China recently launched a new diesel-electric submarine (pictured), but did not provide any official information. The study of the photographs allows us to conclude that it seems to be a diesel-electric submarine with the designation Type 41C, where Russian technologies are used, adapted for the Chinese project. The creation of this boat suggests that Chinese naval engineers have made significant progress in this direction.
The Type 41A class boat looks the same as the Russian Kilo class submarine. In the late 1990s, the Chinese ordered Project 877 (Kilo) boats, which at the time were Russia's most modern non-nuclear submarines. Russia sold them for $ 200 million a piece, which was less than half the price of Western boats of a similar class. The boat has a surface displacement of 2300 tons, six torpedo tubes and a crew of 57 people. They are capable of overcoming 700 km under water in low noise mode at a speed of 5 km / h, equipped with 18 torpedoes and SS-N-27 anti-ship missiles fired from torpedo tubes (firing range 300 km). The combination of low noise and cruise missiles makes these boats very dangerous for American aircraft carriers. Boats of this type are also purchased by North Korea and Iran.
China has already built three of its own Yuan class boats (Type 41). The first was a copy of the Russian submarine of Project 877 (Kilo), the second of them (Type 41B) was an improved version of the lead boat and corresponded to the latest version of the Kilo - Project 636. These submarines were built to test stolen Russian technologies. The third Yuan (Type 41C), launched the other day, seems to be slightly different from them. This boat may be a copy of the newest version of Project 877 - "Lada".
The first Russian diesel-electric submarine of the "Lada" type entered sea trials three years ago, and a year ago it was recognized as suitable for operation. The second submarine is under construction; in total, it is planned to build eight diesel-electric submarines of this type. Kilo class boats entered the combat composition of the Soviet navy in the late 80s. In the Russian Navy, there were 24 of them, 30 were exported. Shortly before the end of the Cold War, work began on the Lada project, but they soon stalled due to lack of funding.
"Ladas" are designed to destroy underwater, surface and ground targets, as well as conduct naval reconnaissance. It is believed that these submarines are eight times quieter than the boats of Project 877. This is achieved through the installation of sound-absorbing cover and quiet propellers. The boat is equipped with active and passive sonars, including a towed passive sonar, the armament consists of six torpedo tubes of 533 mm caliber, ammunition for 18 torpedoes and cruise missiles. Surface displacement reduced to 1,750 tons, crew of 38 people. Each crew member has his own cabin with a berth, albeit a small one, which increases the morale of the sailors.
In a submerged position, the Lada is capable of developing and maintaining a speed of about 39 km / h and diving to a depth of 800 feet. The autonomy is 50 days, the maximum underwater travel range with the operation of diesel engines under water (RDP) powered through a retractable mast can be up to 10 thousand km. When powered by batteries, the underwater cruising range is 450 km. The boat is equipped with an electronic periscope, which enables night vision and the use of a laser rangefinder."Lada" was designed to use the technology of the power plant without surfacing (AIP - air independent propulsion). Russia has long been a pioneer of this technology, but recently Western Europe has taken over the leadership in this area. The construction of the head Lada was started in 1997, but the lack of funding delayed the work for many years, and only in 2005 its construction was completed. A less complex version of the boat, bearing the designation "Amur", is offered for export.
It is believed that Yuan class boats are also equipped with AIP technology, which allows non-nuclear boats to be submerged for several days in a row. Currently, the PLA Navy has 13 Song-class boats (Type 39), 12 Kilo, three Yuan and 25 Romeo in combat. To this day, there are only three Han-class nuclear submarines, which speaks of the difficulties experienced by the Chinese in operating nuclear reactors on submarines. Despite this circumstance, the nuclear submarines are going to go to sea, where they, with their great noise, will be easily detected by western acoustic systems.
