Malte Humpert
China’s first Zhou-class submarine, a new nuclear-powered attack vessel, sank earlier this summer at the Wuchang shipyard in Wuhan. The sinking represents a major setback for China’s effort to expand and modernize its naval assets in what has been called an arms race with the U.S.
The sinking occurred dock-side in May or June this year, but was first reported by The Wall Street Journal on Thursday. A senior U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, has since confirmed the incident.
A series of satellite images shows the incident unfolding over the course of several weeks, including a recovery effort. The vessel’s distinct X-shape stern allowed for its visual identification as a Zhou-class submarine. A flotilla of floating cranes descended onto the port in the days that followed, likely engaged in a recovery operation.
The third-generation nuclear submarine was first identified in satellite images in May 2021 and subsequently unveiled by the country’s navy in July 2022. The vessel’s design represents a new level in stealth capabilities for a Chinese submarine making it harder to detect it with active or passive sonars. It may be used to escort Chinese carrier groups in the future.
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