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Deng Sanrui

Deng Sanrui, hailed as the "father of Chinese submarines," created a number of firsts in the domestic submarine military industry. Deng Sanrui presided over the design and development of China's first experimental submarine, and also served as the overall design consultant (chief designer) of China's first nuclear submarine. He is known as the "father of Chinese submarines" and the pioneer of "intelligent underwater robot technology". Deng Sanrui, an outstanding member of the Communist Party of China, a well-tested and loyal communist fighter, former dean of Harbin Institute of Shipbuilding Engineering and a lifetime honorary professor of Harbin Engineering University, was sick. The treatment was ineffective, and unfortunately he died at 13:30 on September 15, 2020 at the age of 91.

Deng Sanrui was born in Beijing in 1929 and his hometown is Ningyuan, Hunan. The middle school was the middle school affiliated to the Central University in Nanjing, which was one of the most well-known high schools in China at that time. It was originally a good opportunity to learn, but unfortunately it coincided with the critical moment when the KMT and the Communist Party met each other in battle, so life and study were very unstable.

After graduating from high school in 1949, Deng Sanrui came to Shanghai just after Nanjing and Shanghai were liberated. At that time, Sun Ningbao, a student from the Shipbuilding Department of Jiaotong University, was very familiar with Deng Sanrui. There were vacant beds in the dormitory, so he could live temporarily. Other students had no objection, so Deng Sanrui moved in first. It can be described as "not from Jiaotong University, first enter the door."

Deng Sanrui took the college entrance examination on the campus of Jiaotong University. At that time, there was no unified examination, and each university recruited students independently. He first applied for the National Chiao Tung University, and then Tsinghua came to Shanghai to recruit students, and he also went for the exam. When the list was published, Jiaotong University and Tsinghua University both admitted him. In addition, he studied in the High School Affiliated to Zhongda University in Nanjing, and with good grades, he was sent to the Central University so that he could choose to study in three schools, all of which are prestigious universities.

At that time, many students wanted to go to the north, and he also wanted to. But the cousin said, "Don't go, don't go anywhere, just go to the National Chiao Tung University." Deng Sanrui has both died since childhood. He was brought up by this cousin since he was a child. He listened very much to his sister. Fate, just arrived as scheduled. Deng Sanrui entered the university of Jiaotong University and started his university study career.

After the outbreak of the Korean War in the second half of 1950 , China decided to resist US aggression and aid Korea. Deng Sanrui and his classmate Chen Chu decided to apply for a military career, so they signed up for the military at the Committee for the Defense of World Peace. Later, this incident developed into a campaign for our party to recruit young intellectuals to participate in military cadre schools, referred to as " participation " . As a school, Jiaotong University has sent a large number of college students to the military academy, and for this purpose, a special committee has been established. Deng Sanrui was first sent to the Navy Repair and Construction Department, and then transferred to Dalian Maritime Academy to continue to study shipbuilding.

Deng Sanrui's class at Jiaotong University should have graduated in four years, but he took in three years. The early graduation was decided by Premier Zhou Enlai, because the first five-year plan required talents. The students enrolled in 1949 graduated at the same time as the students enrolled in 1948. As a result, Deng Sanrui got his diploma from Jiaotong University in 1952 and Hainan University graduated in 1953. The two diplomas were separated by one year.

Deng Sanrui's graduation project is related to submarines. It can be said that he was China's first graduate project with submarine as the content. This also laid the foundation for his future career. In 1953 , Harbin Military Engineering College was established, and Deng Sanrui taught in the Department of Naval Engineering. In 1956 , the first scientific spring after the founding of the People's Republic of China arrived. Deng Sanrui participated in the formulation of the submarine development plan of the 12-year National Science and Technology Development Plan chaired by Premier Zhou Enlai. The plan determined that China would build its own surface ships, nuclear submarines and atomic bombs.

At the end of World War II, several submarines owned by China were all modified by the Soviet Union. Many of the teachers at Dalian Maritime University are Soviet experts and Chinese experts who have been in the Soviet Union. Most of the students come from Tsinghua University and Jiaotong University. They have basically mastered the basic knowledge and theory of submarine building through the hands of Soviet experts. At that time, we also received an important assistance from the Soviet Union-transfer of manufacturing, which is to import the equipment, steel and craftsmanship of Soviet-built submarines, according to the drawings provided by the Soviet Union, under the guidance of Soviet experts, and manufactured in China. Both submarines and surface warships were built in accordance with the transfer manufacturing method.

