Han

The Han was the first nuclear-powered submarine designed and build by the Peoples Liberation Army – Navy division or (PLA-N). The Han was an original design by the Chinese navy that used the “Albacore “ hull SSN outline with the diving planes being mounted high and forward on the sail. The albacore shape is shorter and fatter than earlier boats using conventional model patterns that were longer and thinner but still continued to be deployed at the time. The Han used a single shaft propeller; this was a major stealth upgrade for the PLA-N who until that time purchased and used Soviet diesel electric submarines that used twin shaft propellers.

The specifications listed are for the first two boats placed in service, # 401 in 1974, and # 402 in 1980. The remaining three boats # 403 in 1984, # 404 in 1988 and # 405 entered service in 1991 and all served in the North Sea until at least 2002. The last three launched had upgrades that included advanced equipment and weapons and was increased in length by 26’ 3”.

In October 1994 the USS Kitty Hawk was on station in the Yellow Sea with her battle group. One of her S-3 Viking patrol aircraft detected a Han-class boat shadowing the carrier from 450 nm away at periscope depth in international waters. The submarine closed to within 20 nm before she turned away. It was obvious the PLA-N wanted the sub to be seen by CV63 Kitty Hawk as a notice that a new player had entered the area. The USS Kitty Hawk was one of four supercarriers in the Forrestal-class and is the last remaining ship in her class still in active service. CV63 made her last voyage in August 2008 and is expected to be decommissioned in early 2009 in Bremerton, Washington.

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Last Updated: 10/29/2008