United Press International May 02, 2003
Chinese submarine accident kills 70
Around 70 Chinese sailors died in a submarine accident east of Liaoning Province, the Chinese news agency Xinhua reported Friday.
Jiang Zemin, chairman of the Central Military Commission sent condolence messages dated Friday to family members of the dead navy officers and seamen, Xinhua reported.
Xinhua identified the submarine only as No. 361, which indicates it is likely a Ming class diesel submarine assigned to the east sea fleet. The Ming is essentially a redesigned Romeo class submarine, itself based on the German U-boat of World War II fame.
The 250-foot long Ming class submarine was certified in 1983. There are approximately 19 in China's inventory. No. 361 entered service in 1995, according to GlobalSecurity.org. Ming submarines normally carry a crew of fewer than 60, with 10 officers.
The submarine was on an exercise east of islands in the Korea Bay between China and North Korea when mechanical problems caused the accident, according to Xinhua. The submarine has been towed back to port.
Copyright © 2003, U.P.I.
