The People's Liberation Army Navy Submarine Force (PLANSF) is the submarine service of the People's Liberation Army Navy. It consists of all types of submarines in operational service organized into three fleets: the North Sea Fleet, the East Sea Fleet, and the South Sea Fleet. Submarines have long been one of the three focuses of the People's Liberation Army Navy (the other two are aircraft and major surface combatants), and when the decision was made in late 2006 to concentrate on building other principal surface combatants to strengthen the air defense and to further delay the construction of aircraft carriers due to insufficient air cover, submarines will continue to play the lead dominant role in the assault force for the PLAN. Currently, PLANSF operates a fleet of 66 submarines which include nuclear as well as conventional submarines. [1]
Its surface branch counterpart is the People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force.
The PLAN currently operates two classes of ballistic missile submarines with another under construction:
China's first ballistic missile submarine, Type 092 submarine (Xia-class), was laid down in 1978, launched in 1981 and commissioned by 1983. Its primary weapon is the JL-1 SLBM, with 12 launch tubes, as well as six 533 mm tubes for self-defense. The JL-1 missile was not ready until the first successful test launch of the missile from the Xia in 1988. Previous launch attempts from 1985 had failed. The missile's short range only permits the 092 to launch its missiles against regional targets. Striking targets far away require the submarine to travel dangerously closer to enemy waters. The Xia has since undergone a major modernisation refit, with a new black-coated paint and possibly other improvements with unofficial reports indicating the Xia is now carrying an improved missile, the JL-1A that is alleged to have longer range.
The Type 094 submarine (Jin-class) is believed to have been influenced by Russian assistance. It features 12 launch tubes for the longer ranged JL-2 missile, which has an 8,000 km range that can carry 3 to 4 MIRVs. The 094 would be permitted to patrol nearer Chinese waters, with the ability to launch its missiles against continental US targets. [2]
China was the first Asian country and the 5th globally to successfully design, build and commission a nuclear-powered submarine. The PLAN currently has two types of nuclear-powered attack submarines in service with another in development:
Nuclear submarines have been envisaged in the PLAN since the 1950s. Despite ambition and a long history of development, the acquisition of nuclear submarines has been a difficult and time-consuming process. The Cultural Revolution greatly disrupted nuclear submarine development[ citation needed ]. The Sino-Soviet split prevented any Soviet assistance in nuclear propulsion, and these propulsion problems have been troublesome to this day.
The first Chinese nuclear-powered submarine was laid down in 1967 but not completed until 1974, the Type 091 submarine (Han-class). The Han-class experienced more than 20 years of development, with the last of the class not being commissioned until 1990. Since their commission the class has gone through major upgrades and numerous refits with the remaining boats having been greatly refitted with new sonars and anechoic tiles (which reduce noise levels). The Han-class has mostly operated in local waters, but since the 1990s, they have been used more aggressively. A Han-class shadowed a US carrier battle group in the mid-1990s, and more recently, operated around Japanese waters, prompting a Japanese task force to chase the submarine out of its territory. The Han-class submarines are far from being as capable or effective as their American Los Angeles-class counterparts, but with recent improvements they can pose a great threat by operating deep in the Western Pacific and attacking targets that are less well-protected by ASW coverage. Two of this class have been retired - the Changzheng 01 (hull no.401) in 2000 and the Changzheng 02 (hull no.402) in 2005.
A new class of submarine has been in development since the 1980s, when the PLAN first sought a replacement for the Han-class. Little information has emerged about the Type 093 submarine (Shang—class), but it is believed to have some Russian influence. The 093 design may be comparable to the Russian Victor III-class, signifying a significant step forward for Chinese nuclear attack submarines. The 093 has been the focus of much attention from US and Asian military analysts. Its improved capabilities will undoubtedly increase PLAN power in the region and its ability to carry war to the West Pacific. Such submarines can escort future ballistic missile submarines as well as attacking US Navy carrier battle groups in the deep ocean. Six Type 093 submarines are in service with two more under construction. [3]
China is constructing a major underground nuclear submarine base near Sanya, Hainan. [4] The Daily Telegraph in 2008 reported that tunnels were being built into hillsides which could be capable of hiding up to 20 nuclear submarines from spy satellites. [5] [6]
Submarine warfare is regarded as a vital part of PLAN's coastal defense doctrine. Large numbers of conventional powered submarines have therefore been constructed and commissioned, and this force makes up the bulk of the PLAN's submarines. The PLAN currently operates four different classes of conventional submarines:
The first class of conventionally powered submarine to be operated by the PLAN was the Soviet Whiskey-class. The Whiskey was imported from the Soviet Union and subsequently built in considerable numbers and served until the last few remaining boats were removed during the mid-1990s. The second type to be operated also owed its origins to the Soviet Union, the Romeo-class, they were built under licence in China as the Type 033 submarine. Production of this submarine took place from the late 1960s until the late 1980s. The Type 033 went on to form the backbone of the PLAN submarine forces, and has been estimated that more than 100 may have been produced for the PLAN and for export. By the late 1990s, a large number of 033s had been retired from active duty and pulled into reserves. A handful of upgraded hulls remained in service until the late 2000s for training and other limited purposes.
