Chinese Navy (PLAN) News & Discussions

[Han Patriot]

The institute NRIET, designer of the radar type APAR Type 346 among others, applies a graphene anti-corrosion coating on one of their "naval" radars, a first in China.

https://twitter.com/x/status/928656707898695681

I saw a CCTV documentary on this coating, they are also applying it to offshore rigs.

 

[Deino]

If You look closely at the full-sized image it is 3326 and not 3328, even Henry K. already admitted that.

 

[samsara]

If You look closely at the full-sized image it is 3326 and not 3328, even Henry K. already admitted that.

Sorry folks, my eyes were also blurred this time Thanks Deino for the correction. Post to be deleted.

 

[cirr]

A loose translation:

Hu Wenming --the Chairman of China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC), the holding company of Bohai Shipbuilding-- pointed out that the Socialism with the Chinese characteristics has been entering a new era, construction engineering of aircraft carriers has to adapt to the strong or powerful "qualities" to stand up to the beginning of new era, and resolutely implement the important instructions of the highest leadership, to allow the domestic carriers to grow as soon as possible and at the leading level in the world, to keep in pace with the best and be strong accordingly. China's new era of carrier development should aim at the world's advanced level, catch up vigorously, speed up disruptive technological innovation, dare to surpass, have the courage to go beyond, meet and adapt to the comprehensive construction of strong defence, and the equipment requirements of the world-class military force. 加油 天耀中华

。。。

广瀚动力凭借多年来专业技术积累、配套齐全的专业体系、优秀的人才队伍，是海军大中型舰船燃气动力装置和蒸汽动力装置的主要供货单位，其中自主研发设计的燃气轮机发电模块已经进入装备生产阶段，为后续采用“全电动力”的新型舰船奠定基础

 

[lcloo]

Top view of CV16 and 45,000 ton Type 901 AOR 965

 

[yusheng]

 

[cirr]

QD185 for new search attack submarine killer?

Bring It On!

 

[cirr]

055 #5

 

[samsara]

055 #5

https://twitter.com/x/status/930455967677820928

Yet twitted by less than one hour later,
According to the spotters in Shanghai, the 5th destroyer Type 055 has been on hold.
No photo for the moment.

https://twitter.com/x/status/930467666170560512

 

[cirr]

https://twitter.com/x/status/930455967677820928

Yet twitted by less than one hour later,
According to the spotters in Shanghai, the 5th destroyer Type 055 has been on hold.
No photo for the moment.

https://twitter.com/x/status/930467666170560512

052D #14 and #15

commissioned X 6
sea trials X 4
fitting-out X 3
Modules X 2

In other words, JN alone is working on 3 055s minimum plus 6 052Ds(3+1+2) minimum.

 

[Han Patriot]

052D #14 and #15

commissioned X 6
sea trials X 4
fitting-out X 3
Modules X 2

In other words, JN alone is working on 3 055s minimum plus 6 052Ds(3+1+2) minimum.

This is just one shipyard, if we spread it over 5 shipyards, we can build the whole Indian navy in 3-5 years including commissioning and sea trials. Send some over to Gwadar and Djibouti and we can control their oil supply and trade routes.

 

[samsara]

The 36th Type 056/056A corvette Guangyuan 广元 (named after a prefecture-level city in Sichuan Province) with hull number 552 was commissioned into the South Sea Fleet on Thursday, 16 November 2017. (dafeng cao‏ @xinfengcao 2017-11-17)

Another picture via East Pendulum‏ @HenriKenhmann 2017-11-17

。。。

 

[lcloo]

PLAN aviation JH7 aerial laying of sea mines.

 

[samsara]

long-range guided projectiles
shipborne laser weapon
shiprborne directed-energy weapon

View attachment 419934



near-space hypersonic anti-ship missile
shipborne high-speed ballistic anti-ship missile
anti-ship/land attack cruise missile

View attachment 419935

View attachment 419937

YJ-12

View attachment 419938

new type carrier borne fighter jet
carrier borne electronic countermeasures aircraft
carrier borne fixed wing early warning aircraft
medium sized shipborne UAV
stratospheric long-endurance drone
stratospheric airship

View attachment 419939

Type 075 LHD

View attachment 419940

Next generation DDG

View attachment 419941

integrated electric power system(IEPS)
full-spectrum stealthness
integrated mast and integrated RF technology
new type laser/kinetic energy weapons
mid-course interception capability

View attachment 419943

ASIA-PACIFIC, CAPABILITY ANALYSIS
THE PLA NAVY’S PLAN FOR DOMINANCE: SUBS, SHIPBORNE ASBMS, AND CARRIER AVIATION

October 24, 2017 Guest Author
By Richard D. Fisher, Jr.
CIMSEC - Center for International Maritime Study, a U.S. think tank

