Type 039 / Type 039G Song-class submarine

Service And Conflict Use

1. May 25, 1994

   Lead Song boat is launched

   GlobalSecurity says the first Song-class submarine was launched on 25 May 1994 at Wuhan.

   Sources: Song Class Type 039

2. Jan 1, 1998

   Song enters operational service

   GlobalSecurity says the first Type 039 did not become operational until 1998 after sea trials.

   Sources: Song Class Type 039

3. Jun 3, 2004

   Type 039G1 is revealed

   Wuhan Shipbuilding Industry Company revealed a further improved Type 039G1 variant in June 2004.

   Sources: Song Class Type 039

4. Mar 1, 2006

   Production is reported to have reached 13 boats

   GlobalSecurity reports that by March 2006 China had 13 Song-class SSKs in service and was shifting new production toward the Yuan class.

   Sources: Song Class Type 039

Type 039 / Type 039G Song-class submarine Images

Related Weapon Systems

Naval SystemsÉridan class minehunterMinehunter classThe Éridan class is the French Navy's national subclass of the Tripartite minehunter family, built at Arsenal de Lorient and fitted for precise mine countermeasures with hull sonar and PAP 104 vehicles. French Navy material describes the class as a specialist platform for detecting, identifying, and neutralizing submerged mines, with use as a precursor for amphibious and naval-air operations.

Naval SystemsFrankenthal class minehunterMinehunter classThe Frankenthal class is a German Navy minehunter class built by Lürssen, Abeking & Rasmussen, and Krögerwerft for precise mine countermeasures in shallow waters. Bundeswehr data describe a non-magnetic steel hull, Seefuchs underwater drones, mine-laying rails, and a 27 mm MLG fit on the 54.4-meter MJ332 boats.

Naval SystemsRubis-class submarineNuclear-powered attack submarine classThe Rubis class is France's first generation of nuclear-powered attack submarines, built at Cherbourg for the French Navy and later modernized under the Améthyste program. Compact for a nuclear attack submarine, the class combined four 533 mm torpedo tubes with F17 torpedoes and SM39 Exocet missiles before being superseded by the Suffren class.

Naval SystemsType 039B Yuan-class submarineChinese People's Liberation Army Navy Yuan-family diesel-electric attack submarine variantThe Type 039B is a Chinese Yuan-family diesel-electric attack submarine variant built for the People's Liberation Army Navy. GlobalSecurity describes it as a 2014 revision of the 039A with a lengthened hull and continued AIP-based quieting, while Wikimedia Commons images document the distinctive Yuan-class silhouette used for the variant.

Naval SystemsType 039C Yuan-class submarineChinese People's Liberation Army Navy Yuan-family diesel-electric attack submarine variant with redesigned sailThe Type 039C Yuan-class submarine is a Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy conventional attack submarine variant identified by Western analysts in 2021 and later reported as an operational PLAN boat. Naval News and Covert Shores describe it as a Yuan-family development with a sharply faceted sail, a likely towed-array sonar fit, and the same general weapons loading method used by earlier Yuan boats.

Naval SystemsAlmaz / X-RayDeep-diving nuclear special mission submarineAlmaz / X-Ray is the Soviet/Russian NATO-reporting-name family for the Project 1851 Nelma deep-diving special mission submarines. Open sources describe the 40-meter, titanium-hulled craft as carrier-borne vehicles with a diver lock-out, used for reconnaissance, cable tapping, rescue, and seabed recovery at about 1,000 meters.

Sources