The Type 035 submarine (Ming-class), first commissioned in 1974, is based on the Type 033. It could be considered as China's first indigenously designed submarine, despite its similarities to the Romeo-class. A total of 21 were built, but many of the initial hulls didn't perform well and were subsequently scrapped. At least 17 hulls are still in service, with later hulls using modern sonar systems, including the French DUUX-5. The later hulls of the Ming-class may have been employed for testing Air-independent propulsion (AIP), which would significantly reduce the noise level of the submarine. Mings have reportedly been exercising more frequently since the mid-2000s and making recent incursions into Japanese waters. On one occasion a Ming surfaced briefly within Japanese waters before submerging again.
The PLAN in the 1990s sought to acquire a modern conventional submarine with emphasis on sensors, weaponry, and modern capabilities to engage enemy submarines in modern warfare. In 1994 it ordered two Kilo-class 877EKM type submarines from Russia, which were delivered by 1995.
In 1996, two improved Kilo-class 636 submarines were ordered, delivered between 1997 and 1998. In 2002, a $2 billion deal was signed for eight more Kilo-class 636, these submarines particularly fitted with the capability of launching the Russian Novator 3M-54E Klub S cruise missile capable of engaging land and sea targets at 220 km. The Kilo class represents a huge leap forward in the PLAN submarine fleet. Originally a Soviet design in the 1980s, the Kilo-class was meant to be one of the world's quietest class of submarines. With 12 Kilos operational by 2006, it is unclear whether PLAN will buy more of these potent vessels.
Despite the purchase of the Kilo-class, the PLAN has continued to develop indigenous designs. The Type 039 submarine (Song-class) was first launched in 1994 with sea trials in 1995. It featured Western influences with a German propulsion system, seven blade skewed propeller and noise-reduction rubber tiles; however, the first hull retained the traditional stepped sail. The first hull was not fully operational until 1999. As a result of the sea trials a significantly modified designs emerged, with a number of improvements, including a conventional sail. By 2006 about 13 hulls have been confirmed to be built so far, indicating the class has performed satisfactorily. The Song-class presents a major milestone to indigenous submarine designs, being comparable in capabilities to contemporary Western submarines. Song submarines are armed with torpedoes and a sub-launched variant of the YJ-8 anti-ship missile. An AIP system may be installed in the future.
The Type 039A submarine (Yuan-class) is the latest of China's indigenous submarine.
The hull seems to resemble Russian influences (as it is similar to the Kilo) while also adapting features found on the Type 039. The Yuan-class is likely fitted with an AIP system to achieve maximum silent operational capabilities and can be armed with advanced Russian and Chinese torpedoes and cruise missiles. The Yuan-class came as a surprise to US military intelligence, as the submarine's existence was entirely unknown until internet images emerged. This class of submarine is expected to have capabilities which surpass the Kilo and Song-classes considerably. Series production began late in 2007, with at least 17 boats identified so far and up to 3 more under construction.