Introduction

Potential modernization plans or ambitions of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) were revealed in unprecedented detail by a former PLAN Rear Admiral in a university lecture, perhaps within the last 2-3 years. The Admiral, retired Rear Admiral Zhao Dengping, revealed key programs such as: a new medium-size nuclear attack submarine; a small nuclear auxiliary engine for conventional submarines; ship-based use of anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs); next-generation destroyer capabilities; and goals for PLAN Air Force modernization. Collections of PowerPoint slides from Zhao’s lecture appeared on multiple Chinese military issue webpages on 21 and 22 August 2017,[1] apparently from a Northwestern Polytechnical University lecture. Notably, Zhao is a former Director of the Equipment Department of the PLAN. One online biography notes Zhao is currently a Deputy Minister of the General Armaments Department of the Science and Technology Commission and Chairman of the Navy Informatization Committee, so he likely remains involved in Navy modernization programs.[2]

Retired Rear Admiral Zhao Dengping,
who delivered an unusually detailed speech
on China’s naval modernization, slides for
which were posted on multiple Chinese
military issue web sites.​

However, Zhao’s precise lecture remarks were not revealed on these webpages. Also unknown is the exact date of Zhao’s lecture, though it likely took place within the last 2-3 years based on the estimated age of some of his illustrations. His slides mentioned known PLAN programs like the Type 055 destroyer (DDG), a Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) amphibious assault ship (for which he provided added confirmation), the Type 056 corvette, and the YJ-12 supersonic anti-ship missile.

Most crucially, it is Zhao’s mention of potential PLAN programs that constitutes an unprecedented revelation from a PLAN source. Rejecting the levels of “transparency” required in democratic societies, China’s PLA rarely allows detailed descriptions of its future modernization programs. While Admiral Zhao occasionally plays the role of sanctioned “expert” in the Chinese military media,[3] it remains to be seen if he or the likely student “leaker” will be punished for having revealed too much or whether other PLA “experts” will be allowed to detail the modernization programs of other services.[4]

Admiral Zhao’s slides also mentioned many known PLAN programs, and perhaps helped to confirm
that it intends to build a Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) large amphibious assault ship. (CJDBY)

While there is also a possibility of this being a deception exercise, this must be balanced by the fact that additional slides were revealed on some of the same Chinese web pages on 23 September. The failure of Chinese web censors to remove both the earlier and later slides may also mean their revelation may be a psychological operation to intimidate future maritime opponents.

A New SSN

Admiral Zhao described a new unidentified 7,000-ton nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) that will feature a “new type of powerplant…new weapon system [and] electronic information system.” An image shows this SSN featuring a sound isolation raft and propulsor which should reduce its acoustic signature, 12 cruise missile tubes in front of the sail, and a bow and sail similar to the current Type 093 SSN. This design appears to have a single hull, which would be a departure from current PLAN submarine design practice, but the 7,000 ton weigh suggests it may reflect the lower-cost weight and capability balance seen in current U.S. and British SSNs.[5]

It is not known if this represents the next generation Type 095 SSN expected to enter production in the next decade. However, in 2015 the Asian Military Review journal reported the PLAN would build up to 14 Type 095s.[6]

Of some interest, Admiral Zhao describes a new 7,000 ton nuclear powered attack submarine (SSN), showing acoustic capability enhancements, internal storage for 12 large missiles, but design similarities with the older Type 093 SSN. (CJDBY)

Small Nuclear Powerplant

Zhao also revealed the PLAN may be working on a novel low power/low pressure auxiliary nuclear powerplant for electricity generation for fitting into conventional submarine designs, possibly succeeding the PLAN’s current Stirling engine-based air independent propulsion (AIP) systems. One slide seems to suggest that the PLAN will continue to build smaller submarines around the size of current conventional powered designs, but that they will be modified to carry the new nuclear auxiliary powerplant to give them endurance advantages of nuclear power.

Admiral Zhao suggests that the PLAN is developing a new nuclear reactor-powered auxiliary power unit to charge the batteries of smaller and less expensive conventional submarines, allowing the PLAN to more rapidly increase its numbers of “nuclear” powered submarines. (CJDBY)

Zhao’s diagram of this powerplant shows similarities to the Soviet/Russian VAU-6 auxiliary nuclear powerplant tested in the late 1980s on a Project 651 Juliet conventional cruise missile submarine (SSG).[7] Reports indicate Russia continued to develop this technology but there are no reports of its sale to China. Russia’s Project 20120 submarine Sarov may have a version of the VAU-6 giving it an underwater endurance of 20 days.[8] While the PLA would likely seek longer endurance, it may be attracted by the potential cost savings of a nuclear auxiliary powered submarine compared to a SSN.[9]

