Bloomberg May 02, 2003
China Submarine Mishap During Drill Kills All 70 Sailors Aboard
By Todd Zeranski
Beijing, May 3 (Bloomberg) -- All 70 sailors were killed when a mechanical problem caused an accident aboard a Chinese Navy submarine, China's official Xinhua News Agency reported, in the deadliest sub disaster since Russia's Kursk sank in 2000.
The No. 361 conventionally powered submarine was taking part in a drill east of the Neichangshan Islands off the northeast coast of China when the mishap occurred, Xinhua reported.
The sub has been towed back to its base, whose location Xinhua didn't identify. It was operating in Chinese waters. The nature of the mechanical difficulty that overwhelmed the vessel and killed the crew wasn't specified.
``This is the first loss of a sub I've heard of, though others are rumored,'' said Bernard Cole, a retired U.S. Navy captain and author of the book, ``The Great Wall at Sea: China's Navy Enters the 21st Century.''
``The Chinese are pretty secretive,'' Cole said. ``It surprises me they made this public.''
The accident highlighted China's growing involvement in submarine operations. China's Navy is trying to project more force regionally in part by improving its ability to send subs on extended patrols, according to Globalsecurity.org, an Alexandria, Virginia-based defense research group.
``China has one of the largest submarine forces in the world,'' Cole said. ``Many of the boats are old but they could still be a potent weapon.''
Soviet Design
The damaged sub is a Soviet-designed, Ming-class vessel whose mission is to attack surface ships, lay mines and carry out surveillance, Cole said. China has augmented its force in the past few years by purchasing Russian Kilo-class diesel-powered subs, according to Globalsecurity. The fleet also includes some nuclear- powered subs.
Jane's Defense Weekly reported in September 1995 that what appeared to be a 12th Ming-class sub with pennant number 361 had been built at Shanghai's Hudong Shipyard, according to the Jane's Information Group Web site. There are now around 20 Ming subs in the fleet.
Russia's nuclear-powered Kursk submarine sank in the Barents Sea after two explosions on Aug. 12, 2000, killing 118 people. An investigative commission concluded last year that torpedo fuel exploded, setting off other torpedoes on the vessel.
Jiang Zemin, chairman of the Central Military Commission, has sent his condolences to the families of the officers and enlisted men killed on 361, the news agency said.
The Navy ``expresses is profound grief toward the dead martyrs and gives its condolences to the relatives,'' the Xinhua report said.
Copyright © 2003, Bloomberg L.P.
