Type 091 submarine

A Type 091 submarine in 1993
Class overview
Name:	Han-class
Builders:	Bohai Shipyard, Huludao
Operators:	People's Liberation Army Navy
Succeeded by:	Type 093
In commission:	1974-present
Completed:	5
Active:	3
Retired:	2
General characteristics
Type:	SSN
Displacement:	5,500 tonnes (submerged)
Length:	98 metres
Beam:	10 metres
Draft:	7.4 metres
Propulsion:	1 Nuclear turbo electric engine - Pressurized water reactor
Speed:	25 knots (46 km/h) submerged 12 knots (22 km/h) surfaced
Range:	Unlimited
Complement:	75
Armament:	6 × 533 mm torpedo tubes

Profile of the type 091

The Type 091 (Chinese designation: 09-I; NATO reporting name: Han-class) was the first class of nuclear-powered submarines (SSN) deployed by the China's People's Liberation Army Navy Submarine Force and the first class of nuclear powered submarine built in Asia.

Background

The first chief designer of the submarine was an engineer and scientist of nuclear propulsion engineering, Peng Shilu (彭士禄),^[1] then in 1983 succeeded by Mr. Huang Xuhua (黄旭华). The first submarine in the class was commissioned in 1974^[2] and the fifth and final boat of the class was commissioned in 1991.

The Han class have primarily operated in local waters. However since the 1990s, Hans have been used more aggressively. A Han shadowed a U.S. carrier battle group in the mid-1990s. In November 2004, a Han made an incursion into Japanese territorial waters and prompted Japan's maritime forces to go on alert for only the second time since the end of World War II. The incursion was through the Ishigaki, Okinawa island group, a lightly populated group of islands very near Taiwan. China later apologized for the incursion saying for "technical reasons", it ventured into Japanese waters.^[3]

The Han class have gone through major upgrades and numerous refits since their commissioning. The boats have six 533 mm torpedo tubes and carry 20 torpedoes. Alternatively, they can carry 36 mines in their tubes. The Han class is capable of firing sub-launched variants of the C-801 anti-ship missile as well as a range of indigenous and Russian torpedoes or mines. All remaining hulls have been refitted with new sonars, with Type H/SQ2-262B sonar manufactured by No. 613 Factory replacing the original Type 603 sonar on board. Anechoic tiles were added later to reduce noise levels.

Criticism

The Han-Class is well known for having a noisy reactor and poor radiation shielding, which causes health hazards for her crew as nuclear radiation levels are higher than they should be aboard the submarine. The submarine is also inhibited by an inability to launch missiles while submerged. This creates a tactical disadvantage against opponents that have well-developed anti-submarine warfare systems.^[4]

Their design and weapons appear to be inadequate for confronting modern warships. It is believed that long refits have often meant that these submarines have spent more time in port than out at sea, greatly affecting their operational capacity.

Boats of the class

Boat 401 has had its nuclear reactor removed and disposed of. The submarine will be fitted out and serve as a museum exhibit.^[5]

