The sub base is at Yalong Bay
Posted on 04/19/2008 8:24:18 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
Imagery confirms underground nuclear sub base in China
Imagery confirms underground nuclear sub base in China
Richard D Fisher Jr Analyst - Virginia
Key Points
Exclusive access to Digital Globe satellite imagery has allowed Jane's to document China's nuclear naval build-up on Hainan Island
The Sanya base may be used to house the new Type 094 nuclear submarine
High-resolution satellite imagery from Digital Globe has enabled Jane's to confirm the construction of a major underground nuclear submarine base at Sanya, on Hainan Island off the southern coast of China.
Although Asian military sources first suggested the existence of the base to Jane's in 2002, the satellite imagery has allowed independent verification for the first time.
The extent of construction indicates that Sanya could become a key base for People's Liberation Army Navy aircraft carriers and other power-projection ships. In December 2007, perhaps in concert with a major People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) exercise the previous month, the PLA moved its first Type 094 second-generation nuclear ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) to Sanya.
Satellite imagery in 2005 showed new construction in the Sanya area of Hainan, confirming information from Jane's sources but revealing few useful details. However, the most recent Digital Globe imagery of the Sanya area shows that it is well on its way to becoming a major naval base.
Since 2005 the PLA has constructed two sets of piers that could accommodate two or more aircraft carrier battlegroups. In addition the PLA has nearly completed a long concrete pier on the coast that could support the loading of submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) onto SSBNs, repair operations on large ships or the embarkation of heavy equipment or troops onto aircraft carriers or amphibious transport ships. Also of significance is the expansion and ornate nature of the headquarters, barracks and military support facilities.
Sanya contains an apparently incomplete cave entrance similar to that of the underground submarine pen known to exist at Jianggezhuang - the submarine base of the North Sea Fleet. The Sanya entrance is more than 23 m in width, which could easily accommodate all PLA submarines and some support ships.
On the eastern side of this peninsula, there are 11 additional access points to underground locations. These could have served to help excavate the new submarine facility, or they could also serve as storage areas for nuclear missiles or other weapons and equipment that need to be kept away from the vessels.
Beyond the strategic implications of securing the South China Sea, Sanya has topographical benefits. While nuclear ballistic missile submarine construction takes place near the North Sea Fleet base of Huludao, the nearby Yellow Sea and Bohai Gulf are too shallow, with depths of approximately 150 ft, creating unacceptable vulnerabilities for SSBN operations. South of Hainan Island, PLAN SSBNs would soon find depths exceeding 5,000 m, which could support submarine patrols.
Richard D. Fisher, Jr is a senior fellow with the International Assessment and Strategy Center in Alexandria, Virginia.
Ping!
“I’m not claiming to be the sharpest tool in the barn but aren’t subs supposed to go underwater?”
My thought exactly. Apparently they bury their nuke subs. LOL
When we send a satellite over Poljarni, we can tell if Russian subs are there or not and step up alertness appropriately.
If I were a betting man, I'd say the chicoms are planning a first strike and don't want to risk satellites exposing their movements until after the first nukes fly.
Oooh!! I want one!!!
I guess they haven’t come to grips with that Mutually Assured Destruction thing yet. I am sure we have enough boomers within striking range of China to turn that country into a nuclear wasteland in a matter of minutes. And now that we know of their pens you can rest assured that we will have more fast attacks patrolling that area.
I’ll bet they didn’t realize we had satellites with X-Ray vision too! Rickshaw Rik not soooo smaaaaaht.
Damn, that's a scary thought.
I don’t see any reason why China can’t build a navy that will rival ours, or even go us one better. They have the technology, thanks to the treachery of the Clinton’s, and almost all of our money, thanks to unrestricted free trade, so what’s to stop them from having a more powerful navy, army, and air force?
Who would they be planning to strike? Surely not the U.S. as we are among their best customers?
Of course if the dems win and shut down WalMart and impose protectionism, who knows?
MAD requires a desire to preserve ones people.
Considering the enormous landmass that is china and the disdain they hold for their people, you have to wonder if they wouldn’t consider the loss of 50%+ of their population an acceptable price to decapitate America.
The Russians were overwhelmingly paranoid but essentially rational, I don’t think the same can be said of the chinese leadership.
A very valid point. I think they would be willing to lose even more than half. Which is why Bejing and their leadership must be evaporated first.
The chicoms are milking the cow before they slaughter it.
Our status as consumer vassal in no way insulates us. If the chinese government truly wants world domination, the singular threat to that dominion is the U.S.
Besides, our economy is currently viewed as weak and growing weaker, we are militarily tied down in the middle east, our forces are tired and equipment is in need of repair and replacement. We are the weakest we’ve been militarily in decades and weakness encourages aggression by ones foes.
G_d grant that I’m badly wrong in my assessment.
I sincerely hope you’re right, but I don’t see why they would take the time and spend the money to create underground bases to stave off a conventional attack when they are certainly going to have plenty of warning that a conventional air and sea force is inbound.
The day of sneak attacks are long past.
Besides, the chinese have more than enough intelligence agents in the military and Washington to let them know what’s coming months in advance.
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