China's new nuclear submarine raises serious quality concerns

A Chinese nuclear submarine sank at the Wuchang Shipyard at the end of May and beginning of June 2024. It was the first and, at the same time, an experimental unit of the new 041 Zhou class. Reports of this catastrophic "blunder" by China were relayed by former US Navy officer Tom Shugart, who, in July 2024, noticed in satellite images that many barges with cranes suddenly appeared at the quay where the unit was being built. They were working on an object shaped like a submarine.

In the following days, cranes continued working at the Wuchang Shipyard, and a barrier appeared in the water to stop leaks inside the submarine. The operation was completed in just under a month.

The US Department of Defense now confirms that data collected by the unit shows that the 041 Zhou-class submarine under construction sank at the Wuchang Shipyard in July 2024. Thus, Shugart must have observed an operation aimed at saving the unit and securing the water from contamination.

The quality of these submarines remains a contentious issue, as read in the portal The WarZone. The WarZone points out that the sinking of the new Chinese submarine will likely significantly slow down the pace of the country's submarine construction program. The WarZone also notes that so far, the Wuchang Shipyard has been used to produce conventionally powered submarines. The appearance of a nuclear unit in it is an unprecedented situation.

It remains significant, however, that China's production capabilities in the context of submarines are much greater than those of the USA. This was confirmed in 2023 by the US Navy (in a conversation with the aforementioned portal, The WarZone). Last year's calculations showed that China could produce vessels with a tonnage 236 times greater than the USA (approximately 23,558,000 metric tonnes compared to about 100,000 metric tonnes in the USA).

Let us clarify that the Chinese Type 041 Zhou submarine is an upgraded version of the 039C class submarine (which uses conventional propulsion). The new design remains a mystery – its exact parameters are not known. However, it is known that 041 Zhou has small dimensions, with the Chinese themselves comparing it to the French Rubis class (about 75 metres in length). The Chinese equipment is expected to have a displacement of about 4,002 metric tonnes, which is a value greater by about 1,500 metric tonnes compared to the French Rubis submarine.

The 041 Zhou-class submarines use nuclear propulsion, which, compared to the classical nuclear system, requires lower temperatures and pressure to operate. The presence of AIP technology is also significant, allowing the Chinese submarine to operate for an extended period without surfacing (independent access to air). Thus, the 041 Zhou can remain hidden for a long time.