A slide of Admiral Zhao’s showing a diagram of a nuclear reactor powered auxiliary power unit for
small submarines, appears to be similar to the Soviet/Russian VAU-6 design. (CJDBY)

Naval ASBMs and Energy Weapons

Zhao’s slides detailed weapon and technical ambitions for future surface combatant ships. While one slide depicts a ship-launched ASBM flight profile, another slide indicates that future ships could be armed with a “near-space hypersonic anti-ship ballistic missile,” perhaps meaning a maneuverable hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) warhead already tested by the PLA, and a “shipborne high-speed ballistic anti-ship missile,” perhaps similar to the land-based 1,500km range DF-21D or 4,000km range DF-26 ASBMs. At the 2014 Zhuhai Air Show the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) revealed its 280km range WS-64 ASBM, likely based on the HQ-16 anti-aircraft missile.

Another slide details that surface ships could be armed with “long-range guided projectiles,” perhaps precision guided conventional artillery, a “shipborne laser weapon” and “shipborne directed-energy weapon.” Chinese academic sources point to longstanding work on naval laser and naval microwave weapons.

Admiral Zhao’s slides also detailed new naval weapon ambitions, to include taking anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs) to sea.
This would greatly increase the PLAN’s ability to overwhelm U.S. ship defenses with multiple missile strikes. (CJDBY)

Future Destroyer

A subsequent slide details that a future DDG may have an “integrated electric power system,” have “full-spectrum stealthiness,” use an “integrated mast and integrated RF technology, plus “new type laser/kinetic energy weapons,” and a “mid-course interception capability.” These requirements, plus a subsequent slide showing a tall stealthy superstructure integrating electronic systems, possibly point to a ship with the air defense and eventual railgun/laser weapons of the U.S. Zumwalt-class DDG.

Modern Naval Aviation Ambitions

Zhao’s lecture also listed requirements for future “PLAN Aviation Follow Developments,” to include: a “new type carrier-borne fighter;” a “carrier-borne EW [electronic warfare] aircraft;” a “carrier borne fixed AEW [airborne early warning];” a “new type ship-borne ASW [anti-submarine warfare] helicopter;” a “medium-size carrier-borne UAV [unmanned aerial vehicle];” a “stratospheric long-endurance UAV;” and a “stratospheric airship.”

Admiral Zhao illustrated PLAN aviation ambitions with an airborne warning and control system (AWACS)
aircraft similar to a Xian Y-7 based test platform, but this may simply represent a generic carrier AWACS. (CJDBY)

These aircraft likely include a 5th generation fighter, an airborne warning and control systems (AWACS), an EW variant of that airframe, and a multi-role medium size turbofan-powered UAV that could form the core of a future PLAN carrier air wing. Ground-based but near-space operating UAVs and airships will likely assist the PLAN’s long-range targeting, surveillance, and communications requirements.

Submarine Dominance

Should the Type 095 SSN emerge as an “efficient” design similar to the U.S. Virginia class, and should the PLA successfully develop a nuclear auxiliary power system for SSK-sized submarines, this points to a possible PLA strategy to transition affordably to an “all-nuclear” powered submarine fleet. While nuclear auxiliary powered submarines may not have the endurance of SSNs, their performance could exceed that of most AIP powered submarines for an acquisition price far lower than that of an SSN.

Assuming the Asian Military Review report proves correct and that the PLAN has success in developing its auxiliary nuclear power plant, then by sometime in the 2030s the PLAN attack submarine fleet could consist of about 20 Type 093 and successor “large” SSNs, plus 20+ new smaller nuclear-auxiliary powered submarines, and 30+ advanced Type 039 and Kilo class conventional submarines.

Such nuclear submarine numbers would not only help the PLAN challenge the current dominance of U.S. Navy SSNs, it could also could help the PLAN begin to transition to an “offensive” strategy against U.S. and Russian nuclear ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs). But in Asia it would give the PLAN numerical and technical advantages over the non-nuclear submarines of Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, Russia, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand. This combined with rapid PLAN development of new anti-submarine capabilities, to include its “Underwater Great Wall” of seabed sensors and underwater unmanned combat vessels,[10] point to an ambition to achieve undersea dominance in Asia.

An auxiliary nuclear- powered version of the Type 032 SSB could help enable multi-axis ASBM strikes. (CJDBY)

Such nuclear auxiliary engine technology also gives the PLAN the option to develop a number of longer-endurance but low-cost ballistic missile submarines, perhaps based on the Type 032 conventional ballistic missile submarine (SSG). Such submarines might deploy nuclear-armed, submarine-launched intercontinental missiles, long-range cruise missiles, or ASBMs. Auxiliary nuclear-powered submarines may be easier to station at the PLA’s developing system of naval bases, like Djibouti, Gwadar, Pakistan, and perhaps Hambantota, Sri Lanka. China can also be expected to export such submarines.

