World Navies Today - Chinese Submarines

World Navies Today: Chinese Submarines Revised 23 October 2001 Version 1.05 Compiled and Maintained by: Andrew Toppan World Navies Today Main Page: http://www.hazegray.org/worldnav/

This list includes all submarines. Ships not yet commissioned, or in long-term overhaul/conversion, are listed in italics. Navigation and surface-search radars are not listed. All classifications are purely unofficial and are based on an attempt to use standard classifications throughout all navies; they may or may not correspond to "official" designations. Note: It remains very difficult to obtain accurate, up-to-date information regarding Chinese naval forces. These is major conflict between published references, especially with regard to class names and numbers. It is also difficult to tell exactly how many vessels are active and how many are in reserve, since many "active" vessels only go to sea for a few days each year. This list represents the best data available from a variety of sources, however, it probably is not complete nor 100% accurate, due to inadequacies of source material. Fleets: The following abbreviations are used to indicate fleet assignments: YEL: Yellow Sea. Officially North Sea Fleet. ECS: East China Sea. Officially East Sea Fleet. SCS: South China Sea. Officially South Sea Fleet.

Ballistic Missile Submarines Nuclear Powered Attack Submarines Diesel-Electric Submarines

Ballistic Missile Submarines Project 094 class nuclear powered ballistic missile submarines Concept/Program: Construction of four new SSBNs at Huladao SY was scheduled start in the late 1990's. The subs would carry 16 JL-2 SLBMs, and would enter service 20092010+.

'Xia' class nuclear powered ballistic missile submarine (1 ship) (Project 092) Displacement: 7,000 tons submerged Dimensions: 120 x 10 x ?? meters/393.7 x 32.8 x ?? feet Propulsion: Steam turbines, 1 reactor, 1 shaft, 14,400 shp, 22 knots Crew: approx. 100 Sonar: Trout Cheek Armament: 12 JL-2 SLBM, 6 21 inch torpedo tubes Concept/Program: China's only SSBN to date; essentially a lengthened 'Han' class SSN. Some reports indicate a second unit was built and that one boat was lost at sea in 1985. Series production was cancelled in favor of a new design. Currently in refit to receive the JL-2 missile in place of the original JL-1. Some sources report the ship has turbo-electric drive. Builders: Huludao SY. Number 406

Year 1988

FLT YEL

Homeport Quingdao

Notes In refit

Note: The 'Golf' class SSB is an experimental/trials craft; it is not combat-capable, and therefore is listed with the auxiliaries.

Nuclear Powered Attack Submarines Project 093 class nuclear powered attack submarines Concept/Program: First unit of a new SSN class was reported to be under construction at Huludao SY in 1997.

'Han' class nuclear powered attack submarines (5 ships) (Project 091) Displacement: 4,500 tons submerged (possibly 5,500 tons) Dimensions: 90 x 9 x ?? meters/295 x 29.5 x ?? feet (404, 405: 98 x 9 x ?? meters/321.5 x 29.5 x ?? feet) Propulsion: Steam turbines, 1 reactor, 1 shaft, 12,000 shp, 26 knots Crew: approx. 75 Sonar: Trout Cheek, DUUX-5 passive array Armament: 6 21 inch torpedo tubes Concept/Program: The first Chinese-designed and -built submarines. First two units had very long trials periods and reportedly were unreliable, but they have recently undergone major refits and are fully active. The last two units reportedly are 8 meters/26 feet longer, but there is no evidence that SSM tubes have been fitted aft of the sail, as had once been reported. These vessels probably are rather noisy and primitive in terms of combat systems. Some sources report the ships have turbo-electric drive. Builders: Huladao SY. Number 401 402 403 404 405

Year 1974 1980 1984 1988 1991

FLT

Homeport

Notes

Diesel-Electric Submarines 'Improved Kilo' class submarines (2 ships) (Project 636) Standard Export Specifications Displacement: 3,126 tons submerged Dimensions: 73.8 x 9.9 x 6.6 meters/242.1 x 32.5 x 21.6 feet Propulsion: Diesel-electric, 2 diesels, 1 shaft, 5,500 shp, 20 knots Crew: 52 Sonar: MGK-400 Shark Gill LF active/passive suite, passive hull arrays, MG-519 Mouse Roar active mine avoidance Armament: 6 21 inch torpedo tubes (18 torpedoes & SSMs or 24 mines), 1 Fasta-4 SAM Position Concept/Program: The specifications listed above reflect the normal equipment of the 'Improved Kilo' design. These units apparently were started for the Russian Navy but sold before completion. Builders: United Admiralty SY, St. Petersburg, Russia. Number 366 367

