Friday, November 21, 2008

Type 093

IOC: 2006
Total Production: 2

Also Known As
Shang (NATO codename)

Origin
China

Contractor/s
Huludao Shipyard

Description: The Type 093, Shang NATO codename, is a class of nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSN) designed to engage surface ships and submarines and potentially ground targets employing land attack cruise missiles such as YJ-85. Type 093 has been designed as the replacement for China's Type 091-class ships. The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) received assistance from the renowned Russian design bureau Rubin. Starting in the 1990s, only two ships have been built at Huludao Shipyard so far. The lead ship entered sea trials in 2003 and was commissioned in the late 2006.

The Type 093 would be equipped with six 533mm or 650mm torpedo tubes which can launch Russian- and Chinese-made wire-guided torpedoes, anti-ship missiles and land attack cruise missiles. In addition, the ship would feature sophisticated sonar systems and equipment. Western intelligence expected the PLAN to build six to eight Type 093 boats but its poor performance may have forced to cut down the Type 093's program in favor of a new design called Type 095.

According to some reports, the Type 093 submarines will feature an overall performance similar to Soviet Project 671RTM , Victor III NATO codename, nuclear-powered attack submarines reflecting the technologies and knowledge provide by the Russians in the 1990s. Victor III submarines were deployed by the Soviet Navy in the late 1970s. Nevertheless, Type 093 represents a great leap forward in terms of acoustic signature and combat skills compared to Type 091.

Specifications
Weights: Displacement Submerged 7,000 t

Performance: Max Operating Depth 700 m (2,297 ft)

Other: Torpedo Tubes 6

Operators

China / 2

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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