ASBMs at Sea

China’s potential deployment of ASBMs, especially HGV-armed ASBMs to surface ships, poses a real asymmetric challenge for the U.S. Navy which is just beginning to develop new long-range but subsonic speed anti-ship missiles. Eventually the PLAN could strike its enemies with two levels of multi-axis missile attacks: 1) hypersonic ASBMs launched from land bases, ships, submarines, and aircraft; and 2) multi-axis supersonic and subsonic anti-ship missiles also launched from naval platforms and aviation. ASBMs on ships and submarines also give the PLAN added capability for long-range strikes against land targets and overall power projection.

Carrier Power Projection

Admiral Zhao is indicating that the PLAN’s future conventional take-off but arrested recovery (CATOBAR) carrier will be armed with a modern and capable air wing, likely anchored around a 5thgeneration multi-role fighter. A model concept nuclear-powered aircraft carrier revealed in mid-July at a military museum in Beijing suggests this 5th gen fighter will be based on the heavy, long-range Chengdu J-20, but medium weight 5th gen fighters from Shenyang or Chengdu are also possibilities. This model indicated they could be supported by unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) for strike, surveillance or refueling missions, plus dedicated airborne early warning and electronic warfare aircraft. This plus the PLAN’s development of large landing helicopter dock (LHD) amphibious assault ships, the 10,000 ton Type 055 escort cruiser, and the 50,000 ton Type 901 high speed underway replenishment ship indicate that the PLAN is well on its way to assembling U.S. Navy-style global naval power projection capabilities.

In Mid-July a Beijing military museum featured a model of a Chinese concept nuclear powered aircraft carrier, showing an air wing
including J-20 stealth fighters, UCAVs, and AWACS. (FYJS)

But Admiral Zhao’s indication that the PLAN will be developing its own “near space” long-range targeting capabilities, in the form of a “stratospheric long-endurance UAV” and a “stratospheric airship” points to the likelihood that the PLAN is already developing synergies between its future ASBMs and its advanced aircraft carriers. This year has already seen suggestions of PLA interest in a future semi-submersible “arsenal ships” perhaps armed with hundreds of missiles.[11] Were the PLAN to successfully combine shipborne long-range ASBM and carrier strike operations, it would be the first to build this combination to implement new strategies for naval dominance.[12]

Arresting the PLAN’s Quest for Dominance

Admiral Zhao outlines a modernization plan that could enable the PLAN to achieve Asian regional dominance, and with appropriate investments in power projection platforms, be able to dominate other regions. But it remains imperative for Washington to monitor closely if Zhao’s revelations do reflect real ambitions, as a decline in U.S. power emboldens China’s proxies like North Korea and could tempt China to invade Taiwan.

Far from simply building a larger U.S. Navy, there must be increased investments in new platforms and weapons that will allow the U.S. Navy to exceed Admiral Zhao’s outline for a future Chinese Navy. It is imperative for the U.S. to accelerate investments that will beat China’s deployment of energy and hypersonic weapons at sea and lay the foundation for second generations of these weapons. There should be a crash program to implement the U.S. Navy’s dispersed warfighting concept of “Distributed Lethality,” put ASBM and long-range air/missile defenses on carriers, LHDs and LPDs, perhaps even large replenishment ships,[13] and then design new platforms that better incorporate hypersonic and energy weapons. There should also be crash investments in 5++ or 6th generation air dominance for the U.S. Navy and Air Force.

There is also little alternative for the U.S. but to build up its own undersea forces and work with allies to do the same to thwart China’s drive for undersea dominance. If autonomous/artificial intelligence control systems do not enable fully combat capable UUCVs, then perhaps there should be consideration of intermediate numerical enhancements like small “fighter” submarines carried by larger SSNs or new small/less expensive submarines. A capability should be maintained to exploit or disable any Chinese deployment of “Underwater Great Wall” systems in international waters.

It is just as important for the U.S. to work with its Japanese, South Korea, Australian, and Philippine allies. As it requests Tokyo to increase its submarine and 5th generation fighter numbers, Washington should work with Tokyo to secure the Ryukyu Island Chain from Chinese attack. The U.S. should also work with Manila to enable its forces to destroy China’s newly build island bases in the South China Sea. It is just as imperative for the U.S. to work with Taiwan to accelerate its acquisition of missile, submarine, and air systems required to defeat a Chinese invasion. Taiwan should be part of a new informal intelligence/information sharing network with Japan, South Korea, and India to create full, multi-sensor coverage of Chinese territory to allow detection of the earliest signs of Chinese aggression.

