nice submarines

5. Iran – 31 Submarines. No, that is not a typo because Iran does currently operate the
fifth largest submarine fleet in the world. Iran, traditionally has
placed the majority of its military budget into its air and land
forces. Over the past several years, the Islamic Republic of Iran
Navy (IRIN) has begun developing new surface ships and
submarines. The IRIN submarine forces have been, and largely
remain, focused on coastal and short range operations in and
around the Persian Gulf. The most capable submarines
currently in operation are three Russian-built Kilo class diesel-
electric boats. Built in the 1990s, these submarines provide the
IRIN with the ability to patrol over 7000 miles, lay mines and
pose a credible threat to any naval forces approaching Iranian
shores. They are complemented with a variety of other
sub-1200 ton submarines meant for shallow-coastal water
operations.

4. Russia – 63 Submarines. With the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, the
Soviet Navy, like most of the Soviet military forces, suffered
from poor funding and maintenance. Over the past several
years this situation has changed as Russia seeks to reform and
modernize its forces under the leadership of Vladimir Putin.
The submarine fleet of the Russian Navy is one branch of the
armed forces which has benefitted from this reform. Russia
operates a wide range of submarines including around a dozen
ballistic missile and 30 nuclear attack submarines.
Interestingly, the Russian navy has opted not to go all-nuclear
and operates nearly 20 diesel-electric boats of the Kilo class.
With numerous new submarines being constructed to replace
aging and somewhat dangerous older models, it is likely the
Russian Navy’s submarine forces will maintain, if not increase,
their position on this list over the coming years.

3. China – 69 Submarines. Over the past 30 years, the military forces of China have
undergone a program of massive expansion and modernization.
In addition to land and air forces, the People’s Liberation Army
Navy (PLAN) Submarine Force has seen substantial
development in an effort to extend operational abilities further
out from the Chinese mainland. With only a handful of modern
nuclear attack submarines, around 50 diesel-electric
submarines make up the bulk of the PLAN force. This is
understandable considering that Chinese military doctrine is
primarily focused on defending its territory and coastal waters
from potential enemies. Providing nuclear deterrent are several
ballistic missile submarines. Generally not considered as
capable as American or Russian designs, Chinese ballistic
missile submarines are still capable of launching long range
nuclear weapons at any nation foolish enough to attack.

2. United States – 72 Submarines. Runner-up on this list is the United States Navy. Don’t let that
fool you, however. The USN may ‘only’ operate the second
largest submarine force in the world, yet, it is probably the
most capable force on this list. Since the commission of its first
submarine, the USS Holland in 1900, the USN has developed a
far reaching and very effective submarine force. Its active fleet
is entirely nuclear powered which means operations are limited
only by the amount of food the ships can carry. Currently the
most numerous type of submarine is the Los Angeles class
attack submarine of which around 40 are in service. Built
between the 1970s and 1990s, the Los Angeles class subs costs
close to $1 billion in today’s currency, displace nearly 7000
tons, can dive to well over 900 feet and is armed with four
torpedo tubes. Not to rest on their laurels, the USN have started
to replace these Cold War boats with newer and more advanced
$2.7 billion submarines of the Virginia class.

1. North Korea – 78 Submarines. The Korean People’s Army Navy Force (KPANF), despite
having another rather confusing name, takes top spot on this
list with a force of 78 submarines. All of North Korea’s
submarines are diesel-electric and none of them displace more
than 1800 tons. The potential danger of this force was
demonstrated in 2010 when a small 130 ton sub of the Yono
class sank the South Korean corvette Cheonan. Nonetheless, it
is largely considered to be a second-rate force made up of
aging Soviet-era and smaller home-built coastal submarines.
The smaller North Korean submarines reportedly have very
good shallow water abilities and would, in times of war, be
used to lay mines, provide intelligence reports on enemy
harbors and transport special-forces to enemy shores. If the
KPANF continues to expand its fleet of small submarines, don’t
expect them to be bumped off the top of this list any time soon.

all these for wetin....left for me there will be no war therefore no need for instrument of war, every man mind his own biz. I see war as the act of greed of one man or greed by a few group of men,

Billon dollars are being wasted cos of war yearly.. what is the cost of peace someone please tell me..?

hmmmn

REMMEI:
Billon dollars are being wasted cos of war yearly.. what is the cost of peace someone please tell me..?

this is why we have to be thankfully to the USA for creating the UN after the league of nations desolved..no country wants to be caught unaware so even the poorest countries now are putting more than half their budgets on defence.....if you know how much even south Africa spends on their military you would wonder if they are going to war