China Just Denuclearized a Sub ... Wait! There is More

Background

China's first ballistic missile submarine, Type 092 submarine (Xia-class), was laid down in 1978, launched in 1981 and commissioned by 1983. - Wikipedia

China's Latest Claims

2016-10-16 |  China's first nuclear submarine decommissioned
China's first nuclear-powered submarine has been decommissioned after more than 40 years of military service, according to the naval authorities.

After undergoing a thorough denuclearization process, the submarine was towed to a wharf belonging to the Chinese Navy Museum in Qingdao, a port city in east China's Shandong Province, on Saturday, where it will be a public exhibit.

The submarine's release from military service and the safe, thorough and reliable handling of related nuclear waste, nuclear reactor and other devices showed China's life-cycle maintenance ability, ranging from a nuclear submarine's production, operation, management to disposal, the naval authorities said.  

Coincidences

AUG. 23, 2016 |  North Korea Test-Fires Missile From Submarine
— North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile from a submarine off its eastern coast on Wednesday, demonstrating a significant improvement in its efforts to build a harder-to-detect means to strike American and allied forces, the South Korean military said.

The missile, launched from near Sinpo, a submarine base, flew 310 miles toward Japan, the South Korean military said in a statement. The statement said that the test showed that North Korea was making “progress” after several failed tests of submarine-launched ballistic missiles, or SLBMs.

A DuplicateSub

"A second boat is thought to have been completed in 1982, however this is debatable. There is little information regarding the history of this ship if in fact it actually existed. It is suggested, though not confirmed, that this second Type 092 was lost in an accident in 1985.^{[6][7][8] "}

Worst Case Analysis

 <sup>Molten Eagle: If a second Xia-class SSBN ship exists, it could well be the one displayed at the Chinese Navy Museum in Qingdao.   With its denuclearized (propulsion reactor systems) removed, the actual Xia, with its 12 missile tubes and 6 torpedo tubes, and which has undergone numerous refits, including new coating, possible quieting technologies, French-designed sonar, and improved longer ranged JL-1A SLBM missiles, would be the game changing launch platform North Korea has been seeking to get within missile range of every U.S. target.

Whether obtained covertly by North Korea or its ally Iran, Xia could easily be refitted with an AIP propulsion plant to provide greater stealth and much simpler operating and training requirements than any nuclear submarine. Such improvements would offer a significant near-term strike nuclear potential to either of these petulant regimes. Does China twist the truth? Calculate the years of service of the Xia and compare to "40 years in active operation" claimed by China.

Submarines are always silent and strange.</sup> 

 

Answers to latest Submarine Questions of the Week

Background

Related information, photos and links for questions are found at original posting.

Questions of the Week with ANSWERS

1 - TRUE or FALSE: There was no Son Won I class?   ANS:  TRUE

2-  TRUE or FALSE: KSS designates the project to build up the Republic of Korea's Navy Attack Submarine program in phases KSS-I, KSS-II, and KSS-III?   ANS:  TRUE

3- TRUE or FALSE: In KSS-II (the second phase) the lead ship of her class, ROKS Son Won-il (SS 072) was launched in 2006, the first of nine 1,800-ton Type 214 AIP subs?  ANS:  TRUE

4- TRUE or FALSE:  A total of nine 3,000-ton KSS-III submarines are expected to be built in South Korea with indigenous technologies (i.e. not going under license as the previous KSS-I and KSS-II submarines).   ANS:  TRUE

5- TRUE or FALSE: The first KSS-III, with vertical launch tubes and 1,500-kilometer cruise missiles, is scheduled for service by 2022.   ANS:  TRUE

6- TRUE or FALSE:  Due to sensitive technologies the KSS-IIIs will be built indigenously and likely blocked from export.   ANS:  TRUE

7-  In February 2015, South Korea launched an independent submarine command — only the sixth of its kind in the world — bringing operations, logistics, training, and maintenance under one roof, according to Republic of Korea (ROK) naval officials. What are the other 5 nations with independent submarine commands?   ANS:  The United States, Japan, France, the United Kingdom and India operate submarine commands. 

8.  Name the late officer pictured (available at link in Background statement above).  ANS: Son Won-il.

- a) What, if anything does he have to do with the Son Won II class?   ANS:  In honor of Son Won-il, the Reuplic of Korea's  Son Won-il (SS 072), the first of Son Won-il class submarines, was named for him.

- b) Was he ever a submariner?   ANS: No.

- c) What were the highest naval rank and national office he had held?  ANS:  Vice Admiral Son Won-il had been South Korea's FIRST Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) and later served as as its Minister of National Defense, and first ambassador to West Germany.
 
Submarines are always silent and strange.

Submarine Q.O.T.W. - 16 APR 2015

Background

In today's THE DIPLOMAT, authors ask Will Corruption Undermine South Korea's Sub Modernization Program?   Described modernization includes [color emphasis added]:

The ROK Navy is also in the process of acquiring nine German Type 214 — designated Son Won-II-class — diesel-electric attack submarines built under license by Hyundai Heavy Industries and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering in South Korea.

The four 1,800-ton ships already in service with the ROK Navy are equipped with air independent propulsion systems and, according to some reports, will also be upgraded with vertical-launch systems (VLS) for missiles. The ambitious plan is to commission five more Son Won-II-class subs by 2015, with an option of adding three more at a later stage.

The most ambitious project so far is South Korea’s first indigenously produced modern 3,000-ton diesel-electric attack submarine – designated KSS-III – equipped with, “multiple vertical launch tubes to fire 1,500-kilometer cruise missiles that could hit key targets in North Korea,” according to Defense News.

Submarine Questions of the Week

1 - TRUE or FALSE: There was no Son Won I class?
2-  TRUE or FALSE: KSS designates the project to build up the Republic of Korea's Navy Attack Submarine program in phases KSS-I, KSS-II, and KSS-III?
3- TRUE or FALSE: In KSS-II (the second phase) the lead ship of her class, ROKS Son Won-il (SS 072) was launched in 2006, the first of nine 1,800-ton Type 214 AIP subs?
4- TRUE or FALSE:  A total of nine 3,000-ton KSS-III submarines are expected to be built in South Korea with indigenous technologies (i.e. not going under license as the previous KSS-I and KSS-II submarines).
5- TRUE or FALSE: The first KSS-III, with vertical launch tubes and 1,500-kilometer cruise missiles, is scheduled for service by 2022.  
6- TRUE or FALSE:  Due to sensitive technologies the KSS-IIIs will be built indigenously and likely blocked from export.
7-  In February 2015, South Korea launched an independent submarine command — only the sixth of its kind in the world — bringing operations, logistics, training, and maintenance under one roof, according to Republic of Korea (ROK) naval officials. What are the other 5 nations with independent submarine commands?
 
ANSWERS:  Monday, 20 APR 2015 
Submarines are always silent and strange.