Conclusion

Both U.S. and then Chinese sources have tried to downplay the scope of China’s naval ambitions. About 15 years ago the U.S. Department of Defense assessed that China would not build aircraft carriers.[14] Then earlier this year a Chinese military media commentator denied that China will, “build 12 formations of carriers like the U.S.”[15] However, Zhao’s acceleration of China’s transition to a full nuclear submarine fleet, ambitions for new hypersonic and energy weapons, plus continued investments in carrier, amphibious, larger combat support and logistic support ships, point to the potential goal of first seeking Asian regional dominance, and then perhaps dominance in select extra-regional combat zones.

Former Vice Admiral Zhao’s lecture is a very rare revelation, in perhaps unprecedented detail, of a portion of the PLA’s future modernization ambitions. It confirms that many future PLAN modernization ambitions follow those of the U.S. Navy, possibly indicating that China intends to develop a navy with both the global reach and the high-tech weapons and electronics system necessary to compete for dominance with the U.S. Navy.

Richard D. Fisher, Jr. is a senior fellow with the International Assessment and Strategy Center.

References

[1] Poster “052D Hefei ship,” CJDBY Web Page, August 21, 2017, https://lt.cjdby.net/thread-2408457-1-1.html; Poster “Kyushu universal,” FYJS Web Page, August 21, 2017, http://www.fyjs.cn/thread-1879203-1-1.html; and for some slide translations see poster “Cirr,”Pakistan Defense Web Page, August 21, 2017, https://defence.pk/pdf/threads/2014-the-beginning-of-a-new-era-for-plan-build-up.294228/page-114; ; slides briefly analyzed in Richard D. Fisher, “PLAN plans: former admiral details potential modernization efforts of the Chinese Navy,” Jane’s Defence Weekly, September 6, 2017, p.30.

[2] One biography for Zhao was posted on the CJDBY web page, August 21, 2017, https://lt.cjdby.net/thread-2408457-2-1.html

[3] “Deputy Chief Minister of Navy Equipment on the Contrast of Chinese and Russian Ships [我海军装备原部副部长谈中俄舰艇真实对比], Naval and Merchant Ships, September 2013, http://mil.news.sina.com.cn/2013-08-10/1023734607.html

[4] In 20+ years of following People’s Liberation Army modernization, this analyst has not encountered a more detailed revelation of PLA modernization intentions than Admiral Zhao’s lecture slides as revealed on Chinese web pages.

[5] For both points the author thanks Christopher Carlson, retired U.S. Navy analyst, email communication cited with permission, August 24, 2017.

[6] “AMR Naval Directory,” May 1, 2015, http://www.asianmilitaryreview.com/ships-dont-lie/

[7] Carlson, op-cit.

[8] “Sarov,” Military-Today.com, http://www.military-today.com/navy/sarov.htm

[9] For a price comparison between nuclear and AIP propelled submarines, see, “Picard578,” “AIP vs nuclear submarine,” Defense Issues Web Page, March 3, 2013, https://defenseissues.net/2013/03/03/aip-vs-nuclear-submarines/

[10] For more on Underwater Great Wall, see Richard D. Fisher, Jr., “China proposes ‘Underwater Great Wall’ that could erode US, Russian submarine advantages,” Jane’s Defence Weekly, May 17, 2016, http://www.janes.com/article/60388/...t-could-erode-us-russian-submarine-advantages

[11] A series of indicators on Chinese web pages was usefully analyzed by Henri Kenhmann, “Has China Revived the Arsenal Ship, but as a semi-submersible?,” EastPendulum Web Page, May 29, 2017, https://www.eastpendulum.com/la-chine-fait-renaitre-arsenal-ship-semi-submersible

[12] While the arsenal ship concept has long been considered on the U.S. side, and was most recently revived by the Huntington Ingles Corporation in the form of a missile armed LPD, the U.S. has yet to decide to develop such a ship. For an early review of the Huntington Ingles concept see, Christopher P. Cavas, “HII Shows Off New BMD Ship Concept At Air-Sea-Space,”Defense News.com, April 8, 2013, http://intercepts.defensenews.com/2013/04/hii-shows-off-new-bmd-ship-concept-at-sea-air-space/

[13] Dave Majumdar, “The U.S. Navy Just Gave Us the Inside Scoop on the “Distributed Lethality” Concept,” The National Interest Web Page, October 16, 2016, http://nationalinterest.org/blog/th...ave-us-the-inside-scoop-the-distributed-18185

[14] “While continuing to research and discuss possibilities, China appears to have set aside indefinitely plans to acquire an aircraft carrier.” See, Report to Congress Pursuant to the FY2000 National Defense Authorization Act, ANNUAL REPORT ON THE MILITARY POWER OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA. July 28, 2003, p. 25, http://www.defenselink.mil/pubs/20030730chinaex.pdf

[15] Wang Lei, “China will never build 12 aircraft carriers like the US, says expert,” China Global Television Network (CGTN) Web Page, March 3, 2017, https://news.cgtn.com/news/3d557a4e30676a4d/share_p.html

Featured Image: On 23 April in Shanghai, Chinese sailors hail the departure of one of three navy ships that are now in the Philippines, as part of a public relations tour to over 20 countries. (AP)

http://cimsec.org/pla-navys-plan-dominance-subs-shipborne-asbms-carrier-aviation/34497

。。。

 

[samsara]

Just found this in CDF interesting so could not wait to share with PDF .

