Type 094 submarine

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Jin class SSBN.svg
Type 094 SSBN cropped.JPG
Type 094 submarine
Class overview
Builders:Bohai Shipyard, Huludao
Operators: People's Liberation Army Navy
Preceded by:Type 092 (Xia class)
Succeeded by:Type 096 Tang class
In service:2010[1]
Building:1
Planned:5-6 (projected)
Completed:3 confirmed (#409, 410, 411), 1 speculated (#412)
General characteristics
Displacement:8,000 tons surfaced, 11,000 tons submerged
Length:133 m (436 ft 4 in)[2]
Propulsion:Nuclear reactor, 1 shaft
Speed:20+ kts. (23+ mph)
Endurance:90 days
Crew:~100
Armament:Torpedoes: six 533 mm (21.0 in) bow tubes Missiles: 12 JL-2 SLBM
16 JL-2 SLBM (Type 2)[3]
The Type 094 (NATO reporting name: Jin-class; Chinese: 晋级潜艇) is a class of ballistic missile submarine developed by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy. The first-of-class was constructed at Huludao Shipyard inHuludao, Liaoning and launched in July 2004. Five submarines are believed to have been constructed.[4]

Description[edit]

JL-1 and JL-2 Missiles.
The Type 094 submarine is capable of carrying 12-16 of the more modern JL-2s[5] with a range of approximately 8,000-12,000 km, and is capable of targeting some of the Western Hemisphere from close to the Chinese coast. The Type 094 is believed to replace theType 092 submarine (NATO reporting name: Xia class) for the People's Liberation Army Navy.
In its 2008 assessment of China's military, the United States Department of Defense estimated that one Type 094 "may soon enter service", and that "up to five" would be in service by 2010.[5] The United States government has expressed concern over these submarines, saying that the Chinese government has not been transparent enough about the program.[6] Chinese SSBN will begin official sea patrol starting in 2014.[7]
A new improved variant, carrying 16 missile tubes, was also spotted.[3]

Satellite photos[edit]

In late 2006, a commercial satellite photographed what is believed to be the new Jin-class submarine moored in Xiaopingdao Submarine Base. In comparison with the older Type 092-class submarine, it has been elongated from 122m to 133m in order to house the missile tubes and part of the reactor.[2]
A Google Earth picture from May 2007 has been discovered that appears to show two more Jin Class submarines docked at the Bohai shipyard at Huludao.[8][9] It is not clear whether one of these is the vessel that was first spotted at Xiaopingdao in 2006 or whether these are two additional vessels, bringing the total to 3 vessels. The pictured subs appear to have 12 missile tubes.

References[edit]

  1. Jump up^ Chinese nuclear forces, 2010 Robert S. Norris and Hans M. Kristensen
  2. ^ Jump up to:a b "New Chinese Ballistic Missile Submarine Spotted". Fas.org. Retrieved 2007-06-07.
  3. ^ Jump up to:a b http://i.imgur.com/wsqalpo.jpg
  4. Jump up^ "Chinese Naval Forces". SinoDefence.com. Retrieved 2011-03-27.
  5. ^ Jump up to:a b Military Power of the People’s Republic of China 2008. Office of the Secretary of Defense. pp. 4 and 25 (pp14 and 35 of PDF).
  6. Jump up^ "US fears grow over China military". BBC News. 2007-05-25. Retrieved 2007-06-06.
  7. Jump up^ http://freebeacon.com/pla-navy-to-begin-first-strategic-missile-submarine-patrols-next-year/
  8. Jump up^ "Two More Chinese SSBNs Spotted » FAS Strategic Security Blog". Fas.org. Retrieved 2011-03-27.
  9. Jump up^ Hutcheon, Stephen (2007-10-12). "Desktop naval gazers know a sub when they see one". Sydney Morning Herald. Includes Google Earth photo of two 094's

Books[edit]

  • Andrew S. Erickson, Lyle J. Goldstein, William S. Murray: China's Future Nuclear Submarine Force, Naval Institute Press, 2007,ISBN 1-59114-326-8

External links[edit]