China's new sub base to make waves

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Defense

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According to sources in Taiwan, Japan, India and China, the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is building a new focus for its strategic nuclear forces: Hainan Island in the South China Sea. The new hub would reflect China's expanding naval power projection capabilities and greatly increase the possibility of confrontation with other navies.

The strategic shift most likely involves basing some of the PLAN's new Type 094 Jin-class nuclear strategic missile submarines (SSBNs) at a new facility either within or near the existing South Sea Fleet base at Yulin on Hainan Island.

Since 2002, Jane's has interviewed several Asian government officials on China's efforts to build a new nuclear submarine base on Hainan. At first this was described as an underground submarine base, similar to the PLAN's underground pen to support its single North Sea Fleet nuclear submarine base at Huludao on the Bohai Gulf.

In late 2004, however, a serving People's Liberation Army officer who confirmed the existence of a new base also noted that it was not to be an underground facility. Further evidence of a base in some form came in early 2005 when internet source photos documented the visit of a single Type 091 Han-class nuclear attack submarine (SSN) to Yulin. In late 2005, an Asian military source noted that the Hainan facility would be able to host up to eight submarines and might even be scheduled to begin operations in 2006.
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Sczepan

Senior Member
VIP Professional
Hainan sub-base - why not?
The north fleet have to pass South Korea, Japan, the the Ryukyu Islans (including Okinawa) or Taiwan to reach the open pacific, and this Islands could be linked by eavesdrop-systems.
No nuke sub is as quiet as a conventionell sub. None...

So Hainan could have better chances to reach the paciific and the indian ocean - by passing Luzon-Street/Batan Island, the Phillipinas or Indonesia - which includes hundreds of passages.
 
DPRKUnderground

DPRKUnderground

Junior Member
Isn't China also getting a submarine base in Indonesia? But anway, this is going to be of great strategic importance. If an enemy is coming form the Southeast, the mainland gets a warning an gears up. Not only that but increased sub patrols in the South China Sea and possibly the Indian Ocean.
 
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akinkhoo

Junior Member
i read the jane report, i think it is gonna be a simple base, the south fleet has always been of great importance; nothing really surprising. the waters are deeper there and makes a better hiding spot than up north.

i don't believe china is getting a base from indonesia.

there is a small problem with ICBM range, i think the south sea might limit the target option on american continental, anyone did a calculation on them?
 
MIGleader

MIGleader

Banned Idiot
With a range of only 2500 KM, the jl-1A is adequate to hit Guam, but never the continental U.s itself. So its of no worry where to put a submarine base.
 
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chicket9

New Member
Well, North Sea Fleet was preferred base of operations for Han and Xia back then, considering that the main threat was the Soviet Union.

Back in the 70s-late 80s, Han was the most capable submarine in PLAN service while Xia being the only SSBN, could easily hit targets against North East USSR.

Of course, now the threat no longer comes from Russia, and a squadron of Songs would be seen as better suited for operations in the North Sea than the Hans. Also shifting strategies. Cold War meant China was coastally defensive, now adays while China is rather quite encroached by South Korea, Japan and Taiwan as well as USN, the South China sea definitely gives more room for expansion.
 
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