Silly questions: Are the torpedoes from WWII also ? Or can they use newer ones ??
I bet there isnt 1 WW2 operational sub in military service. It would be almost 80 years old.
The article states that Pakistan lost one of their “Tench-class” boats while laying mines in the Bay of Bengal during their 1971 war with India. So the boats do have the ability to sow a small minefield — which is a pretty good use for a diesel electric sub. Just sneak into the PRC’s coastal area and lay a few mines outside of an invasion harbor. BOOM! Operations shut down until the area can be swept (if it can be swept).