Lankan Ranger
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Images of mystery Chinese conventional submarine
Recently revealed images of a Chinese conventional submarine (SSK) that was first seen in September 2010 may shed further light on its possible missions.
The new People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) SSK appears to be one third larger than the 2,500-3,000-ton Yuan-class SSK currently in production, indicating it may be intended for longer-range open ocean interdiction missions past the 'First Island Chain': Beijing's term for the East China Sea and waters surrounding Taiwan.
The larger size may also be necessary to incorporate air independent propulsion (AIP) technology as the PLAN is known to have been researching Stirling engine, fuel cell and exhaust-recycling AIP designs.
The SSK also has an unusually large sail estimated to be 17-20 ft (5-6 m) tall and 12-13 ft wide. Part of the sail's length is taken up by a new crew escape capsule - a first for a PLAN submarine - while periscopes and a mast-mounted radar are placed behind the capsule in a horizontal row to save space. Behind the sensors there is space for weapons, which, considering the sail's height, could include missiles.
The sail may accommodate multiple tubes for the 75-170-km-range C-705 anti-ship cruise missile, but the 120-200-km-range, 30-plus-ft-long YJ-82/83 (C-802/803) anti-ship cruise missile may be too large to accommodate without having the launch tubes penetrate the pressure hull.
http://www..com/products//defence-security-report.aspx?ID=1065929693&channel=defence
Recently revealed images of a Chinese conventional submarine (SSK) that was first seen in September 2010 may shed further light on its possible missions.
The new People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) SSK appears to be one third larger than the 2,500-3,000-ton Yuan-class SSK currently in production, indicating it may be intended for longer-range open ocean interdiction missions past the 'First Island Chain': Beijing's term for the East China Sea and waters surrounding Taiwan.
The larger size may also be necessary to incorporate air independent propulsion (AIP) technology as the PLAN is known to have been researching Stirling engine, fuel cell and exhaust-recycling AIP designs.
The SSK also has an unusually large sail estimated to be 17-20 ft (5-6 m) tall and 12-13 ft wide. Part of the sail's length is taken up by a new crew escape capsule - a first for a PLAN submarine - while periscopes and a mast-mounted radar are placed behind the capsule in a horizontal row to save space. Behind the sensors there is space for weapons, which, considering the sail's height, could include missiles.
The sail may accommodate multiple tubes for the 75-170-km-range C-705 anti-ship cruise missile, but the 120-200-km-range, 30-plus-ft-long YJ-82/83 (C-802/803) anti-ship cruise missile may be too large to accommodate without having the launch tubes penetrate the pressure hull.
http://www..com/products//defence-security-report.aspx?ID=1065929693&channel=defence
