Sinpo-class submarine
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders | Sinpo South Shipyard |
| Operators |  Democratic People's Republic of Korea |
| Preceded by | Sang-O-class submarine |
| Building | 1 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Diesel submarine |
| Displacement | 1,000-1,500 tons (estimated) |
| Length | 65.5m (estimated) |
| Beam | 6.6m (estimated) |
| Propulsion | Diesel-electric? |
| Speed | (estimated) 16knots on surface, 10knots dived. (estimated) |
| Range | 1,500 nautical miles (2,800 km) (estimated) |
| Complement | 30-50 crew (estimated) |
| Sensors and processing systems | unknown |
| Armament | unknown |
The Sinpo class submarine is a new class of submarine produced in North Korea. One submarine has been observed under construction. It is the largest submarine designed and built for the Korean People's Navy.
Design and Features
The design may be influenced by older Yugoslavian designs such as Heroj and Sava.[1] These has been speculation the design is influenced by modern Russian submarines of Kilo class, or Golf class submarine, but the submarine under construction is significantly smaller than these designs.[2]
Despite being possibly less advanced and capable of western or South Korean vessels, they could still represent a significative step forward by the submarine fleet of the Korean People's Navy. If the design is successful, the Sinpo class could replace the aging Romeo-class submarines. However it is possibly a one-off experimental submarine as the Korean People's Navy has built previously.[1]
Armaments
At first a blue cover on the sail has been proposed as a possible vertical tube for missile launcher on a blog-like website,[3] though this was refuted by more reliable sources.[1][2] Later however, new satellite pictures could confirm the presence of an opening on the conning tower to indicate the presence of tubes for launch of 1 or 2 missiles of unclear type.[4]
The first released pictures of the submarines were associated with the test of the missile KN-11. [5]
Speculations
Only satellite images are available, as no official pictures have been released by North Korea.
South Korean media has suggested that North Korea managed to reverse-engineer or modify one of the old Golf-II hulls that North Korea imported in early '90s.[6][7] However also this claim is refused by some western analyst sources.[8]
References
- ^ a b c Joseph s. Bermudez Jr. (19 October 2014). "The North Korean Navy Acquires a New Submarine". 38 North. U.S.-Korea Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
- ^ a b "Media Busters: Is North Korea Building a Ballistic Missile Submarine?". 38 North. U.S.-Korea Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. 4 November 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
- ^ "H I Sutton - Covert Shores". hisutton.com.
- ^ "North Korea's SINPO-class Sub: New Evidence of Possible Vertical Missile Launch Tubes; Sinpo Shipyard Prepares for Significant Naval Construction Program - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea". 38north.org.
- ^ http://www.hisutton.com/Analysis%20-%20Sinpo%20Class%20Ballistic%20Missile%20Sub.html
- ^ "N. Korea launches ballistic missile submarine: gov't sources". Yonhap News Agency. 2 November 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
- ^ "North Korea launches refurbished Soviet-era submarine - Daily Mail Online". Mail Online.
- ^ "Media Busters: Is North Korea Building a Ballistic Missile Submarine? - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea". 38north.org.