The first chinese nuclear sub become the butt of the joke because they are so noisy.But few people know the story behind this sub. Now the story of this sub is out of the bag .Even though the sub itself is retired,the man behind the sub surprisingly still alive and healthy at ripe age of 93.
Yup he is still working but due to advance age his work is limited
This submarine is real achievement for China without it there is no Chinese nuclear sub!


I am at awe at his life story like so many of his generation Huang Xuhua saw first hand see the destruction of China and how helpless china was, He resolved to help built China a strong navy and devoted his life to it sacrificing his personal life for the cause,Here is his story as told to Chutian metropolitan daily. unbelievable!

At young age of 34 he was tasked with building nuclear sub. Though he doesn't have a clue how to built nuclear sub. He did work on imitating and RE soviet diesel sub but nuclear sub is a whole different kettle. The worst part nobody ever see a real nuclear submarine. They scrutinize the open publication but they can find nothing of valuable.

The breakthrough come when someone from US brought them a toy submarine which they studied to death and from it get inspiration how to put together a nuclear sub. And for the calculation since they don't have computer they use ABACUS!

I told this story before but nobody believe me. Now from the horses mouth himself. Xiinhui @CDF first posted this story I do google translation and clean up the grammar a bit

China's nuclear submarine father the year with the calculation of submarine data Chutian Metropolis Daily 2017/07/10 09:40:10 original title:
Unknown for 30 years of research and development of the country, the father of China's nuclear submarine submarine life motto "If anyone asked us How to evaluate this life, we will say that this life is not wasted. Our life is dedicated to the country, to the nuclear submarine business. We have no regrets! "-

China's first generation of nuclear submarine chief architect, Chinese Academy of Engineering Huang Xuhua City News reporter Chen Ling ink internship party Min Song Yuqi Wu Yangyang photography: Chutian Metropolis Daily reporter Xiao Hao in Qingdao Navy Museum pier, parked China's first nuclear submarine.

Last year on October 15, after cruising over 40 years,she enter retirement. But its chief designer, still in the "service" among. July 4 morning, in China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, a research institute,

Chutian Metropolis Daily reporter saw Huang Xuhua. He is the first generation of China's nuclear submarine chief architect, Chinese Academy of Engineering, known as "the father of China's nuclear submarines." The physical condition only allowed him to work for half a day, Huang Xuhua feel that time is not enough. Every day at 8:30 am will appear in the office on time, finishing over the past few decades accumulated information. This "Zhiguo Dragon Palace" life "crazy", to their own research results left to the next generation.

93-year-old Huang Xuhua, wearing a sports bracelet, his thinking is still clear with amazing memory. Listen to his story, just like watching a biography movie. For the development of the country's heavy equipment, he was unknown for 30 years. His life, like the deep sea of nuclear submarines, seemingly obscure, but these are shocking forces. ◆
Huang Xuhua academician told this reporter that he has never seen a nuclear submarine. He was 34 years old when he became the chief designer in 1954,

At that itme the world's first nuclear submarine - the United States "Nautilus" undergo its first trial. In 1957, the Soviet Union's first nuclear submarine was launched in thewater.
In 1958, China launched the development of missile nuclear submarines. Graduated from the Shanghai Jiaotong University Shipbuilding Department of Huang Xuhua, has been involved in imitation of conventional Soviet submarine.He was selected to participate in the study. Shortly afterwards, the Soviet Union announced the withdrawal of aid experts. Chairman Mao said to Huang Xuhua and other older scientific research workers in an upsurge of emotion: "nuclear submarines, Even if take ten thousand years it has to be made "

Ten thousand years too long, seize the day and night.
Less than a month, Huang Xuhua and technical staff from all over the country,were brought together to pool their their barren hills of idea.
"China's nuclear submarine is completely started from scratch." Huang Xuhua recalled: "The biggest difficulty is not talent.If our researchers have seen what a nuclear submarine looks like, it may greatly shorten the development process."

At that time, the world's most advanced nuclear submarine Type is a drop type, because the friction resistance is small, underwater mobility and stability is good. The United States in the development of carefully selected three steps. We are also in three steps, or compress three steps in one step?

Development team had a heated debate. 34-year-old chief architect Huang Xuhua decided to choose the latter, "time is pressing, we can only detour." Without hesitation, Huang Xuhua led us through a large number of calculations and repeated demonstration, only three months to put forward five Type of boat program, and then rush headlong into the Shanghai Jiaotong University laboratory.