In this process, Deng Sanrui further mastered the entire process and technology of submarine construction, and the foundation of Chinese submarine development was gradually established. After that, as the only expert in the Kazakh military industry who had studied military shipbuilding, he led the students to Shanghai to start the design of Chinese submarines.

In 1959, Deng Sanrui led the domestic submarine's first self-designed technical design work, and finally developed the first experimental submarine, which was 15 meters long and 30 tons, and was successfully tested in Lushun at the end of 1959. Regarding the development of the first domestic experimental submarine, an autobiographical reminiscence of old Deng Sanrui's "Old Teardrop-shaped Submarine" shows that the old man attached great importance to the scientific spirit, seeking truth from facts, and not boasting or speaking big words.

Deng Sanrui directed the fourth group of naval design students in the second phase, and happened to refer to foreign language materials to design the drop shape. Taking this as an opportunity, the first domestic submarine positioned the drop shape, which was still very advanced from a technical point of view. However, there were still many problems in the design. Although the overall design of the submarine could be done at the time, the domestic industry was weak, such as batteries, electric motors, diesel engines and even periscopes that could not meet the design requirements.

Deng Sanrui, under the circumstances at the time, still insisted on being guided by scientific facts, thinking that under the conditions of science and technology at the time, it was not realistic to engage in 032. The 032 failed. However, the 032-1 test boat was successfully tested at sea and accumulated valuable experience, especially for the good operability of the drop shape on water and underwater, which laid a foundation for further research on the drop shape submarine. The foundation, including the first nuclear-powered attack ship in China, also uses the previous research foundation.

In terms of the training of design teams and talents, after 032-1, the submarine development major was born in the Seventh Academy and several professional submarine research units and universities. Because before that, there was no professional submarine design unit in the country, and the professional talents afterwards were basically 032 from the Kazakhstan military industry and the old man. Therefore, Deng Sanrui together with 032-1 is equivalent to laying the foundation for domestic submarine design and development.

Of course, Deng Sanrui’s life achievements do not stop there. He participated in many firsts and firsts in the maritime field of ships, including the submarine planning of the twelve-year development plan of domestic science and technology, opened up the research direction of military intelligent underwater robots, and pioneered Responsible for the development of the first domestic military intelligent underwater robot.

In 1966, Deng Sanrui participated in the design demonstration of China's first nuclear submarine as a major member and served as a consultant for the development team. This submarine was officially incorporated into the navy series in 1974.

Details of his activities from about 1965 through around 1985 are generally lacking.

In 1984, he was hired by the United Nations as an expert of the naval arms race research expert group to conduct research on the global naval arms race, and his book was highly praised. When the United Nations was engaged in research on the global naval arms race, Deng Sanrui co-authored the "Navy Arms Race", which was published in 1985. He used the money he received to purchase a large number of original professional books on the navy and shipbuilding industry for the students, and the remaining 5,000 US dollars were also given to the school.

His life was hailed as "for the ship, for the sea, and for national defense". More importantly, the old man was still in an education position and has long been engaged in the training of high-level talents in the marine and maritime fields. He gave a large number of submarine research talents to the country. Not only had he made outstanding contributions to the military industry, but also cultivated countless hopes for the future military industry.

In the early 1990s, Deng Sanrui undertook the important task of developing China's first generation of intelligent underwater robots and did a lot of pioneering work. In 1995, Deng Sanrui was 66 years old and his career was in the ascendant. He strongly recommended Xu Yuru to take over his job. "Xu Yuru is more than ten years younger than me, and has done a good job. Why not give it to someone who is rich and powerful?" Xu Yuru is an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and an expert on intelligent underwater robots. He said more than once that one of the most grateful mentors is Professor Deng Sanrui, "The pioneer of intelligent underwater robot technology is Mr. Deng. It is the tree planted by Mr. Deng, and the fruit is picked by us."

Deng Sanrui once said, "I have an evaluation of myself, and my academic level is not high, but I have done a few things first. Opportunities favor me. I think I am first but not high." This humble, low-key person never cared about the fame and status he gained, and always put national interests first throughout his life.

Deng Sanrui himself does not agree with the praise of the "father of Chinese submarines". He said: "I just took the lead in this field. It's okay to be a pioneer. These things are not personal, they are all done by a team. I am a person who favors opportunities." Deng Sanrui's life was "for ships, for the sea, and for national defense." His whole life was closely linked to the self-improvement of the national military industry. He once said that a wise man must always be "confused", and he must be sincere in seeking truth and knowledge.