Type 039-class (Song)

The Type 039 (NATO reporting name Song-class) is a diesel-electric submarine class operated by the People's Liberation Army Navy. Developed as the successor to the Type 035, the class was constructed by Wuhan Shipbuilding and Jiangnan Shipyard. It represents the first Chinese-designed diesel-electric submarine to utilize a teardrop hull shape.

Development of the lead boat, Changcheng 320, involved an extended testing period to address issues with noise levels and underwater performance. These requirements led to design revisions across three variants. The original Type 039 prototype is identified by a stepped conning tower. The subsequent Type 039G and Type 039G1 variants feature a conventional conning tower intended to reduce the vessel's acoustic signature.

The Type 039 uses a single-propeller propulsion system with an engine imported from Germany. The engine is mounted on shock absorbers, and the hull is plated with rubber sound-deadening tiles. Sensors include a bow-mounted medium-frequency sonar, which is a Chinese development of the French Thomson-CSF TSM-2233, used for search, attack, and underwater communications. This is supplemented by French-designed low-frequency flank sonars and a domestic H/SQG-04 passive ranging sonar. Electronic support measures are provided by the SRW209 suite, which integrates a radar warning receiver and radio direction finder.

Primary armament is deployed via torpedo tubes capable of launching Yu-4 passive homing torpedoes, Yu-6 wire-guided torpedoes, and YJ-8 cruise missiles. The launching system is compatible with both Chinese and Russian/Soviet-origin munitions. The class is also capable of deploying naval mines in place of torpedoes. While the CY-1 anti-submarine warfare missile has been test-fired from this class, its production status is unconfirmed.

Thirteen units are active. The North Sea Fleet operates hull numbers 315, 316, 320, 321, 322, 323, 327, and 328. The East Sea Fleet operates numbers 314, 324, and 325, while the South Sea Fleet operates 326 and 329. In October 2006, a Type 039 submarine surfaced within five nautical miles of the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk in the East China Sea before being detected by carrier air wing personnel.