Navy’s China-made submarines to be commissioned Sunday
- Published at 09:37 PM March 11, 2017
Bangladesh Navy is set to start its journey as a “three-dimensional force” as two submarines are going to be added to its fleet for the first time on Sunday.
“The commissioning of two submarines procured from China will be held at a special ceremony in the area adjacent to Chittagong naval jetty in the presence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” according to a press invitation issued by Inter Services Press Relation office.
A ship brought Bangladesh’s first submarines named “Nabajatra” and “Joyjatra” to Chittagong Port from China on December 22 last year. The submarines were handed over to Bangladesh on November 14.
The Type 035G-class submarines were assembled at Chinese state-owned Liaonan shipyard in the Dalian state.
Bangladesh paid a reported $203m for the submarines, a deal that reflects the country’s growing economic and defence ties with Beijing.
The submarines, also known as Ming-class, are a class of diesel-electric submarines of the People’s Liberation Army Navy. A total of 12 were built and commissioned between 1990 and 1999. They are 76 metres in length and 7.6 metres in width.
The naval personnel of both the countries completed a sea trial and real training to operate the submarines, an ISPR release said after their arrival in Chittagong.
The primary weaponry for Type 035G is the Yu-3 torpedo. It uses French-made sonar DUUX-5 unit. The 035G-class is also renowned for its anti-submarine weapon capabilities.
They were built with further improvements, especially in terms of noise reduction, weapons, sensors and crew living standards.
The Type 035G is frequently used for coastal patrols. Bangladesh has about 118,813 sq km of maritime territory, much of it won in disputes with India and Myanmar.
