CNS Type 091 (Han)

History of CNS Type 091 (Han)

The Dahan was the first nuclear-powered submarine designed and built by the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). The Han is an original design by the Chinese Navy, using the SSN profile of the "Albacore" hull, with the dive plane mounted high and forward of the sail.

The shape of the albacore was shorter and thicker than previous boats, and the traditional model pattern was longer and thinner, but was still in use at the time. The Han use single-shaft propellers, a major stealth upgrade for the Chinese Navy, which has so far been buying and using former Soviet diesel-electric submarines with twin-shaft propellers.

The specifications shown below are of the first two ships commissioned in 1974 - the 1974 401 and the 1980 402. The remaining three, No. 403 in 1984, No. 404 and No. 405 in 1988, were commissioned in 1991 and were all in service in the North Sea until at least 2002.

Upgrades for the last three launches include more advanced modern equipment and weapons, and are 26 feet 3 inches longer.

In October 1994, the USS Kitty Hawk and its battle group entered the Yellow Sea. One of their S-3 Viking patrol planes spotted a Han-class ship tracking the carrier at a periscope depth of 450 nautical miles in international waters. The U-boat approached 20 knots before she turned around.

Clearly, the Chinese Navy wants the CV-63 Kitty Hawk submarine to announce to the world's most powerful navy that a new player has entered the Asia-Pacific theater.

Since then, China's navy has grown in strength and capability -- fueling a new Asian arms race in the region and drawing Washington's attention.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Weight

Performance

Performance

Armor

Wing