The Type 035 (export name: ES5; NATO reporting name: Ming class) was PRC’s first independently developed diesel-electric submarine, based on the 1950s-era Soviet Romeo class design with some modifications. A total of 21 submarines in three variants have been built since the early 1970s, with 18 still remaining in operational service with the PLA Navy today. The latest Type 035G features improved fire control system and much reduced acoustic signature. The last boat of the class was commissioned in 2001.
Following its success in the licensed production of the Soviet Whiskey class (Chinese designation Type 613) and Romeo class (Chinese designation Type 033), the PRC began to develop its first indigenous medium-size, conventionally-powered, torpedo submarine in the late 1960s. The submarine, designated Type 035, was to be based on the Type 033/Romeo class, but with 40% increase in underwater speed. Construction of the first Type 035 began in October 1969 at Wuhan Shipyard in central China. The boat was launched in July 1971 and entered service with the PLA Navy in April 1974.
There are at least four known variants of the Type 035. The first three boats (hull 232, 233 and an unidentified boat) built between 1969 and 1979 are ES5C. They are said to be trouble-prone and were retired in the 1980s. After the submarine received its national design certificate in 1983, the production resumed in 1987 in the improved Type 035G (ES5D/E), with a total of 12 boats (hull 342, 352~354, 356~363) built between 1988~1995. In the late 1990s, the Type 035 production line was re-opened due to the delay in the development of the new-generation Type 039. An additional 6 boats (hull 305~310) in the improved Type 035B variant were built between 1997 and 2001.
Design
Type 035 is generally regarded as an obsolete design by today’s standards. Its high-level acoustic signature makes it an easy target for modern antisubmarine warfare (ASW) systems. However, the submarine provides a relatively low-cost solution for coastal defence, patrol and surveillance duties, while combat missions in deep oceans are taken by the more capable Type 039 (Song class) and Kilo class.
The Type 035 is generally identical to the Type 033/Romeo class in hull design and arrangement. Improved diesels, revised hull design with less resistance, and new transferring mechanism were used to achieve a higher underwater speed. The command systems, sonar, and countermeasures on the early production model were similar to those on the Type 033/Romeo class, but were significantly improved on later boats.
The six Type 035B boats commissioned between the late 1990s and 2001 are fitted with an improved fire-control system. The acoustic ignature has been significantly reduced by the covering the hull with noise-absorbing black damping tiles and redesigning the flooding ports. Additionally, the Type 035B is about 2 metres longer than the previous boats to its machinery space.
Weapons
The Type 035 has eight 533mm torpedo tubes (6 bow, 2 stern), and carries a total of 18 torpedoes in tubes and storage racks. Alternatively the submarine can carry 32 mines in its tubes. The Yu-4 (SAET-60) is a passive homing torpedo designed to attack surface targets up to 15km at a speed of 40 knots. The high-explosive warhead weights 400kg. The Yu-1 is a Chinese copy of the Russian Type 53-51, which was designed to attack surface targets with a maximum range of 9.2km at a speed of 39 knots, or 3.7km at 51 knots. The high-explosive warhead weights 400kg.
Electronic Equipments
The Type 035 is fitted with a Pike Jaw hull-mounted, medium-frequency for active and passive search and attack. This was replaced by a H/SQ2-262C on the improved Type 035B. The Type 035B is also equipped with a Sintra DUUX 5 low-frequency passive ranging and interception. The submarine has an I-band surface search radar (NATO code-name: Snoop Tray). Countermeasures include electronic support measures (ESM), radar warning receiver and direction-finder. The Type 035B variant is also fitted with the Chinese indigenous combat data system.
Propulsion
The Type 035 is powered by a diesel-electric arrangement, consisting of 2 Shaanxi 6E 390 ZC1 diesel rated at 5,200hp (3.82MW), with 2 Xiangtan alternators and 2 shafts.
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