This is just the beginning. Nuclear submarine technology complex, involving numerous supporting systems and thousands of equipment, of which the most critical is the nuclear power plant, underwater communications, launchers and other seven major technologies.

"We have no choice but to groan forward and step forward, we just have unshakable determination!" He said. Abacus is the main computing tool made of indigenous law "Long March 1" Huang Xuhua still treasure a "forward" brand abacus. In the absence of modern means of calculation of the era, this abacus had accompanied him spending countless days and nights.

"The development of nuclear submarine many of the key data, coming out from the abacus ." Huang Xuhua said, in order to ensure the accuracy of the data, he and his colleagues often grouped the same set of data over and over, and regroup the different results and then re-count until the results are consistent. To crunch the data, "crackling" of the abacus sound is often hear all night.

China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation chief technical expert Zhang Jinlan, who in 1988 followed Huang Xuhua to participate in nuclear submarine deep diving test. He is still incredulous that he use the abacus to calculate the nuclear submarine design: "This is not a simple addition and subtraction multiplication and division, but to use the trigonometric function, logarithm and other complex and difficult formula and model." But in the poor condition at the time, Huang Xuhua And colleagues are using this simple approach, to solve a number of cutting-edge technical problems.
They are like a needle in haystack, trying to collect the nuclear submarine technical article in the foreign news reports
.
None of us has seen a real nuclear submarine, not sure how to design a reliable submarine. By chance, someone from abroad get back two US "Washington" nuclear submarine toy model. Huang Xuhua said it is like finding a treasure: "We dismantled and re assembled again and again, and the design of submarine is basically come into being . We are happy!

August 1, 1974, the nuclear submarine was named "Long March 1", officially inducted into the naval battle ssquadron. At this point, China has become the fifth country with nuclear submarines. Three unforgettable tears sum up his life loyalty to his country's back in the past 93 years,

Huang Xuhua said that he had shed tears 3 times that he can't forget. The first time in April 1988, China's first nuclear submarine deep diving test. All the participants understand that this test is very important and very dangerous. The late 70s of last century, the United States, "long tail shark" is submerged in the deep dive test, the boat more than 160 people were buried in the sea.

Before the start of the trial, the atmosphere of the staff quarters was dignified. They have to write a will to their family, and sing song "blood style": "Maybe this is my farewell and I will not come back ... ..." In order to encourage everyone, 64-year-old Huang Xuhua decided to join in with crew in the water. Submarine more submarine dive deeper, he command , "In fact, in our heart there is high degree of tension." When the experiment is successful, the world's first personally involved in nuclear submarine deep diving test, the chief designer, was excited with face running in tears.

From 1957 to 1986, Huang Xuhua anonymously developed nuclear submarines, for 30 years he failed to meet with their parents, The only contact is . A mailbox number. In 1987, a Shanghai magazine published a report on Huang Xuhua work, he sent a copy of the mother.his

Mother read the story over and over again, ansn the whole family cried,he said: "Later, when the sister told him this matter, Huang Xuhua once again in tears." In 1988, Huang Xuhua back to hos home in Guangdong , his mother was 93 years old. "I left home for 30 years, my family only know my mailbox in Beijing. Father seriously ill, I can not go back; he died, I can not go back ... ..." In the father's grave, Huang Xuhua shed tears for the third time. For the sake of National mission Huang Xuhua lost a lot of family happiness.

Shortly after his marriage, he and his wife were 6 years, he and the three daughters is also more away from the more. His eldest daughter Huang Yan Ni, follow the father's family feelings and life trajectory, but also to join the cause of China's nuclear submarine development.
Witnessing the destruction of the country he abandon the the original plan to become a doctor and embarked on the country shipbuilding road as Huang Xuhua grew up ,

He seems destined to the sea life. In 1924, Huang Xuhua was born in Guangdong Shanwei. "My original ambition is the same as my parents to learn medicine, the results of the Japanese bombing let me change the original intention." After the outbreak of the war, Huang Xuhua had to turn Shaoguan, Guilin, Chongqing and other places for school. Seeing all displaced people, the country destruction, juvenile Huang Xuhua began to think: the motherland so big, why there is not even a quiet place to read? "In 1945.

Huang Xuhua was given the award then China's highest institutions - the central government of the country, , The University of Aeronautics and Astronautics is eligible for the first commeration of the National Jiaotong University (Shanghai Jiaotong University), known as the "Oriental MIT (MIT)".

On April 8, 2016, 120th anniversary of the founding, the Shanghai Jiaotong University official microblogging forwarded a photo: celebrating the life achievement of , 92-year-old veteran Huang Xuhua, raised from his chair, stand up to make the speech. "If anyone asked us how to evaluate this life, we will say that this life is not wasted."