The Naval Vessels Naming Regulation prescribes the following prefixes for submarines under PLANSF. [7]
Ship | Named after |
---|---|
Nuclear submarines | Changzheng (Chinese :长征; pinyin :Chángzhēng; lit.'Long March') followed by a serial number [7] |
Ballistic and cruise missile armed conventional submarines | Yuanzheng (Chinese :远征; pinyin :Yuǎnzhēng; lit.'Expedition') followed by a serial number [7] |
Conventional submarines | Changcheng (Chinese :长城; pinyin :Chángchēng; lit.'Great Wall') followed by a serial number [7] |
China has a number of dedicated submarine bases, some of which have underground facilities accessed via tunnels. [8] The following bases have been confirmed through Google Earth imagery: [9]
Type | NATO designation | Pennant No. | Name (English) | Name (Han 汉) | Commissioned | Displacement [lower-alpha 1] | Fleet | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Type 094 / 094A submarine | Jin class | 411 | Long March 11 | 长征 11 | 2007 | 11,000 t | South Sea Fleet | Active |
413 | Long March 13 | 长征 13 | 2009 | 11,000 t | South Sea Fleet | Active | ||
412 | Long March 12 | 长征 12 | 2011 | 11,000 t | South Sea Fleet | Active | ||
414 | Long March 14 | 长征 14 | 2012 | 11,000 t | South Sea Fleet | Active | ||
420 | Long March 20 | 长征 20 | 2019 | 11,000 t | South Sea Fleet | Active | ||
421 | Long March 21 | 长征 21 | 2021 | 11,000 t | South Sea Fleet | Active | ||
Type 032 submarine | Qing class | Yuan-Zheng 201 | Expedition 201 | 远征 201 | 2012 | 6,630 t | North Sea Fleet | Active |
Type 093 submarine | Shang class | 407 | Long March 7 | 长征7 | 2006 | 6,100 t | North Sea Fleet | Active |
408 | Long March 8 | 长征 8 | 2007 | 6,100 t | North Sea Fleet | Active | ||
Type 093A submarine | 409 | Long March 9 | 长征 9 | 2012 | 6,100 t | South Sea Fleet | Active | |
410 | Long March 10 | 长征 10 | 2015 | 6,100 t | South Sea Fleet | Active | ||
418 | Long March 18 | 长征 18 | 2017 | 6,100 t | North Sea Fleet | Active | ||
419 | Long March 19 | 长征 19 | 2017 | 6,100 t | North Sea Fleet | Active | ||
Type 091 submarine | Han class | 403 | Long March 3 | 长征 3 | 1984 | 5,550 t | North Sea Fleet | In reserve |
404 | Long March 4 | 长征 4 | 1987 | 5,550 t | North Sea Fleet | In reserve | ||
405 | Long March 5 | 长征 5 | 1990 | 5,550 t | North Sea Fleet | In reserve | ||
Type 039A submarine | Yuan class | Chang-Cheng 330 | Great Wall 330 | 长城 330 | 2005 | 3,600 t | Active | |
Chang-Cheng 331 | Great Wall 331 | 长城 331 | 2009 | 3,600 t | Active | |||
Chang-Cheng 332 | Great Wall 332 | 长城 332 | 2009 | 3,600 t | Active | |||
Chang-Cheng 333 | Great Wall 333 | 长城 333 | 2010 | 3,600 t | Active | |||
Type 039B submarine | Chang-Cheng 334 | Great Wall 334 | 长城 334 | 2011 | 3,600 t | Active | ||
Chang-Cheng 335 | Great Wall 335 | 长城 335 | 2011 | 3,600 t | Active | |||
Chang-Cheng 336 | Great Wall 336 | 长城 336 | 2012 | 3,600 t | Active | |||
Chang-Cheng 337 | Great Wall 337 | 长城 337 | 2012 | 3,600 t | Active | |||
Chang-Cheng 338 | Great Wall 338 | 长城 338 | 2012 | 3,600 t | Active | |||
Chang-Cheng 339 | Great Wall 339 | 长城 339 | 2012 | 3,600 t | Active | |||
Chang-Cheng 340 | Great Wall 340 | 长城 340 | 2012 | 3,600 t | Active | |||
Chang-Cheng 341 | Great Wall 341 | 长城 341 | 2012 | 3,600 t | Active | |||
Chang-Cheng 342 | Great Wall 342 | 长城 342 | 2015 | 3,600 t | Active | |||
Chang-Cheng 343 | Great Wall 343 | 长城 343 | 2016 | 3,600 t | Active | |||
Chang-Cheng 344 | Great Wall 344 | 长城 344 | 2017 | 3,600 t | Active | |||
Chang-Cheng 345 | Great Wall 345 | 长城 345 | 2019- | 3,600 t | Active | |||
Chang-Cheng 346 | Great Wall 346 | 长城 346 | 3,600 t | Active | ||||
Type 039C submarine | Chang-Cheng ? | Great Wall ? | 长城 ? | 2022 | 3,600 t | Active | ||
Chang-Cheng ? | Great Wall ? | 长城 ? | 2023? | 3,600 t | Fitting out | |||
Chang-Cheng ? | Great Wall ? | 长城 ? | 2023? | 3,600 t | Fitting out | |||
Type 039 submarine | Song class | Chang-Cheng 320 | Great Wall 320 | 长城 320 | 1999 | 2,250 t | North Sea Fleet | Active |
