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Dolphin vs Virginia

Dolphin submarine side profile drawing
🇮🇱 Dolphin
Virginia submarine side profile drawing
🇺🇸 Virginia
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Specifications
Dolphin Virginia
Origin 🇮🇱 Israel 🇺🇸 United States
Category Submarine Submarine
Type Diesel-electric submarine Nuclear-powered attack submarine
Manufacturer Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft General Dynamics Electric Boat
Year introduced 1999 2004
Number built 5 units 26 units
Estimated unit price $1,000 million $2,800 million
Displacement 1,640 tons 6,930 tons
Maximum speed 11.0 knots 15.0 knots
Range 8,000 nm at 8 knots Unlimited
Length 57.3 m 115.0 m
Beam 6.8 m 10.0 m
Crew 45 135
Max depth 350 m 240 m
Performance Radar Chart
Armament & Systems
Dolphin Virginia
Armament
  • 6 × 533 mm (21.0 in) torpedo tubes
  • 4 × 650 mm (26 in) diameter torpedo tubes
  • 16 torpedoes and Popeye Turbo submarine-launched cruise missiles (SLCMs)
  • 12 x VLS tubes (Tomahawk cruise missiles)
  • 2 x Virginia payload tubes (12 x Tomahawk BGM-109)
  • 4 x Virginia payload modules (28 x Tomahawk BGM-109)
  • 4 x 21" torpedo tubes (Mk-48 torpedoes or UGM-84 Harpoon missiles)
Propulsion Diesel-electric, 3 diesels, 1 shaft, 4,243 shp (3,164 kW); Dolphin 2 class: air-independent HDW Fuel Cell System 1 × S9G nuclear reactor 280,000 hp (210 MW); 2 × steam turbines 40,000 shp (30 MW); 1 × single shaft pump-jet propulsor; 1 × secondary propulsion motor

Overview

The Dolphin and the Virginia are both Submarine classes.

The Virginia displaces 6,930 tons — 4.2x the Dolphin's 1,640 tons. The Dolphin reaches 11 knots vs 15 knots for the Virginia. Operational range is 8,000 nautical miles for the Dolphin vs 99,999 for the Virginia. The Dolphin carries a crew of 45 vs 135 for the Virginia. Submerged displacement is 1,900 tons for the Dolphin vs 7,900 tons for the Virginia. The Dolphin can dive to 350 m compared to 240 m for the Virginia.

The Dolphin was produced in 5 units vs 26 for the Virginia. Cost per hull is $1,000M for the Dolphin vs $2,800M for the Virginia. The Dolphin was commissioned in 1999, 5 years before the Virginia (2004).

Related Comparisons
Virginia vs Astute Virginia vs Type 095 Dolphin vs Improved Kilo Dolphin vs Kilo Dolphin vs Sang-O Dolphin vs Type 039A

Frequently Asked Questions

Which has greater displacement, the Dolphin-class or Virginia-class?
The Virginia-class has greater displacement at 6,930 tons compared to the Dolphin-class's 1,640 tons.
Which is faster, the Dolphin-class or Virginia-class?
The Virginia-class is faster with a maximum speed of 15 knots compared to the Dolphin-class's 11 knots.
Which has longer range, the Dolphin-class or Virginia-class?
The Virginia-class is nuclear-powered with unlimited range, while the Dolphin-class has a range of 8,000 nautical miles.
Which is longer, the Dolphin-class or Virginia-class?
The Virginia-class is longer at 115.0 meters compared to the Dolphin-class's 57.3 meters.
How many crew members do the Dolphin-class and Virginia-class have?
The Virginia-class has a larger crew complement of 135 compared to the Dolphin-class's 45 crew members.
Which can dive deeper, the Dolphin-class or Virginia-class?
The Dolphin-class can dive deeper with a maximum depth of 350 meters compared to the Virginia-class's 240 meters.
Which is more expensive, the Dolphin-class or Virginia-class?
The Virginia-class is more expensive at approximately $2.8 billion per unit compared to the Dolphin-class at $1.0 billion.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Dolphin-class or Virginia-class?
The Virginia-class has been built in greater numbers with 26 vessels compared to 5 vessels of the Dolphin-class.