Posted on 10/21/2008 5:48:01 AM PDT by pabianice
SUBMARINES: Chinese Boats Stalk George Washington
October 21, 2008: Japan has increased anti-submarine patrols in international waters, just outside Japanese territorial waters. Chinese submarines are apparently exercising there more frequently, looking for Japanese, South Korean and American warships to play tag with. The U.S. has also redirected more of its space based naval search capabilities to assist the Japanese.
Chinese Song class diesel electric and Han class nuclear powered boats were detected and tracked recently. One of each of these was spotted stalking the American carrier USS George Washington, as it headed to South Korea for a visit.
China is rapidly acquiring advanced submarine building capabilities, and providing money (for fuel and spare parts) to send its subs to sea more often. Moreover, new classes of boats are constantly appearing. The new Type 39A, or Yuan class, looks just like the Russian Kilo class. In the late 1990s, the Chinese began ordering Russian Kilo class subs, then one of the latest diesel-electric design available. Russia was selling new Kilos for about $200 million each, which is about half the price other Western nations sell similar boats for. The Kilos weigh 2,300 tons (surface displacement), have six torpedo tubes and a crew of 57. They are quiet, and can travel about 700 kilometers under water at a quiet speed of about five kilometers an hour. Kilos carry 18 torpedoes or SS-N-27 anti-ship missiles (with a range of 300 kilometers and launched underwater from the torpedo tubes.) The combination of quietness and cruise missiles makes Kilo very dangerous to American carriers. North Korea and Iran have also bought Kilos.
The Chinese have already built two Yuans, the second one an improvement on the first. These two boats have been at sea to try out the technology that was pilfered from the Russians. A third Yuan is under construction, and it also appears to be a bit different from the first two. The first Yuan appeared to be a copy of the early model Kilo (the model 877), while the second Yuan (referred to as a Type 39B) appeared to copy the late Kilos (model 636). The third Yuan may end up being a further evolution, or Type 39C.
Preceding the Yuans was the the Type 39, or Song class. This was the first Chinese sub to have the teardrop shaped hull, and was based on the predecessor of the Kilo, the Romeo class. The Type 39A was thought to be just an improved Song, but on closer examination, especially by the Russians, it looked like a clone of the Kilos. The Yaun class also have AIP (Air Independent Propulsion), which allows non-nuclear boats to stay underwater for days at a time. China currently has 13 Song class, 12 Kilo class, one Yuan class and 32 Romeo class boats. There are only two Han class SSNs, as the Chinese are still having a lot of problems with nuclear power in subs. Despite that, the Hans are going to sea, even though they are noisy and easily detected by Western sensors.
Left unsaid is that the Chinese “boats” are undoubtedly being stalked by our “boats.”
cat and mouse practice for our sonobuoys
take a look
The use of the Hans' class boats sounds like the equivalent of bringing a knife to a gun fight.
These Chinese boats still have to snorkle, don’t they?
How fast are they submerged?
While a Russian Navy fleet visits Venezuela. With Obama as CIC, don’t be surprised to see enlistments decrease, as black officers assume command of the military. A “fist bump” will be the recognized salute.
Tell me this isn't a typo.
That has been my experience riding the subway.
Sounds to me like an old German U-Boat can do better than that.
Tell me this isn't a typo.
Well, if it isn't a typo, I think that indicates how fast the crew can row without grunting too much. :=)
BTW, that 5 km/hour converts to the blazing speed of 2.7 knots.
I see “The Great Game” continues, with new players.
Click on pic for past Navair pings.
Post or FReepmail me if you wish to be enlisted in or discharged from the Navair Pinglist.
The only requirement for inclusion in the Navair Pinglist is an interest in Naval Aviation.
This is a medium to low volume pinglist.
Got some specs on the KILO that look like there is no typo at all:
Makes me wonder what the SEAWOLF guys call this boat. “Bait”, maybe?
But don’t tell the Chinese. Let it be a surprise on the day they get an excessively optimistic opinion of their equipment and skills.
I think that might be the boat’s stealth speed. It can go faster, but when it does, it makes more noise and is easier to detect.
An electric boat operating stealthily is almost impossible to detect by passive sonar. You can ping on it, but that sort of defeats the purpose if you are trying to be sneaky.
These new air-independent propulsion systems are scary. WE should be building them, but aren’t. With them, a non-nuclear boat has far greater underwater range than they ever had before.
The USN is going to severely regret gutting its ASW in the days after the collapse of the USSR. It was a dumb move.
I wish people would stop making stupid jokes about China’s growing naval capacity, especially its sub force. They’re real, they’re serious, and they have already proven the can penetrate a CVBG screen before.
We know they’re playing around with the Japs and Koreans, next time one crosses the line they need to SINK IT. The Chicoms are feeling cocky, and if the Messiah gets elected, they may try to get it over with and take Taiwan (excuse me, I mean The Republic of China).
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.