Type 039G submarine | Chang-Cheng 321 | Great Wall 321 | 长城 321 | 2001 | 2,250 t | North Sea Fleet | Active | |
Chang-Cheng 322 | Great Wall 322 | 长城 322 | 2001 | 2,250 t | North Sea Fleet | Active | ||
Chang-Cheng 323 | Great Wall 323 | 长城 323 | 2003 | 2,250 t | North Sea Fleet | Active | ||
Chang-Cheng 324 | Great Wall 324 | 长城 324 | 2003 | 2,250 t | East Sea Fleet | Active | ||
Chang-Cheng 325 | Great Wall 325 | 长城 325 | 2004 | 2,250 t | East Sea Fleet | Active | ||
Type 039G1 submarine | Chang-Cheng 314 | Great Wall 314 | 长城 314 | 2003 | 2,250 t | East Sea Fleet | Active | |
Chang-Cheng 315 | Great Wall 315 | 长城 315 | 2003 | 2,250 t | North Sea Fleet | Active | ||
Chang-Cheng 316 | Great Wall 316 | 长城 316 | 2005 | 2,250 t | North Sea Fleet | Active | ||
Chang-Cheng 326 | Great Wall 326 | 长城 326 | 2006 | 2,250 t | South Sea Fleet | Active | ||
Chang-Cheng 327 | Great Wall 327 | 长城 327 | 2006 | 2,250 t | North Sea Fleet | Active | ||
Chang-Cheng 328 | Great Wall 328 | 长城 328 | 2006 | 2,250 t | North Sea Fleet | Active | ||
Chang-Cheng 329 | Great Wall 329 | 长城 329 | 2006 | 2,250 t | South Sea Fleet | Active | ||
Type 035A submarine | Ming class | Chang-Cheng 358 | Great Wall 358 | 长城 358 | 1993 | 2,113 t | North Sea Fleet | In reserve |
Chang-Cheng 359 | Great Wall 359 | 长城 359 | 1994 | 2,113 t | North Sea Fleet | In reserve | ||
Chang-Cheng 360 | Great Wall 360 | 长城 360 | 1995 | 2,113 t | North Sea Fleet | In reserve | ||
Chang-Cheng 362 | Great Wall 362 | 长城 362 | 1996 | 2,113 t | North Sea Fleet | In reserve | ||
Chang-Cheng 363 | Great Wall 363 | 长城 363 | 1996 | 2,113 t | North Sea Fleet | In reserve | ||
Chang-Cheng 305 | Great Wall 305 | 长城 305 | 1998 | 2,113 t | South Sea Fleet | In reserve | ||
Chang-Cheng 306 | Great Wall 306 | 长城 306 | 1998 | 2,113 t | South Sea Fleet | In reserve | ||
Chang-Cheng 307 | Great Wall 307 | 长城 307 | 1999 | 2,113 t | South Sea Fleet | In reserve | ||
Chang-Cheng 308 | Great Wall 308 | 长城 308 | 1999 | 2,113 t | South Sea Fleet | In reserve | ||
Chang-Cheng 309 | Great Wall 309 | 长城 309 | 2000 | 2,113 t | South Sea Fleet | In reserve | ||
Type 035B submarine | Chang-Cheng 310 | Great Wall 310 | 长城 310 | 2001 | 2,113 t | South Sea Fleet | Active | |
Chang-Cheng 311 | Great Wall 311 | 长城 311 | 2002 | 2,113 t | South Sea Fleet | Active | ||
Chang-Cheng 312 | Great Wall 312 | 长城 312 | 2003 | 2,113 t | South Sea Fleet | Active | ||
Chang-Cheng 313 | Great Wall 313 | 长城 313 | 2004 | 2,113 t | South Sea Fleet | Active | ||
Project 877EKM | Kilo class | Chang-Cheng 364 | Great Wall 364 | 长城 364 | 1994 | 3,075 t | East Sea Fleet | Active Potentially being scrapped [12] |
Chang-Cheng 365 | Great Wall 365 | 长城 365 | 1995 | 3,075 t | East Sea Fleet | Active Potentially being scrapped [12] | ||
Project 636 | Improved Kilo class | Chang-Cheng 366 | Great Wall 366 | 长城 366 | 1997 | 3,100 t | East Sea Fleet | Active |
Chang-Cheng 367 | Great Wall 367 | 长城 367 | 1998 | 3,100 t | East Sea Fleet | Active | ||
Project 636M | Chang-Cheng 368 | Great Wall 368 | 长城 368 | 2004 | 3,100 t | East Sea Fleet | Active | |
Chang-Cheng 369 | Great Wall 369 | 长城 369 | 2004 | 3,100 t | East Sea Fleet | Active | ||
Chang-Cheng 370 | Great Wall 370 | 长城 370 | 2005 | 3,100 t | East Sea Fleet | Active | ||
Chang-Cheng 371 | Great Wall 371 | 长城 371 | 2005 | 3,100 t | East Sea Fleet | Active | ||
Chang-Cheng 372 | Great Wall 372 | 长城 372 | 2005 | 3,100 t | South Sea Fleet | Active | ||
Chang-Cheng 373 | Great Wall 373 | 长城 373 | 2004 | 3,100 t | South Sea Fleet | Active | ||
Chang-Cheng 374 | Great Wall 374 | 长城 374 | 2005 | 3,100 t | South Sea Fleet | Active | ||
Chang-Cheng 375 | Great Wall 375 | 长城 375 | 2005 | 3,100 t | South Sea Fleet | Active | ||