See also

• Type 093 submarine

References

External links

• Type 09-1 Han Class

Ship classes of the People's Liberation Army Navy (List of active ships) Submarines (list) Nuclear ballistic missile Type 096 Tang class* Type 094 Jin class Type 092 Xia class Nuclear attack Type 095 ??? class* Type 093/G Shang class Type 091 Han class Conventional ballistic missile Type 032 Qing class Modified Project 629 Golf class: Type 6631/031+ Conventional attack Type 039A/AG/B/C Yuan class Type 039/039G Song class ES5C+/D+/E+/F+ and Type 035+/035A+/035G+/035B+/035ET+/035G Ming class Modified Project 633 Romeo class: ES5A+/B+ and Type 6633+/033+/033G+/033G1+ Wuhan class+ Project 636 Kilo II class Project 877EKM Kilo I class Principal surface combatants Aircraft carriers Chinese aircraft carrier programme Liaoning (16) Destroyers Type 055 class* Type 052D class Type 052C Luyang II (Lanzhou) class Type 052B Luyang I (Guangzhou) class Type 052 Luhu class Type 051C Luzhou class Type 051B Luhai class Type 051DT Luda IV class Type 051G1/G2 Luda III class Type 051 Luda II class Type 051 Luda I class Project 956EM Sovremenny II class Project 956 Sovremenny I class Anshan class+ Frigates Type 054B class* Type 054A Jiangkai II class Type 054 Jiangkai I (Ma'anshan) class Type 053H3 Jiangwei II class Type 053H2G Jiangwei I class Type 053H1G Jianghu V class Type 053H1Q Jianghu IV class Type 053H2 Jianghu III class Type 053H1 Jianghu II class Type 053H Jianghu I class Coastal warfare vessels Corvettes Type 056 Jiangdao class Missile boats Type 022 Houbei class Type 037-II Houjian class Type 037-IG Houxin class Type 021 Houdong class Type 021 Huangfeng (Soviet Osa-I) class Type 021 Hola class C 14 China Cat class Type 024 Heku/Hegu/Houku/Hougu class Torpedo boats Type 025 Huchuan class P4 class Gunboats Type 062-I Shanghai III class Type 062 Shanghai II class Type 062 Shanghai I class Type 206 Huludao class Shantou class+ Beihai class+ Huangpu class+ Yulin class+ Submarine chasers Type 037-IS Haiqing class Type 037-I Haijiu class Type 062-I Haizhui class Type 037 Hainan class Project 122bis Kronshtadt class Amphibious warfare vessels Landing helicopter dock Type 075 LHD* Landing platforms Type 071 Yuzhao class amphibious transport dock Landing ships Type 072 Yukan class LST Type 072-II Yuting I class LST Type 072-III Yuting II class LST Type 072A LST Type 079 Yuliang class LSM+ Type 079II Yuliang class LSM Type 074 Yuhai (Wuhu-A) class LSM Type 074A Yubei class LSM Type 073-I Yudao class LSM+ Type 073-II LSM+ Type 073-IIY LSM Type 073-III LSM Type 073 IV Yunshu class LSM Air-cushioned Landing Craft Type 726Yuyi class LCAC Type 722-II Jinsha II class LCAC Type 722-I Jinsha I class LCAC Type 716-II Dagu B class LCAC Type 716-I Dagu A class LCAC+ Type 724 LCAC Type 711 LCAC+ Songling LCAC+ Project 1232.2 Zubr class LCAC* Landing craft Type 271 Yupen class LCU+ Type 271II LCU+ Type 271IID LCU+ Type 271III LCU Type 271IIIA LCU Type 067 Yunnan class LCU Type 363/363A/55 LCM+ Type 066/066K/066A Yuzhai class LCM+ Type 068/069 Yuch'in class LCM Auxiliary vessels Buoy tenders Type 066 Type 744 Yannan class Type 911I Type 985 Type 994 Type 999 Type 999G Type 999HG Cable layers Type 890 Youzheng class Type 911II Type 991I Type 991II Youdian class Degaussing / deperming ships Type 911 Type 912 Type 912I Type 912III Yanbai class Type 912IIIA Type 912IIIAH Type 915+ Type 916+ Type 918+ Type 601+ Sea Fish 16 class+ Yan Fang class+ Yerka class+ Icebreakers Type 071 Yanha class icebreaker Type 071A Type 071G Type 210 Yanbing class Ammunition ships Yantai class General stores issue ships Type 904 Dayun class Type 904A Type 081 Red Flag class Cargo ships Danlin class Dandao class Galati class Qiongsha class Replenishment ships Type 903 Fuchi class Type 903A Type 905 Fuqing class Type 908 Fusu (Nancang) class Tankers Fulin class Shengli class Fuzhou class Jinyou class Leizhou class Weather ships Type 614I Type 614II Hydrographic survey ships Type 068/069 Yuch'in class Type 625C Type 635 A/B/C Yanlai class Type 635II Type 636 Type 636A Type 646 Kan Yang class Type 988 Oceanographic research ships Xiangyanghong 5 Type 614III Type 625A/B Type 645 Ocean surveillance ships Type 6610 Shuguang class Type 595 Type 639 Spy ships Type 813 Type 814A Dadi class Type 815 Type 815G Tracking ships Yuan Wang 1+ Yuan Wang 2+ Yuan Wang 3 Yuan Wang 4+ Yuan Wang 5 Yuan Wang 6 Yuan Wang 21 Yuan Wang 22 Sonar trials ships Beidiao 993 Torpedo trials ships Type 906 Type 907A Torpedo retrievers Type 917 torpedo retriever Weapon trials ships Type 909 Wuhu-B class Type 909A Target ships Chinese target ship Experiment 216 Training ships Type 679 Daxing class Type 0891A Shichang class Troopships Beidiao 990 Qiongsha class Barracks ships Xu Xiake Hospital ships Qiongsha class Zhuanghe Type 920 hospital ship Rescue and salvage ships Type 917 Type 922 Type 922II Dalang class Type 922III Dalang II class Type 922IIIA Dalang II class Repair ships Type 648 Submarine rescue ships Type 930 Hudong class Type 946 Dazhou class Type 946A Dadong class Submarine tenders Type 925 Dajiang class Type 926 Dive tenders Type 904I Type 904II Tugs Type 802 Gromovoy class Type 830 Type 837 Hujiu class Type 852 Roslavl class Tuozhong class Daozha class Submersibles Jiaolong class submersible Osprey class submersible Type 7103 DSRV Sea Pole class bathyscaphe Harmony class bathyscaphe Mobile diving bell QSZ-II submersible Diver propulsion vehicles QX-50 QY-18 QY-40 QJY-001 Unmanned underwater vehicles 8A4 ROUV RECON-IV ROUV 7B8 ROUV Goldfish class ROUV HR-01 ROUV HR-02 ROUV JH-01 ROUV SJT-5 ROUV SJT-10 ROUV SJT-40 ROUV Seahorse ROUV Sea Dragon-I ROUV Sea Dragon-II ROUV Arctic class ARV Explorer AUV WZODA AUV CR-01 AUV CR-01A AUV CR-02 AUV Intelligent Water class AUV Submerged Dragon 1 AUV Petrel I HUG Petrel II HUG Mine warfare vessels Minelayers Type 918 Wolei class minelayer Minehunters Type 081 Wochi class minehunter/minesweeper Type 081A Type 082 Wosao class minehunter/minesweeper Type 082II Wozang class minehunter/minesweeper Minesweepers Type 057K Lianyun class minesweeper+ Type 010 oceangoing minesweeper Type 6605 oceangoing minesweeper+ Type 6610 oceangoing minesweeper+ Type 05 oceangoing minesweeper T-43 class oceangoing minesweeper+ Type 058 minesweeper+ Type 7102 minesweeper+ Type 062 Fushun class coastal minesweeper+ Minesweeping drone Type 529 mine hunting/sweeping boat/drone Type 312 Futi class minesweeper / minesweeping drone * = Under construction or procurement + = Retired

Current and planned SSN classes  People's Liberation Army Navy Type 091 Type 093 Type 095  French Navy Rubis Barracuda  Indian Navy Akula Indian SSN  Russian Navy Victor III Sierra I & II Akula Yasen  Royal Navy Trafalgar Astute  United States Navy Los Angeles Seawolf Virginia