Type 035 submarine

Class overview
Name: Song class
Builders: Wuchang Shipyard
Jiangnan Shipyard
Operators:  People's Liberation Army Navy
Preceded by: Type 033 (Romeo-class)
Succeeded by: Type 039 (Song-class)
In commission: Type 035 1974-1990s
Type 035A 1982-present
Type 035G 1990-present
Type 035B 2000-present
Completed: 2 Type 035
4 Type 035A
12 Type 035G
4 Type 035B
Active: 2 Type 035A
11 Type 035G
4 Type 035B
Lost: 1 Type 035G
Retired: 2 Type 035
2 Type 035A
General characteristics
Type:Attack submarine
Displacement:2,110 tonnes (submerged)[1]
Length:76 m (249 ft)[1]
Beam:7.6 m (25 ft)[1]
Draft:5.1 m (17 ft)[1]
Depth:7.6 m (25 ft)[1]
Propulsion:Type E390ZC-1 diesel engine, 5,200 horsepower[1]
Speed:18 knots (33 km/h) (submerged)[1]
Test depth:300 m (980 ft)[1]
Crew:57
Armament:533 mm torpedo tubes[1]

The Type 035 submarine (NATO reporting name: Ming-class) 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 Romeo-class submarine, which were built in China from 1962 to 1984.

Background

In 1963, under the 1950 Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship, Alliance and Mutual Assistance, the Soviet Union passed to China the necessary design details in order to produce Romeo-class submarines.[2] The Chinese variant became known as the Type 033 Romeo-class, of which China built a total of 84 between 1962 and 1984.

During 1970s, China's ambitions to create an indigenous submarine industry lead to the commissioning of Wuhan Ship Development and Design Institute (701 Institute) to design and build an improved submarine based on the Type 033 hull, named the Type 035 Ming-class.[1] Two Type 035 boats were complete by 1974.[1]

Yet further improvements were deemed necessary and by the early 1980s a new and improved design, named the Type 035A Ming-class were produced.[1] The first service entered service in 1982, with three more under construction.[1] The latter three boats were completed and commissioned by 1990.[1]

The Type 035G Ming-class is the most numerous variant. A total of 12 were built and commissioned between 1990 and 1999.[1] They were built with further improvements, especially in terms of noise reduction, weapons, sensors and crew living standards. The PLAN refer to it as "new wine in an old bottle". Two boats of the Type 035A were upgraded to same standard as the Type 035G.

The most modern design variant is the Type 035B Ming-class, which features a redesigned conning tower and portions of the hull, giving it a very similar appearance to the newer Type 039 submarines. Type 035B is capable of launching land attack cruise missile from torpedo tubes. A total of four boats were commissioned between 2000 and 2003.[1]

Boats of the class

(hull number)

Potential export

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 Type 035 submarine (in Chinese), haijun360.com, Retrieved 1 May 2015
  2. Korabli VMF SSSR, Vol. 1, Part 2, Yu. Apalkov, Sankt Peterburg, 2003, ISBN 5-8172-0072-4
  3. China to Sell Bangladesh 2 Submarines, thediplomat.com, 22 December 2013