Type 039A submarine
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Yuan-class |
| Builders: | Wuchang Shipbuilding, Wuhan |
| Operators: |
 People's Liberation Army Navy
|
| Preceded by: | Type 039 (Song-class) |
| Succeeded by: | Type 039C |
| In commission: | 2006-present |
| Building: | 5 |
| Planned: | 20 |
| Completed: | 15 |
| Active: | 15 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | SSK |
| Displacement: | 3,600 t (3,500 long tons) (submerged) |
| Length: | 77.6 m (254 ft 7 in) |
| Beam: | 8.4 meters |
| Draft: | 6.7 meter square. |
| Propulsion: | Diesel-electric, 1 shaft, AIP |
| Speed: | 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) |
| Test depth: | 400 m |
| Complement: | 38 |
| Armament: | 6 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes, Anti-Ship missiles |
The Type 039A submarine (NATO reporting name: Yuan-class) is a class of diesel-electric submarine in China's People's Liberation Army Navy. It is China's first AIP powered submarine and presumed to be one of the quietest diesel-electric submarine classes in service. This class is the successor of the Type 039 submarine. The official Chinese designation is 039A as the ship is based on the 039 class, but as the 039A has very little resemblance to the 039 it is commonly referred to as the Type 041. The class is designed to replace the aging Type 033 Romeo and the older Type 035 submarines that previously formed the backbone of the conventional submarine force.
According to an early assessment by the US Naval Institute, the Yuan class was primarily designed as "an anti-ship cruise missile (ASCM) platform capable of hiding submerged for long periods of time in difficult to access shallow littorals.". However, another assessment by USNI includes an open-ocean capability which can be utilized beyond coastal waters. Also updated was its role within China's naval fleet, and as of August 2015 it is considered to be a more traditional attack submarine, with a secondary ASCM role.
The Type 039A inherits the tail design of the Type 039 (NATO codename: Song class) with four diving planes and a single large shaft. A pair of foreplanes are positioned in the middle of the sail. The submarine is equipped with indigenously developed cabin-raft (shock absorbers) system that helped to reduce noise level by over 35 dB. Additionally, the submarine is covered with rubber anti-sonar protection tiles to reduce the risk of detection. A new improved "C" variant was also launched.
The Type 039A has six 533 mm torpedo tubes. These can be used to launch indigenous torpedoes such as Yu-6 as well as Russian-made torpedoes. It is speculated that it will be equipped with the supersonic YJ-18 currently in development. The general designer of the torpedo and missile launching system is Mr. Sun Zhuguo (孙柱国, 1937-). The Type 039A is also believed to be capable of launching YJ-8X (C-80X) series anti-ship missiles. The missile uses inertial + terminal active radar guidance. It carries a 165 kg time-delayed semi-armour-piercing high-explosive warhead, with a maximum range of 80~120 km and speed of Mach 0.9. The Type 039A is also capable of firing the CY-1 ASW missile under water, but the status of the missile is in question because nothing is heard about its production. The CY-1 ASW missile has a maximum range of 18 km (10 nm), and when using ET-52 or Yu-7 torpedo as a payload.
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