Type 091 submarine

Last updated
Han class SSN mod.svg
Han-class SSN profile
Han class.jpg
A Type 091 submarine in 1993
Class overview
NameHan class
Builders Bohai Shipyard, Huludao
OperatorsNaval ensign of China.svg  People's Liberation Army Navy
Succeeded by Type 093
In commission1974–present
Completed5
Active3
Retired2
General characteristics
Type Nuclear submarine
Displacement
Hulls 401, 402
5,100 tons (submerged) [1]
Hulls 403, 404, 405
5,600 tons (submerged) [1]
Length
Hulls 401, 402
98 m (321 ft 6 in) [1]
Hulls 403, 404, 405
106 m (347 ft 9 in) [1]
Beam10.6 m (34 ft 9 in) [1]
Propulsion
Hulls 401, 402
1 x 48 megawatt nuclear reactor [1]
Hulls 403, 404, 405
1 x 58 megawatt nuclear reactor [1]
Speed
Hulls 401, 402
24 knots (44 km/h) [1]
Hulls 403, 404, 405
25 knots (46 km/h) [1]
RangeUnlimited
Sensors and
processing systems		 Sonar [1]
Armament Torpedo tubes

The Type 091 (NATO reporting name: Han class) is a first-generation nuclear-powered attack submarine produced by China. It was the People Liberation Army Navy's (PLAN) first nuclear submarine, [2] and the first indigenously produced nuclear attack submarine in Asia. [3]

Contents

History

China's nuclear submarine program, "09 Project", was authorized by the Central Military Commission and Mao Zedong in July 1958. In October 1959, Mao ordered the program to proceed after the Soviets refused to assist. Work was slowed by the Great Leap Forward and the nuclear weapons program, which had priority and used similar resources. The submarine program was postponed in March 1963 and resumed in March 1965 after China's first nuclear weapons test. Research on foreign civilian nuclear marine propulsion continued during the pause. [4] A loop-based nuclear reactor selected over of a more powerful but also more complex integrated design in July 1965; it most resembled the reactor used the Japanese Mutsu . [5] In general, the new submarine design represented a leap in size and complexity over the Type 033 diesel–electric submarines then available to the PLAN. [6]

The program was expedited by designing and building the first Type 091 and the prototype reactor simultaneously.The first chief designer of the program was Peng Shilu. [7] The technical design was completed in 1967, and the detailed construction drawings were completed in 1969. Construction of the first boat, hull 401, began in November 1968 and it entered service in August 1974. The second boat, hull 402, was delayed by the Cultural Revolution and commissioned in December 1980. The main propulsion system of the first two boats had poor reliability, with mechanical problems and defective components. [2] There were also reports of inadequate radiation shielding. [2] [8]

Hulls 403, 404 and 405 were completed to a modified design, with longer hulls and more powerful reactors. [2] The last Type 091 launched in 1990. [9]

Hull 404 was the first Type 091 to dive to the designed maximum operating depth of 300 meters in April 1988. [2] The boats were only armed with torpedoes in 1989 due to the protracted development of the Yu-3; the first deep-water Yu-3 test firing occurred until May 1988. [1]

The high cost and limitations of the Type 091 and Type 092 ballistic missile submarine made the development of new nuclear submarines a low priority from the late-1970s to the early-1990s. [10]

The Type 091 has operated mainly in local waters, and has been involved in several incidents. One submarine shadowed the Kitty Hawk carrier battle group in October 1994, provoking a stand-off. [11] [12] Another entered Japanese territorial waters near Ishigaki Island (part of Okinawa Prefecture) near Taiwan in November 2004, causing the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force to go on alert for the second time since the Second World War; China apologized for the trespass and blamed "technical reasons" on the submarine. [13]

Design

The Type 091 has a teardrop hull. [14] It is as acoustically loud as Soviet nuclear submarines of the late-1950s and 1960s, and mainly suitable for the anti-surface role. By 1970s standards, the boats were slow, noisy, and had poor sensors. [1]

The hydraulic positive ejection system to fire torpedoes at deep depths required fitting torpedo tubes that were too short to launch the Yu-1 and Yu-4 torpedoes. The boats were finally armed with the Yu-3 in 1989. [1]

Hulls 403, 404 and 405 are eight meters longer than hulls 401 and 402. The additional space was used to improve crew habitability, maintainability, and nuclear safety. The reactors were upgraded to produce 20% more power based on work for the Type 092. [2] They were later modernized with anechoic tiles, improved sensors and fire control, seven-bladed screw, YJ-82 anti-ship missiles, and possible the Yu-6 torpedo. [1]

Failed lease to Pakistan

In 1989, Pakistan made an abortive attempt to procure a Type 091 for US$63 million in 1992, [15] as a response to the Soviet K-43 leased to India in 1988. [16] : 92 