The People's Liberation Army Navy, also known as the People's Navy, PLA Navy or simply Chinese Navy, is the naval warfare branch of the People's Liberation Army, the national military of the People's Republic of China. It is composed of five sub-branches: the Surface Force, the Submarine Force, the Coastal Defense Force, the Marine Corps and the Naval Air Force, with a total strength of 252,000 personnel, including 35,000 marines and 18,000 naval aviation personnel. The PLAN's combat units are deployed among three theater command fleets, namely the North Sea, East Sea and South Sea Fleet, which serve the Northern, Eastern and Southern Theater Command, respectively.
A submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) is a ballistic missile capable of being launched from submarines. Modern variants usually deliver multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs), each of which carries a nuclear warhead and allows a single launched missile to strike several targets. Submarine-launched ballistic missiles operate in a different way from submarine-launched cruise missiles.
A ballistic missile submarine is a submarine capable of deploying submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) with nuclear warheads. These submarines became a major weapon system in the Cold War because of their nuclear deterrence capability. They can fire missiles thousands of kilometers from their targets, and acoustic quieting makes them difficult to detect, thus making them a survivable deterrent in the event of a first strike and a key element of the mutual assured destruction policy of nuclear deterrence. The deployment of ballistic missile submarines is dominated by the United States and Russia. Smaller numbers are in service with France, the United Kingdom, China and India; North Korea is also suspected to have an experimental submarine that is diesel-electric powered.
An attack submarine or hunter-killer submarine is a submarine specifically designed for the purpose of attacking and sinking other submarines, surface combatants and merchant vessels. In the Soviet and Russian navies they were and are called "multi-purpose submarines". They are also used to protect friendly surface combatants and missile submarines. Some attack subs are also armed with cruise missiles, increasing the scope of their potential missions to include land targets.
The Yankee class, Soviet designations Project 667A Navaga (navaga) and Project 667AU Nalim (burbot) for the basic Yankee-I, were a family of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines built in the Soviet Union for the Soviet Navy. In total, 34 units were built: 24 in Severodvinsk for the Northern Fleet and the remaining 10 in Komsomolsk-on-Amur for the Pacific Fleet. Two Northern Fleet units were later transferred to the Pacific.
A cruise missile submarine is a submarine that carries and launches cruise missiles as its primary armament. Missiles greatly enhance a warship's ability to attack surface combatants and strike land targets; although torpedoes are a more discreet option for submerged submarines, missiles give a much longer stand-off range, shorter time to impact the target, as well as the ability to engage multiple targets on different headings at the same time. Many cruise missile submarines retain the capability to deploy nuclear warheads on their missiles, but they are considered distinct from ballistic missile submarines due to the substantial differences between the two weapons systems' flight characteristics; cruise missiles fly aerodynamically using flight surfaces like wings or fins, while a ballistic missile uses its engine power alone as it may exit the atmosphere.
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The Type 091 is a first-generation nuclear-powered attack submarine produced by China. It was the People Liberation Army Navy's (PLAN) first nuclear submarine, and the first indigenously produced nuclear attack submarine in Asia.
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The Type 094 is a class of nuclear ballistic missile submarines developed by China for the People's Liberation Army Navy Submarine Force. The Type 094 succeeds the Type 092 submarine and precedes the Type 096 submarine, which is under development.
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