Friday, November 21, 2008

Type 091

IOC: 1974
Total Production: 5

Also Known As
Han (NATO codename)

Origin
China

Contractor/s
Huludao Shipyard

Applications
Type 092

Guided Missiles:
YJ-8Q (20)

Description: The Type 091, NATO codename: Han, is the first generation of Chinese nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSN) deployed by the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). Five boast were built between the late 1960s and 1990 by Huludao Shipyard and delivered to the PLAN North Sea Fleet. These ships feature design flaws and overall low reliability that have plagued their availability throughout their operational life. These submarines were upgraded in the 1990s introducing improved weapon systems and reduced acoustic signature through the add-on of acoustic tiles. Overall, Type 091 boats are intended to engage both submarine and surface ships.

The Type 091-class submarines are provided with six 533mm torpedo tubes that can launch alternatively wire-guided torpedoes and YJ-8Q anti-ship missiles. The submarine's weapons capacity is 20 torpedoes and/or missiles or 36 mines. Type 091 boats are powered by a single pressurized water reactor with one shaft. Overall, Type 091 boats performance falls far behind Russian and Western submarines built in the 1970s and 1980s.

Specifications
Accommodation: Crew 75

Number of Weapons: 20

Dimensions: Beam 10 m, Draft 7.4 m, Length 98 m 106 meters last two units

Weights: Displacement Submerged 5,500 t, Displacement Surfaced 4,500 t

Performance: Top Speed Submerged 25 kt (46 kph), Top Speed Surfaced 12 kt (22 kph)

Power: Power 90 MW

Other: Torpedo Tubes 6

Operators

China / 5

Ships

401 / Decommissioned

Commissioning: 1974

Hainan Island - China - ?

402

Commissioning: 1980

Hainan Island - China - ?

403

Commissioning: 1984

Hainan Island - China - ?

404

Commissioning: 1988

Hainan Island - China - ?

405

Commissioning: 1990

Hainan Island - China - ?

Notes
(*) lead contractor
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)

Last Updated: Saturday, October 25, 2008

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