27 September 2024
China’s latest nuclear-powered submarine has reportedly sunk at a port in Wuhan, with the Communist Party attempting to conceal the incident for several months.
The Zhou-class vessel went underwater while still under construction, a blunder first identified by U.S. officials analyzing satellite imagery of Wuchang Shipyard. The submarine, characterized by its distinctive X-shaped stern, is believed to have sunk in late May or early June during final equipping tests for sea readiness.
It remains unclear whether any nuclear fuel was on board, but experts suggest that it likely was, according to the Wall Street Journal. U.S. officials noted that Beijing has not yet tested the surrounding water for elevated radiation levels and has not ruled out the possibility of casualties among military personnel or workers aboard.
Commander Ryan Ramsey, a retired Royal Navy submarine captain, told MailOnline, “This will be a setback and it’s quite embarrassing. However, they are adept at learning quickly and moving forward.”
Cranes have been deployed to salvage the submarine, but it may require extensive repairs and months of work to remove water-damaged electronics.
The incident, described by a senior U.S. defense official as unsurprising, raises serious concerns about the training standards and equipment quality of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, as well as deeper issues regarding accountability and oversight in China’s defense industry, which has a history of corruption.
Brent Sadler, a former submarine officer at the Heritage Foundation, emphasized that this sinking is significant, potentially hindering China’s efforts to expand its nuclear submarine fleet.
China already possesses a considerable number of nuclear-powered submarines, with the Pentagon’s 2020 China Military Power report indicating that China has the largest navy in the world, boasting around 350 ships and submarines, including more than 130 major surface combatants.
This incident follows a tragic event nearly a year ago when 55 Chinese sailors were feared dead after their nuclear submarine reportedly became ensnared in a trap designed to capture British vessels in the Yellow Sea. According to a classified UK report, the crew died due to a catastrophic failure of the submarine’s oxygen systems, which resulted in poisoning.
The captain of the Chinese PLA Navy submarine ‘093-417’ is believed to be among the deceased, alongside 21 other officers. China officially denied that this incident occurred and appeared to reject international assistance for the troubled submarine.
The UK report stated: “Intelligence indicates that on August 21, an onboard accident took place during a mission in the Yellow Sea at 08:12 local time, resulting in the deaths of 55 crew members: 22 officers, 7 officer cadets, 9 petty officers, and 17 sailors, including Captain Colonel Xue Yong-Peng.”
The post is based on the content of an article in the Daily Mail
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13896449/china-nuclear-submarine-sinks-wuhan-officials.html
