Below is a Chinese Yuan class (Type 039A/041) submarine Table,
based on several sources. It has the latest figures I’ve seen. But given the
almost black box nature of Chinese submarines it can always be updated.
Interestingly there is Taiwanese confirmation that Yuans have three MTU 16V396 SE8 diesel engines (thankyou Germany :). It is unclear what weapons are being phased in or phased
out. Crew numbers vary from 36 to 58.
Western intelligence first became aware of the "Yuan" (NATO reporting name) submarine in 2005. The class was designated Yuan because
is was radically modified from the Chinese Song and Russian Kilo classes.
However only the Yuan's external characteristics are discernible. What is inside the Yuans remains mysterious. China's political system blocks checkable information of what is inside the Yuans. Also there is a lack of overt sales literature - with the export customers (ie. Thailand and Pakistan) revealing very little.
However only the Yuan's external characteristics are discernible. What is inside the Yuans remains mysterious. China's political system blocks checkable information of what is inside the Yuans. Also there is a lack of overt sales literature - with the export customers (ie. Thailand and Pakistan) revealing very little.
The
Yuans feature a pair of sail-mounted hydroplanes, four stern diving planes, and
a single large propeller seen previously on the Songs. However, the Yuan’s hull
and sail designs suggest heavy Russian Kilo class influence.
Yuans
are equipped with an indigenously-developed AIP system. It is believed that it
is a 100 kilowatt Stirling cycle developed by CSIC Shanghai Maritime Diesel
Engine Research Institute (SMDERI, or 711 Institute).
At
least four variants of the Yuan have been identified (or designated) so far:
Type 039A, Type 039AG, Type 039B, and Type 039 (upgrade) which differ slightly
in appearance and sail shape. A possibly new type 039C (which will carry a new
NATO reporting name) has been suspected.
Yuans
might approach the quality of the latest SSKs deployed by Russian and Western
navies. At least 17 Yuans have arguably been identified so far and up to 3 more
may be under construction.
NATO
Reporting Name
|
YUAN
class
|
Type
039A, 039AG, 039B, 039 (upgrade), 039C(?)
|
|
Export
Variants
|
S20
(general designation), S26T
(Thailand)
and 039 (upgrade) for Pakistan |
Designer
|
CSIC China Ship Design & Research Centre
(701 Institute)
|
Builders
|
CSIC Wuchang Shipbuilding, Wuhan
|
First
in Commission
|
2005
|
cabin-raft (shock absorbers) help reduce noise by over 35
dB, anechoic tiles
|
|
Country/shipyard
|
Shanghai Jiangnan Changxing
Factory
Wuchang Shipyard
China/
|
Dimensions
|
Length 77.6m, beam 8.4-8.6m, draught 5.5m or 6.7m?.
|
Displacement (ton)
|
2,570 ton
(surfaced)
3,600 ton (submerged) |
Power system / shaft horsepower
|
3 x MTU 16V396 SE8 diesel
engines, 5 MW
1 x Propulsion motor
Single-axis seven-blade propeller
|
Speed
|
12 knots (surfaced)
20 knots (dived) |
Range
|
?
|
Endurance
|
?
|
Design depth
Test Depth
|
300 to 400m
|
Surface detection / counter
system
|
Periscope
group (possible photo-sensing equipment)
1 x Electronic support system 1 x I-band plane search radar |
Underwater detection system
|
Shipboard
master/passive search/attack sonar
Passive ranging sonar 205 side passive array sonar |
Integrated
command and weapon control system
|
|
Crew
|
36 to 58
|
6
x 533mm torpedo tubes. Can use Yu-6 (Otto fuel II) and
Yu-9 electric torpedos,
YJ-18 (anti-ship and Land attack missiles), YJ-8X
(C-80X) anti-ship
missiles, mines,
(UUVs in future).
|
SOURCES
The figures in black are from Taiwanese source 039A/B/C class diesel-electric attack submarine http://www.mdc.idv.tw/mdc/navy/china/039ab.htm.
Green underlined are
from Wikipedia
A Yuan submarine. As well as Song and Kilo influences its hull shape definetly looks Japanese Oyashio class submarine influenced... (Photo courtesy sinodefence).
---
Pete
9 comments:
I do read that a lot of the combat management systems, sonars, electronics and even weapons on the Type-039 are reverse engineered copies of Russian, French, Israeli and in some case Japanese submarine solutions.
(5-6 years ago, I read on 3 reasonably reliable forums that China's MSS or Ministry of State Security was responsible for filching stuff from Japan while the Israelis and Frenchies willing helped with stuff for adequate greenbacks)
Xi Jinping's 2030 vision of 99-100 submarines, and a 400+ ship plus PLAN is very menacing indeed
Hi GhalibKabir at 5/4/19 6:08 PM
While distressing for the company inventors reverse engineering is a difficult and frequent art.
Even US companies reverse engineered British inventions in the 19th century and maybe British aero engines in the 20th.
So China, to catch up in submarine electronics (and I would say hull hydrodynamics) is busy reverse engineering now.
Yes China's Ministry of State Security (MSS), PLA intelligence and directed individuals would be busy picking up items to reverse engineer.
On "Xi Jinping's 2030 vision of 99-100 submarines" Most of them are likely to be Yuan class conventionals - difficult to compare with what will be a US Virginia SSN majority by 2030. But I agree that all these Chinese Yuans will be distressing for secondary navies (India, Japan, S Korea, Taiwan and Australia) by 2030.