Our life is dedicated to the country, to the nuclear submarine business. We have no life of our own in this life. regret!"

@monitor - I think the closing sentence of your post missed the word "No", it should read as "No regret!" somehow lost in the translation, typing or replication...

Just the brief of the 3rd paragraph with the red line

"Duan Ruichun represents CSIC praised highly Mr. Huang Xuhua as the Father of China's nuclear submarine and his team for their great contribution across the 1st generation, the 2nd and 3rd gen of nuke subs... and Huang Xuhua practically devoted the most part of his life to the China nuke submarine's causes. Huang Xuhua & his team won the 2017 annual "He Liang He Li" （何梁何利） Science and Technology Achievement Awards, which has a very strict audit process, and the review process itself lasted nearly a year."

Top honour for 93-year-old engineer behind China’s first nuclear submarine

Huang Xuhua endured the deprivations of the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution to help realise a national ambition

PUBLISHED : Monday, 20 November, 2017, 7:00am
UPDATED : Monday, 20 November, 2017, 5:28pm
By Laura Zhou - South China Morning Post

Undated handout photo of Chief designer of China's first nuclear submarine Huang Xuhua.
Photo: Xinhua Daily Telegraph

For more than three decades, Huang Xuhua was little known beyond the small team of researchers he worked with to design China's first nuclear submarine.

But on Friday Huang was one of 600-plus people honoured at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing for his contribution as an “ethical worker”.

The 93-year-old engineer was thrust into the spotlight when President Xi Jinping invited Huang to sit next to him for a group photo, state media reported.

It was a mark of recognition of the value of his work but the Wuhan Evening Newsquoted Huang as saying that he preferred to remain low profile.

Now emeritus director of China Shipping Building Industry Corporation’s Second Ship Design Institute, also known as the No 719 Research Institute, in Wuhan, Huang joined the 29-member team selected to develop China’s first nuclear submarine in 1958.

The project was launched to bolster China’s nuclear deterrence against the West, as well as the Soviet Union after Beijing and Moscow fell out over an ideological dispute.

Huang told the state-owned Xinhua Daily Telegraph last year that military leader Nie Rongzhen suggested to Mao Zedong that China should have its own vessels “to break through the monopoly on nuclear submarine technology held by the United States and the Soviet Union”.

At the time, nobody in China knew much about the technology and there was little prospect of help from the outside world. China was also in the depths of a famine brought on by the Great Leap Forward.

But Mao reportedly liked the idea and urged the military to give it a try “even if it would take 10,000 years”.

Chief designer of China’s first nuclear submarine Huang Xuhua (right) with his team.
Photo: Xinhua Daily Telegraph

Huang said he and his colleagues used what scant resources they had to come up with a design on paper. They used abacuses to do the calculations and scoured overseas newspapers for information on developments in the area. Based in Huludao, in Liaoning province on the Bohai Sea, the team worked around the clock to resolve key issues, including the vessel’s power, communications and life-support systems, the Xinhua Daily Telegraph reported.

The team’s work was validated unexpectedly when a Chinese diplomat brought two toy models of George Washington-class submarines from the United States. Huang was “extremely happy” when he found that the designs of the models were almost the same as those the Chinese had drafted on paper, the report said.

Work continued during the Cultural Revolution, the decade of turmoil when intellectuals were frequent targets of attack. Huang said he was denounced by day and worked in his office by night, the Xinhua Daily Telegraph reported.

China building ‘amazing submarines’ ... although not as good as ours, says US admiral

For two years though, the engineer was sent to the countryside to farm pigs.

“That’s the only easy time of my life,” he said. “I had no responsibilities and no burdens. [All I needed to do] was to take good care of the pigs.”

In 1970, China’s first nuclear-powered submarine underwent maritime tests and in 1974, the vessel, named the Long March No 1, was commissioned, making China the fifth nation, after the US, the Soviet Union, Britain and France, to have a nuclear submarine.

Huang Xuhua, chief designer of China’s first nuclear submarine, boards the vessel.
Photo: Xinhua Daily Telegraph

But there was a personal price to pay. Huang’s wife and three daughters followed him on his postings but his highly classified mission meant he was able to maintain only sporadic contact with his parents in Guangdong province.

“Given the job I did, [I had] to make family ties less of a priority,” Huang recalled in the Xinhua Daily Telegraph report. “They always asked me what I did, but how could I tell them?”

In 1987, a Chinese magazine published a long report about the unknown names behind China’s development and referred to Huang as the chief designer of China’s nuclear submarine project.

His mother read the report and soon understood why her son had rarely made it home in the previous 30 years.

http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2120605/top-honour-engineer-behind-chinas-first-nuclear

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