[CHN] Breaking News: China’s nuclear submarine goes missing.

China’s nuclear submarine goes missing.

Breaking News: Chinese Nuclear Submarines goes missing. Is this really sunk?

(Caution: This article may be an unverified rumor.)

“The Type 093 series is noisier than its technical motto, the Soviet Victor III, and its successor, the Type 095, is expected to be noisier than the Akula I, which appeared 20 years ago.” – Federation of American Scientists (Nov. 2009)

China’s Type 093 submarines are deployed in a fleet of six, serving as a counterweight to the U.S. 7th Fleet and an escort to the Chinese fleet.
The submarine is currently reportedly engaged in a “show of force” in the Taiwan Strait.

[Fig. 1] Chinese Type-093 Class Submarine (by H I Sutton)

• • • • • Length: 110 meters
        • Diameter: 11 meters
        • Underwater displacement: 7,000+ tons
        • Maximum speed: 30 kt
        • Propulsion: 2 pressurized light water reactors
        • Torpedo launchers: 6 x 533 mm
        • Vertical launchers: additional to 093B type
        • Diving depth: Approx. 250 meters

China’s nuclear submarines are not visible.

[Fig. 2] There were no submarines in the Lian Yun Gang on August 24. (Source from satim)

The satellite’s artificial intelligence failed to identify the submarine (Although it is possible that this was an error).

Rumors that a Chinese nuclear submarine has had an accident.

The area where the accident is believed to have occurred is near the Yellow Sea and East China Sea.
The rumor was first reported by a blog called “China Front”.
The rumor reads as follows

“The Type 093 attack nuclear submarine that crashed in the Yellow Sea was on a test and training mission when the accident occurred. The 55 people on board, including the dead, included 22 senior military officers at the level of nuclear submarine captain.”

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense changes its stance

On August 22, 2023, unconfirmed rumors circulated in the waters near Taiwan that a Type 093 nuclear submarine had sunk, killing the entire crew. China’s response to the incident was that it was a rumor, while Taiwan’s military said there was no evidence to support it.

However, on September 16, the Taiwanese military said, “This is a matter of sensitivity. It is not for us to comment.” However, reports initially suggested that the incident occurred in the narrow Taiwan Strait, and now there are reports of a disaster in the West Sea.

Major General Huang Wen-chih (deputy director of the Information Office of the General Staff of Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense) said he would not comment. Because the information involved is “absolutely confidential.”. He added “It’s sensitive and I don’t feel comfortable disclosing it.”

To summarize, The Taiwanese Ministry of Defense is dealing with it. But they can’t disclose it.
Because it’s a “sensitive classified matter”.

WC-135R reconnaissance plane flew near the coast of China

The U.S. Air Force’s WC-135R Constant Phoenix nuclear-detection reconnaissance aircraft flew near China. A single WC-135R reconnaissance plane flew near the coast of China at 2 a.m. on Sept. 6, according to flight-tracking site Flytrader24. It reportedly flew over the area of the accident.

[Fig. 2] WC-135 Weather Reconnaissance Aircraft Flight Path (Sept. 7, 2023)

The Constellation Phoenix is a weather reconnaissance aircraft. Therefore, the plane can get information. Those are about artificial radioactive isotopes(such as cesium and krypton) in the atmosphere.
The plane usually takes off immediately after a North Korean nuclear test to collect relevant atmospheric data.

If the rumors are true, it would be the worst maritime accident in Chinese naval history.

Most recent official submarine incidents

2021: The Indonesian submarine KRI Nanggala 402 with 53 crew members on board disappeared.
2017: An Argentine submarine with 44 crew members disappeared in the South Atlantic.