Name Lin San Liu (unknown)

Year 1998 1998

FLT

Homeport

Notes

'Kilo' class submarines (2 ships) (Project 877E) Standard Export Specifications Displacement: 3,076 tons submerged Dimensions: 74.3 x 10 x 6.6 meters/243.7 x 32.8 x 21.6 feet Propulsion: Diesel-electric, 2 diesels, 1 shaft, 5,900 shp, 17 knots Crew: 53 Sonar: MGK-400 Shark Gill LF active/passive suite, passive hull arrays, MG-519 Mouse Roar active mine avoidance Armament: 6 21 inch torpedo tubes (18 torpedoes or 24 mines), 1 Strela SAM Position Concept/Program: These are standard export versions of the 'Kilo' design, purchased in 1994 and delivered from stocks on hand. Reportedly both had become inoperable by 1997 and will be refitted in Russia. Builders: Krasnoye Sormovo Zavod 199, Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia.

Number 364 365

Year 1995 1995

FLT

Homeport

Notes

'Song' class submarines (1+2 ships) (Project 039) Displacement: 2,250 tons submerged Dimensions: 246 x 27.5 x 17.5 meters/807 x 90.2 x 57.4 feet Propulsion: Diesel-electric, 3 or 4 MTU diesels, 1 shaft, approx. 22 knots Crew: approx. 60 Sonar: unknown Armament: 6 21 inch torpedo tubes Concept/Program: A new Chinese-designed and -built diesel submarine. Production was reportedly planned at two per year starting in 1998, but it is expected that this will be slowed or cancelled in favor of Russian-built subs. The second unit has been badly delayed, and the first is reported to be unsatisfactory. Builders: Wuhan SY. Number 320 321 322

Year 1998

FLT

Homeport

Notes Building Building

'Ming' class patrol submarines (17+2 ships) (Project 035) Displacement: 2,113 tons submerged Dimensions: 76 x 7.6 x 5.1 meters/249.3 x 25 x 16.7 feet Propulsion: Diesel-electric, 2 diesels, 2 shafts, 3,500 shp, 18 knots Crew: 55 Sonar: Herkulese active/passive, Feniks passive Armament: 8 21 inch torpedo tubes (6 bow, 2 stern; 16 torpedoes or 28 mines) Concept/Program: A Chinese-built variant of the 'Romeo' design. These boats are completely obsolete in modern terms, but are useful as patrol and coastal defense assets. Production continues, probably to provide cheap replacement for aging 'Romeos'. Builders: Wuhan SY; built 1975-date.

Number 233 305 306 342 352 353 354 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 ?? ?? ?? ??

Year

FLT ECS ECS ECS ECS ECS ECS ECS ECS ECS ECS ECS ECS ECS ECS ECS ECS ECS

Homeport

Notes

Building Building

'Romeo' class patrol submarines (up to 38 ships) (Project ES3B/033) Displacement: 1,712 tons full load Dimensions: 76.6 x 6.7 x 4.95 meters/251.3 x 22 x 16.2 feet Propulsion: Diesel-electric, 2 diesels, 2 shafts, 2,700 shp, 13 knots Crew: 51 Sonar: Tamir-5L active, Feniks passive Armament: 8 21 inch torpedo tubes (6 bow, 2 stern; 14 torpedoes or 28 mines) Concept/Program: Chinese-built copies of the Soviet 'Romeo' design. 84 units were built for Chinese service; of these 65 are believed to remain in existence, with around 38 nominally operational. Of the operational boats, however, only a small number are capable of going to sea at any given time, due to a lack of trained crews. These boats are completely obsolete, but a limited life extension overhaul program is reportedly being undertaken. Builders: Wuhan SY, Guangzhou SY, Jiangnan SY, Huladao SY; built 1960-1984.

Note: The 'Mod Romeo' or 'Wuhan' class SSG is an experimental/trials craft; it is not combat-capable, and therefore is listed with the auxiliaries.

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