Chinese submarine 201

Class overview
Operators	People's Liberation Army Navy
Preceded by	Type 031 submarine
History
China
Builder	Wuhan Shipyard
Laid down	2008
Launched	9 September 2010
Commissioned	16 October 2012
Status	Active
General characteristics
Class & type	Type 032
Type	Auxiliary submarine
Displacement	3,797 tons (surfaced); ca. 6,600 tons (submerged);
Length	92.6 metres (304 ft)
Beam	10.6 metres (35 ft)
Draught	7.0 metres (23.0 ft)
Installed power	Diesel-electric
Armament	Ballistic missile launch tube

The Chinese submarine with the hull number 201 is a Chinese diesel–electric auxiliary submarine. It is used to test systems and technologies, including test launching ballistic missiles (SLBM). 201 is the sole member of its class, designated Type 032 (NATO reporting name: Qing).

History

201 commissioned into the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) in 2012; the previous SLBM testbed, a Golf-class submarine (Type 031), subsequently decommissioned in 2013. It participated in testing the JL-2 SLBM. 201 made the first three JL-3 test launches starting in 2018.

Description

201 resembles an enlarged Type 039A submarine, with bow-mounted retractable diving planes, instead of sail-mounted. The sail is disproportionately long, and extends below the keel like the Golf-class; at least one ballistic missile launch tube is fitted at the rear of the sail. In 2017, the height of the rear sail was increased, likely to support the larger JL-3.

Notes

Citations

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Saunders 2015, p. 134.
↑ Kirchberger (2015), p. 229.
1 2 3 Dempsey, Joseph; Boyd, Henry (7 August 2017). "Beyond JL-2: China's development of a successor SLBM continues". International Institute for Strategic Studies. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
↑ Chan, Minnie (January 4, 2020). "China nuclear missile development steps up a gear with test of weapon capable of hitting US mainland". South China Morning Post.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
↑ Shaikh, Shaan (21 December 2018). "China Flight Tests New JL-3 SLBM". Missile Threat. Center for Strategic and International Studies. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
↑ Wertheim 2013, p. 114.

Bibliography

Saunders, Stephan, ed. (2015). Jane's Fighting Ships 2015-2016. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0710631435.
Wertheim, Eric (2013). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems (16 ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1591149545.
Kirchberger, Sarah (2015). Assessing China's Naval Power: Technological Innovation, Economic Constraints, and Strategic Implications. Global Power Shift. Heidelberg: Springer. ISBN 978-3-662-47126-5.

[FOOTNOTESaunders2015134-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Saunders 2015, p. 134.

[2] Kirchberger (2015), p. 229.

[iiss_jl2dev-3] 1 2 3 Dempsey, Joseph; Boyd, Henry (7 August 2017). "Beyond JL-2: China's development of a successor SLBM continues". International Institute for Strategic Studies. Retrieved 7 May 2023.

[SCMP_JL3-4] Chan, Minnie (January 4, 2020). "China nuclear missile development steps up a gear with test of weapon capable of hitting US mainland". South China Morning Post.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)

[shaikh_2018-12-21-5] Shaikh, Shaan (21 December 2018). "China Flight Tests New JL-3 SLBM". Missile Threat. Center for Strategic and International Studies. Retrieved 29 December 2018.

[FOOTNOTEWertheim2013114-6] Wertheim 2013, p. 114.