Type 091 submarine

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People's Republic of China
A Type 091 submarine in 1993
Builders:	Huludao Shipyard
Operators:	People's Liberation Army Navy
Following class:	Type 093
In service:	August 1974
Ships in Class
Ships in class:	5
Ships in active service:	ChangZheng 1 ChangZheng 2 ChangZheng 3 ChangZheng 4 ChangZheng 5
General Characteristics
Class type:	Nuclear powered attack submarine
Displacement:	5,500 tons
Length:	106 m
Beam:	10 m
Draft:	7.4 m
Propulsion and power:	1 nuclear reactor 90 MW
Speed:	25 knots
Complement:	75
Armament:	6 torpedo tubes 20 torpedoes and missiles 36 naval mines

The 4,500/5,500-ton Type 091 (US Department of Defense designation Han-class) was the first nuclear-powered submarine (SSN) class deployed by the People's Liberation Army Navy. The first submarine in the class was commissioned in 1974^[1] and the fifth and final boat of the class was commissioned in 1990.

The Han class have gone through major upgrades and numerous refits since their commissionings. It is believed that long refits have often meant that these submarines have spent more time in port than out at sea, greatly affecting their operational capacity. Combat capabilities of the Han seem to be undermined by the poor and noisy nuclear reactors. Their initial design and weapons fit seem inadequate if confronting other submarines and ships in Western navies. The boats have six 533mm torpedo tubes and carry 20 torpedoes. Alternatively, they can carry 36 mines in their tubes. The Han class is capable of firing sub-launched variants of the YJ8 anti-ship missile as well as a range of indigenous and Russian torpedoes or mines.

Hull 401 (and possibly 402 as well in the near future) had been retired from active service by 2005. All remaining hulls however have been refitted with new sonars and anechoic tiles (that reduce noise levels). The Han has mostly operated in local waters. Since the 1990s, Hans have been used more aggressively. A Han shadowed a US carrier battle group in the mid 1990s, and more recently, a Han was operating around Japanese waters, prompting a Japanese task group to pursue the submarine out of its territory. While the Han class are not as capable or effective as the American Los Angeles class submarines, following their recent improvements, they can pose a great threat by operating deep in the Western Pacific and attacking targets that are not well protected by ASW coverage.

At one point it was reported in error that the Han-class was equipped with C-801 anti-ship missiles in launch tubes aft of the conning tower.

All 5 boats (Changzheng 1 to 5; # 401 to 405) of this class were deployed with the North Sea Fleet and are homeported at Qingdao.