Thanks to a video published by China Central Television (CCTV), a Type 074 amphibious landing ship was observed being attacked by a submarine of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). Various indicators suggest that the attack originated from one of these submarines due to the wake left by the torpedo, the location of the impact, and the fact that the ship was in motion. The specific class or type of submarine involved in this sinking exercise (SINKEX) has not been officially confirmed yet.
The video, released by the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), coincided with the 70th anniversary of the Asian Giant’s Submarine Force, accompanied by a message highlighting the role of the detachment belonging to the Northern Theater Command as the country’s primary submarine force. It also mentioned advancements in expanding the current submarine fleet, aligning with the transition from a brown-water naval force to a blue-water force capable of regional and global projection.
Experts note that the Type 074 Yuhai-class amphibious assault ship chosen for this exercise was an interesting selection due to its size and because these ships are within the operational range of diesel-electric submarines, featuring air-independent propulsion, suitable for coastal combat roles.
Regarding the wake trail left by the torpedo and its destructive power, The War Zone speculates that a long-range munition might have been used. It adds that a Wake Homing Torpedo could have been employed, which homes in on a ship’s wake while in motion—a technique increasingly utilized. These torpedoes range from 53cm to 65cm in diameter. The 65cm diameter wake-homing torpedoes, like the Russian 65-76A, are large, long-range torpedoes designed to track and follow a ship’s wake. They have enough fuel to travel over 100 kilometers at speeds of 50 knots for just over an hour, and are part of the arsenal of the Chinese Navy’s Submarine Force.
One of the mysteries arising from this exercise is the type and class of submarine employed by the Chinese Navy. While much of Western speculation focuses on nuclear-powered units capable of launching ballistic missiles, the Chinese Submarine Force maintains a significant fleet of diesel-electric submarines primarily used for defending coastal and territorial waters, potentially posing a latent threat to rival navies such as that of the United States. This includes acquisitions like the Kilo class from Russia, as well as more modern domestically designed and built Type 039 and 039A variants, with new developments and productions underway.
The sunken ship belonged to the branch of 15 amphibious landing units built in the late 1990s, distributed among the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and some for export. They are currently being phased out after several decades of service. With a displacement of nearly 800 tons, they have the capacity to transport 350 personnel for landing operations and establishing beachheads.
Lastly, the timing of this SINKEX exercise coincides with the upcoming RIMPAC exercise, involving the United States Navy and allies in Hawaii. As previously indicated, an amphibious assault ship of the former Tarawa class will also be sunk during this exercise.
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