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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: | Wuhan Shipbuilding Jiangnan Shipyard |
| Operators: |  People's Liberation Army Navy |
| Preceded by: | Type 035 (Ming class) |
| Followed by: | Type 041 (Yuan class) |
| In service: | June 1999 |
| Ships in class: | 10 |
| Ships active: | Type 039: 320 Type 039G: 314, 321, 322, 323, 324 Type 039G1: 315 |
| Ships fitting out: | Type 039G1: 316 318 327 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 2,250 tons submerged |
| Length: | 74.9 m |
| Beam: | 8.4 m |
| Draft: | 5.3 m |
| Speed: | 22 knots (41 km/h) |
| Test depth: | 300 m |
| Complement: | 60 |
| Armament: | 6 torpedo tubes 18 torpedoes and anti-ship missiles or: 36 naval mines |
The Type 039 submarine (NATO code name Song class) is a class of diesel-electric submarines of the People's Liberation Army Navy. The class is the first to be fully developed within China and also the first Chinese submarine to use the modern teardrop hull shape.
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Design
The People's Republic of China's first submarine design was the locally-produced derivative of the Romeo class submarines provided to China by the Soviet Union. Large numbers of these were built, but their obsolete design, derived from World War II submarine technology, led China to develop a wholly new class on its own, resulting in the Type 039. Designed for attacking both other submarines and surface ships with torpedoes, the submarine uses a modern teardrop-shape hull for underwater performance. The hull incorporates four rudders and is propelled by a single propeller. Additionally, the design incorporates several Western technologies in its construction and equipment. For quieter operation, the engine was mounted with shock absorbers and the hull is plated in rubber tiles for sound deadening. Development was not without problems, as a lengthy testing period for the first vessel (320) attests. Problems with noise levels and underwater performance led to revisions in the design and only a single boat was ever built to the original specification. However, according to the official Chinese claim that was finally released in 2006 and quoted by many domestic Chinese military websites, the primary problem encountered was the integration of various Chinese built subsystems of western origins, and problems previously reported such as noise were the results of the integration problem. Improvements led to the specification for the Type 039G, which became the bulk of production, with seven of the type entering service. Elimination of the stepped design for the conning tower is the primary visual cue for identification of the G variant. There had been some speculation at the time these boats were produced that an advanced air-independent propulsion system had been incorporated, but this appears to have proved false. Further improvements followed, as reflected in the additional member of this class. As of 2006, there are a total of three types of this class: the original Type 039, Type 039G and Type 039A. The most obvious visual difference between the three types is the conning tower: Type 039 has a stepped conning tower, while there is not such a feature for Type 039G. Type 039A has the same conning tower like that of Type 039G, but the diving planes that are present on the sails of both Type 039 and Type 039G are absent on Type 039A.
Weaponry
Primary weapon for the Type 039 is the 533 mm Yu-4 torpedo, a locally produced passive homing 40-knot (74 km/h) torpedo based on the SAET-50 and roughly comparable to the SAET-60. Surface targets may be attacked at up to 15 km. Yu-6 wire-guided torpedoes may also be used for targeting submarines. It is also likely that the Type 039 is capable of carrying the YJ-8 anti-ship missile, a cruise missile which can be launched from the same tube as the boat's torpedoes, and can target surface vessels at up to 80 km. The missile is subsonic and carries a 165 kg warhead. For mining operations, in place of torpedoes, the submarine can carry 24 to 36 naval mines, deliverable through the torpedo tubes. Although Type 039 has successfully test fired the CY-1 ASW Missile under water like the Yuan class submarine, the status of the missile is in question because nothing is heard about it entering mass production. The CY-1 ASW missile has a maximum range of 18 km (10 nm), and when using A244 or Mark 46 torpedo as a payload.
Sensors
Chinese sources have claimed that many sensors on board this submarine were newly developed, instead of being the upgraded version of older equipment.
Sonar
The main sensor is the medium-frequency sonar mounted in the bow of the submarine, with passive and active modes, which is used for both search and attack. In addition, the system offers a method of underwater communications, and also functions as a torpedo approach warning system. This sonar is the Chinese development of French Thomson-CSF TSM-2233 sonar, and is capable of simultaneously tracking 4 to 12 targets depending on the function it is used for. To enhance passive search capabilities, a low frequency sonar of French Thomson-CSF TSM-2255 design is mounted on the flanks of the hull, with a maximum range in excess of 30 km and capable of simultaneously tracking four targets. The system is further enhanced with the integration of a domestic Chinese passive ranging sonar on board, designated as H/SQG-04 sonar. For surface search, a small I-band radar is fitted.
Electronic Warfare
This class is the first Chinese submarine to be fitted with an integrated electronic support measures / radio direction finder / radar warning receiver system designated as SRW209 Submarine Radar Reconnaissance Equipment, which works at S - Ku bands with 100% detection rate. The SRW209 is fully automatic and can be either operated by a single operator with a console with a color CRT (which can be replaced by LCD) display console, or linked to the combat data system, which is capable of tracking multiple targets. Released photos and new clips from the official Chinese media has revealed that this class adopts liquid crystal displays and touchscreens in large scale.
Incidents
On October 26, 2006, a Chinese Song class submarine popped up in middle of U.S. Navy exercise and "surfaced within firing range of its torpedoes and missiles before being detected". The submarine was seen on the surface within 5 nautical miles (9 km) of the carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) near Okinawa.[1][2]
Export
China offered the 039 submarine for sale to Thailand in 2007. Richard Fisher (vice president of the Washington-based International Assessment and Strategy Centerreport) commented that the 039 (export) submarine is comparable to early versions of the French Agosta class submarine, though it is cheaper (costing aporoximately $100 million USD less). [1] However the Royal Thai Navy lacks the infrastructure to support submarines, and no sales are pending at this time. [2]
References
- ^ Michael Goldfarb: Red China & Red Lines. Weekly Standard, 2007-JAN-12. Retrieved 2007-NOV-11.
- ^ Jonathan Howland, "Iran, China Intent on Countering Navies", JINSA Online, January 18, 2007
