Chinese nuclear submarine sinks at Wuchang shipyard, raising security concerns

A Chinese nuclear submarine sank at the Wuchang shipyard at the end of May or the beginning of June 2024. It was the first experimental unit of the new 041 Zhou class. Former U.S. Navy officer Tom Shugart relayed reports of this significant blunder by China, who noticed in July 2024 that many barges with cranes suddenly appeared at the wharf where the unit was being built. They were working on an object resembling a submarine.

In the following days, cranes continued to operate at the Wuchang shipyard, and a barrier appeared in the water to contain any leakage from the submarine. The operation was completed in less than a month.

The U.S. Department of Defense confirms that data collected indicates that the Type 041 Zhou submarine under construction sank at the Wuchang shipyard in July 2024. Therefore, Shugart must have observed an operation aimed at rescuing the vessel and securing the area from contamination.

The quality of these submarines remains a contentious issue, informsThe WarZone portal, which suggests that the sinking of the new Chinese submarine will likely significantly slow the pace of the national submarine-building program. The WarZone also notes that until now, the Wuchang shipyard has been used to produce conventionally powered ships. Therefore, the presence of a nuclear-powered unit is unprecedented.

However, it is important to note that China's production capabilities for submarines are much greater than those of the U.S. This was confirmed by the U.S. Navy in 2023 during an interview with The WarZone. Last year’s calculations showed that China could produce ships with a tonnage 232 times larger than the U.S. (25,620,000 tons compared to 110,231 tons in the U.S.).

The Type 041 Zhou submarine upgrades the 039C class submarine, which uses conventional propulsion. The new design remains largely a mystery, with exact parameters unknown. However, it is known that the 041 Zhou has small dimensions; the Chinese compare it to the French Rubis class, which is about 246 feet long. The Chinese submarine is expected to displace about 4,400 tons, approximately 1,653 tons more than the French Rubis submarine.

Type 041 Zhou submarines use nuclear propulsion, which requires lower temperatures and pressures to operate compared to classical nuclear systems. AIP (Air-Independent Propulsion) technology allows the submarine to operate for extended periods without surfacing, thus remaining hidden for a longer time.