Units

Pennant
number		NameBuilderLaunchedCommissionedDecommissionedStatus
401 [1] Changzheng 1 [17] Bohai Shipyard, Huludao [18] December 1970 [2] 1 August 1974 [2] 2000 [19] Preserved at the Chinese Navy Museum, Qingdao. [17]
402 [1] Bohai Shipyard, Huludao [18] 30 December 1980 [2] 2004 [19]
403 [1] Bohai Shipyard, Huludao [18] 21 September 1984 [18] Active
404 [1] Bohai Shipyard, Huludao [18] November 1988 [18] Active
405 [1] Bohai Shipyard, Huludao [18] 8 April 1990 [18] Active

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Ohio</i>-class submarine Class of US nuclear ballistic missile submarines

The Ohio class of nuclear-powered submarines includes the United States Navy's 14 ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) and its four cruise missile submarines (SSGNs). Each displacing 18,750 tons submerged, the Ohio-class boats are the largest submarines ever built for the U.S. Navy. They are also the third-largest submarines ever built, behind the Russian Navy's Soviet era 48,000-ton Typhoon class, the last of which was retired in 2023, and 24,000-ton Borei class. Capable of carrying 24 Trident II missiles apiece, the Ohio class are equipped with just as many missiles as, if not more than, either the Borei class (16) or the deactivated Typhoon class (20).

<i>Seawolf</i>-class submarine Class of US nuclear attack submarines

The Seawolf class is a class of nuclear-powered, fast attack submarines (SSN) in service with the United States Navy. The class was the intended successor to the Los Angeles class, and design work began in 1983. A fleet of 29 submarines was to be built over a ten-year period, but that was reduced to 12 submarines. The end of the Cold War and budget constraints led to the cancellation of any further additions to the fleet in 1995, leaving the Seawolf class limited to just three boats. This, in turn, led to the design of the smaller Virginia class. The Seawolf class cost about $3 billion per unit, making it the most expensive United States Navy fast attack submarine and second most expensive submarine ever, after the French Triomphant-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines.

The Ship-Submarine Recycling Program (SRP) is the process that the United States Navy uses to dispose of decommissioned nuclear vessels. SRP takes place only at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (PSNS) in Bremerton, Washington, but the preparations can begin elsewhere.

Soviet submarine <i>K-19</i> Ballistic missile submarine

K-19 was the first submarine of the Project 658 class, the first generation of Soviet nuclear submarines equipped with nuclear ballistic missiles, specifically the R-13 SLBM. The boat was hastily built by the Soviets in response to United States' developments in nuclear submarines as part of the arms race. Before she was launched, 10 civilian workers and a sailor died due to accidents and fires. After K-19 was commissioned, the boat had multiple breakdowns and accidents, several of which threatened to sink the submarine.

Soviet submarine <i>K-222</i> Nuclear-powered cruise-missile submarine

K-222 was the sole Project 661 "Anchar" nuclear-powered cruise-missile submarine of the Soviet Navy during the Cold War. Although the Soviets saw K-222 as an unsuccessful design, upon completion it was the world's fastest submarine and the first to be built with a titanium hull.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Attack submarine</span> Submarine designed to destroy other ships

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.

USS <i>Michigan</i> (SSGN-727) Submarine of the United States

USS Michigan (SSBN-727/SSGN-727) is an Ohio-class nuclear-powered guided missile submarine (SSGN), converted from a ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), that is part of the United States Navy. She is the third vessel to bear the name of the U.S. state of Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nuclear submarine</span> Submarine powered by a nuclear reactor

A nuclear submarine is a submarine powered by a nuclear reactor, but not necessarily nuclear-armed. Nuclear submarines have considerable performance advantages over "conventional" submarines. Nuclear propulsion, being completely independent of air, frees the submarine from the need to surface frequently, as is necessary for conventional submarines. The large amount of power generated by a nuclear reactor allows nuclear submarines to operate at high speed for long periods, and the long interval between refuelings grants a range virtually unlimited, making the only limits on voyage times being imposed by such factors as the need to restock food or other consumables.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nuclear marine propulsion</span> Propulsion system for marine vessels utilizing a nuclear powerplant

Nuclear marine propulsion is propulsion of a ship or submarine with heat provided by a nuclear reactor. The power plant heats water to produce steam for a turbine used to turn the ship's propeller through a gearbox or through an electric generator and motor. Nuclear propulsion is used primarily within naval warships such as nuclear submarines and supercarriers. A small number of experimental civil nuclear ships have been built.

The Type 092 submarine was the first nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) deployed by the People's Liberation Army Navy Submarine Force.

<i>Rubis</i>-class submarine French nuclear-powered attack submarine class

The Rubis class is a class of nuclear-powered attack submarines operated by the French Navy. It comprises six boats, the first entering service in 1983 and the last in 1993. Two additional units originally planned were cancelled as a result of post-Cold War budget cuts. All six submarines of the Rubis class are based at Toulon and are part of the Escadrille de sous-marins nucléaires d'attaque. Smaller than contemporary designs of other major world navies, the Rubis class shares many of its system designs with the conventionally-powered Agosta class. In the late 1980s, the Rubis class was proposed to Canada in the context of their plan to acquire nuclear-powered submarines.