Regards
Pete
I agree initially they will be mostly conventionals (increasingly capable and quiet ones at that). But the rate at which China is laying down SSNs and planning the Type 095 and 097, I will not be surprised if they manage to have 2 dozen modern SSNs by 2035. Along with 60-70 odd highly capable AIP SSKs, China will have choices as well.
Along with ASW air assets, CBGs with 055 Cruisers and 052 Destroyers and fixed air assets, the PLAN fleet is likely to cause a broad US retreat at least to the second island chain (Guam), unless the US is prepared to deploy its military and economic muscle power in a much more powerful pincer. the meaningless FONOPs sham being a curtain raiser and a bad portent of the future.
China has been assembling one aircraft carrier every two years and 2-3 nuke subs, half a dozen big destroyers every year for the past few years...their quality will catch up soon enough as their espionage complex lays hands on more and more sophisticated tech.
I agree that regional navies like India will feel a lot of pain...
Hi GhalibKabir [at 9/4/19 8:19 PM]
Yes China might build 24 Type 095 and 097 SSNs if China is satisfied with the quality and competitiveness of these subs. Chinese satisfaction with their quietness will be critical, otherwise they might be quickly eliminated in the Indian and mid-Pacific Oceans by Western and Indian subs - all helped by SOSUS.
60-70 capable Yuan and post Yuan SSKs might easily defang Taiwan's submarine force (and other South China Sea interlopers).
This high rate of Chinese surface ship production at adequate quality might Finlandize https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finlandization East Asian countries and Australia.
Pessimistic picture particularly if, as seems increasingly likely, the isolationist Trump gets a second term, out to 2024.
Regards
Pete
I draw everyone's attention to Stratfor's very interesting article (currently free) of April 11, 2019 at https://worldview.stratfor.com/article/chinas-military-modernization-push-remains-work-progress entitled:
"China's Military Modernization Push Remains a Work in Progress"
It contains many insights on China's First and Second Island chain strategy including SSKs and Type 093 and 095 SSNs. eg:
"In terms of the great power competition, China is well-aware of its comparative weakness on nuclear submarines.
Beyond building an improved version of the Type 093 submarine, China is also expected to concentrate its efforts on developing a much-improved Type 095 vessel that will likely incorporate advanced silencing technology and carry a significant arsenal of varied torpedoes and missiles.
But even if China manages to construct a Type 095, it is unlikely to be as technologically sophisticated as the state-of-the-art U.S. Seawolf and Virginia-class submarines, as well as the Russian Yasen-class submarines. In terms of quantity, too, China cannot hope to roll out as many nuclear attack submarines as the United States for the foreseeable future."
See much more at https://worldview.stratfor.com/article/chinas-military-modernization-push-remains-work-progress
I quote "In terms of quantity, too, China cannot hope to roll out as many nuclear attack submarines as the United States for the foreseeable future."
I agree. However, 20 years is a long time and if a 18 trillion dollar economy China keeps growing even at 4% on average..it will be able to push massive amounts into PLAN. Money may not be everything, but it sure does help along with the following,
that being, the Russians helping or sharing 885 SSN tech in some way and then countries like turkey and pakistan passing along French, German and US tech trinkets especially turkey which is familiar with U214 intimately. the folly by EU/US here is unbelievable
The biggest uncertainty thanks to the boofhead in the WH, is that, another 4 years through January 2025 might set the US on a 'not so easy to reverse' financial decline impacting naval funding down the line (it might really bite by the early 2030s if things do align)
Hi GhalibKabir [at 12/4/19 2:40 PM]
The way I read the US - Trump has been good for US economic growth. Meanwhile I think his anti-China trade measures have caused discernable slowing of Chinese economic growth. This may trickle down to slowing the Chinese weapon building growth rate in quality and quantity.
So however destructive and off-putting Trump is with his Western allies Trump + talented hardliners (Bolton and Pompeo) may be achieving some slower growth of China's military industrial complex.
Regards
Pete
I had an insightful talk with my bank's chief economist and he showed some fantastic data analysis which explains why Trump is benefiting from bashing China and claiming companies are coming back to the US.
In reality, the following two factors are at play (1 being more effective than 2)
1.Chinese has moved up the manufacturing chain and with costs rising, is not interested in doing low end work any more (taken up by India, Vietnam etc.). End result, either way US companies found margins being squeezed and would have started shifting back in any case
2 Tax cut stimulus induced high leading to primarily higher consumption and associated economic high. Interestingly, even as he tariffs China more and more, China enjoyed its highest trade surplus on a monthly basis with the US recently at US$ 33 billion
When the noise is unpacked, trump is merely doing what he has been really good at. Claiming credit and packaging stuff in a way that makes him look good to his mostly boofhead base.
PS: we are not even getting into the 'running on fumes' gig economy based meaningless jobs growth he is creating. That is a separate set of fiscally irresponsible hens that will come in to roost after this nitwit leaves office in 2025. his racist base wont notice in anycase
one more point.. Bolton is intelligent but too warped in his thinking making his intelligence virtually useless if reasonable utility maximization for the benefit of all is the goal
pompeo is a mediocre lackey to trump and when a man criticizes a thoughtful Obama policy by making ludicrous comments like 'the era of american shame is over'...
he forfeits his right to be associated in any form with the words talented, smart, etc..
(more aptly, he belongs to a long line of insolent dolts the US mid west seems to regularly send to DC to faithfully represent them)
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