China builds mystery midget submarine

[kaonalpha]

DigitalGlobe imagery published on Google Earth showing what appears to be a midget submarine at the Wuchang shipyard in Wuhan, China. A Type 041 conventional submarine berthed at the same site in January is shown for comparison. (IHS/Google, DigitalGlobe)
China has apparently built a previously unseen midget submarine at its Wuchang shipyard in Wuhan.

DigitalGlobe satellite imagery dated 24 October 2014 showing the submarine was posted on Google Earth and was highlighted by a contributor to the Bellingcat open source intelligence website.

The imagery shows the craft berthed at the pontoon used for fitting out submarines. The midget submarine had left the pontoon by late November and by mid-January 2015, another submarine, probably a Type 041 Yuan-class boat, occupied the berth.

Based on the imagery the midget submarine has an approximate length of 35 m and beam of 4 m, suggesting a surface displacement in the region of 400-500 tonnes.

The Wuchang shipyard is at the forefront of conventional submarine production in China and has constructed most of the Type 039 Song-class and Type 041 Yuan-class boats, including the most recent variant, with its distinctive hydrodynamic fairings between the casing and the fin. It also built the world's largest conventional submarine, the Type 032 Qing-class ballistic missile trials submarine.

South Korea unveiled an innovative mini-submarine concept &[HASHTAG]#8211[/HASHTAG]; known as the KSS 500A &[HASHTAG]#8211[/HASHTAG]; in 2011. (Mrityunjoy Mazumdar)

 

[ACE OF THE AIR]

These are most likely going to be part of PN as Pakistan Navy requires to replace its old Agosta-70's and Midget Submarines that were made in Karachi .

Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works Limited

 

[Sine Nomine]

These are most likely going to be part of PN as Pakistan Navy requires to replace its old Agosta-70's and Midget Submarines that were made in Karachi .

Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works Limited

come on man we are capable enough to make them.

 

[ACE OF THE AIR]

come on man we are capable enough to make them.

We require a new design...the one we have presently is of the early 70's provided by Germany.

 

[Penguin]

Might be a scale model used in development for a large sub e.g. SS(B)N. Might be special forces vehicle. Might be a rescue sub. Or might be a midget.