Type 039 submarine Diesel electric submarine class

The Type 039 submarine is a class of diesel-electric submarines of the People's Liberation Army Navy. The class is the first diesel-electric submarine to be made in China and also the first Chinese made diesel-electric submarine to use the teardrop hull shape. Altogether thirteen vessels were completed to the Song Class design between 1999 and 2006, with three variants as the type developed.

Yasen-class submarine Class of Russian nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine

The Yasen class, Russian designations Project 885 Yasen and Project 885M Yasen-M, also referred to as the Graney class, are a series of nuclear-powered cruise missile submarines designed by the Malakhit Marine Engineering Bureau and built by Sevmash for the Russian Navy. Design work commenced in earnest in the 1980s with the first submarine built in the 1990s–early 2010s with commissioning in 2013. Two additional boats to an upgraded Yasen-M design were commissioned in 2021 and six more are under construction. Based on the Akula class and Alfa class designs, the Yasen class is projected to replace the Russian Navy's current Soviet-era nuclear attack submarines. The Akula class is optimised for a hunter-killer role, whereas the Yasen class concept uses the platform as a nuclear guided missile submarine (SSGN).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">People's Liberation Army Navy Submarine Force</span> Submarine service of the Peoples Liberation Army Navy

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, 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.

TR-1700-class submarine Argentine submarine class

The TR-1700 is a class of diesel-electric patrol submarines built by Thyssen Nordseewerke for the Argentine Navy in the 1980s, with two submarines completed. These ships are amongst the largest submarines built in Germany since World War II and are among the fastest diesel-electric submarines in the world. ARA San Juan was lost on 17 November 2017, leaving ARA Santa Cruz as the only remaining submarine of this class. As of 2020, the refit of Santa Cruz has been reported cancelled leaving the entire class inactive.

The Type 093 submarine is a class of nuclear-powered attack submarines constructed by the People's Republic of China for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).

The Type 035 submarine is a class of diesel-electric submarines of the People's Liberation Army Navy. The Type 035 is a heavily improved redesign of the older Type 033 submarines, which were built in China from 1962 to 1984.

Chinese submarine <i>Changzheng 1</i> Type 091 nuclear submarine

Changzheng 1 (401) is a Type 091 nuclear attack submarine of the People's Liberation Army Navy.

The K-154 Tigr is an Akula-class submarine in the Russian Navy.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Carlson & Wang 2023, p. 4.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Carlson & Wang 2023, p. 3.
  3. ↑ "China's Very First Nuclear Attack Submarines Had Some Major Fatal Flaws". 15 January 2017. Archived from the original on 2018-10-27. Retrieved 2018-10-27.
  4. ↑ Carlson & Wang 2023, p. 1.
  5. ↑ Carlson & Wang 2023, pp. 2–3.
  6. ↑ Carlson & Wang 2023, p. 2.
  7. ↑ "The achievements of CNNC during the year 2017". www.china5e.com (in Chinese). 中国能源网. Archived from the original on 2018-11-08. Retrieved 2018-12-31.
  8. ↑ Rehman 2012, p. 75.
  9. ↑ Erickson & Goldstein 2007, p. 58.
  10. ↑ Carlson & Wang 2023, pp. 6–7.
  11. ↑ Harris, John F.; Lippman, Thomas W. (1994-12-15). "CHINESE WATCHED AS U.S. NAVY TRACKED SUB". Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286. Archived from the original on 2020-07-13. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  12. ↑ "Faceoff Between U.S. Ship, Chinese Sub Is Revealed: Military: October incident in Yellow Sea highlights growing chance of naval conflict. Beijing sounds warning". Los Angeles Times. 1994-12-14. Archived from the original on 2021-09-21. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  13. ↑ "China Apologizes for Submarine Incursion". Archived from the original on 2006-10-23.
  14. ↑ Carlson & Wang 2023, p. 11.
  15. ↑ United States Joint Economic Committee (2016). China's Economic Dilemmas in the 1990s: The Problem of Reforms, Modernisation and Interdependence. Routledge. ISBN   978-1-315-48543-0. Archived from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  16. ↑ Dittmer, Lowell (2015). South Asia's Nuclear Security Dilemma: India, Pakistan, and China: India, Pakistan, and China. Routledge. ISBN   978-1-317-45956-9. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  17. 1 2 Zhao, Lei (27 October 2016). "Nuke submarine to go on display". China Daily. Archived from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Jane's Fighting Ships, 2023-24 Edition, ISBN 978-0-7106-3428 3, page 133
  19. 1 2 "Meet China's First Nuclear-Powered Submarine (It Was a Total Disaster)". 6 December 2018. Archived from the original on 2019-05-09. Retrieved 2019-05-09.

Sources

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.