Type 092 submarine

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China

Operators:	People's Liberation Army Navy
Following class:	Type 094 submarine
In service:	1981
Ships in Class
Ships in class:	1
General Characteristics
Class type:	SSBN
Displacement:	6,500 tons, 7,000 tons submerged.
Length:	393ft 8in (120m)
Beam:	32ft 9in (10m)
Draught:	26ft 2in (8m)
Propulsion and power:	1 × pressurized-water nuclear reactor, 58MW; 2 × steam turbines; 1 shaft.
Speed:
Complement:	100
Armament:	6 × 21 inch (533mm) torpedo tubes (bow); missiles - 12 × JL-1 SLBMs.

The 6,500-ton Type 092 (US Dep't of Defense designation Xia-class) submarine was the first ballistic missile-carrying, nuclear-powered submarine class (SSBN) deployed by the People's Liberation Army Navy. The first Changzheng 6 (# 406) of its class was launched in 1981. As of 2004, only one of the class has been commissioned with 12 JL-1 SLBMs (a 2,100-km range JL-1 was successfully launched in 1988; since 2001, it reportedly has been replaced by the 3,000 to 4,000-km range JL-1A). The boat also has six 533-mm bow torpedo tubes and carries 12 torpedoes.

The 092 has undergone numerous refits, currently featuring a new black paint, possible quieting technologies, French designed sonar, and the improved longer ranged JL-1A SLBM. It is reported that the Xia has not sailed beyond Chinese regional waters. One of the two Xia's built was reported lost during an accident.

The 092 class are homeported near Qingdao.[1]