Han class submarine
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The 4,500/5,500-ton Type 091 (US Dep't of Defense designation Han-class) was the first nuclear-powered submarine class (SSN) deployed by the People's Liberation Army Navy starting in 1974, the last of the class being commissioned in 1990. The boat has six 533mm torpedo tubes, and carries 20 torpedoes. Alternatively, it can carry 36 mines in its tubes.
The Han class since their commissionings, have gone through major upgrades and numerous refits. It is believed that long refits have often meant that these submarines spend more time in port than out at sea, greatly affecting their operational capacity. Combat capabilities of the Han seem to be undermined by the poor and noisy nuclear reactors. Their initial design and weapons fit seem inadequate if confronting other submarines and ships in Western navies. Hull 401 (and possibly 402 as well in the near future) has been retired from active service by 2005. All remaining hulls however have been greatly refitted with new sonars and anechoic tiles (that reduce noise levels). The Han class is capable of firing sub-launched variants of the YJ8 anti-ship missile, as well as a range of indigenous and Russian torpedoes or mines. The Han has mostly operated in local waters, but since the 1990s, Hans have been used more aggressively. A Han shadowed a US carrier battle group in the mid 1990s, and more recently, a Han was operating around Japanese waters, prompting a Japanese task group to pursue the submarine out of its territory. The Han is far from being as capable or effective as the American Los Angeles class SSN. But with their recent improvements, they can pose a great threat by operating deep in the Western Pacific and attacking targets that are not so well protected by ASW coverage.
At one point it was reported in error that the Han-class was equipped with C-801 anti-ship missiles in launch tubes aft of the conning tower.
All 5 boats (Changzheng 1 to 5; # 401 to 405) of this class were deployed with the North Sea Fleet and are homeported at Qingdao.
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