Sinpo-class submarine

The Sinpo class submarine, also called the Gorae ("whale")[4] or Pongdae class,[5] is a new class of submarine produced in North Korea. Only one submarine has been observed in service. It is the largest submarine designed and built for the Korean People's Navy.

Sinpo-B class
Class overview
BuildersSinpo South Shipyard
Operators North Korea
Preceded bySang-O-class submarine
Succeeded bySinpo-C-class submarine[1]
Planned3 or more
Building1
Completed1
Active1
Laid up2
General characteristics
TypeDiesel submarine
DisplacementSubmerged 1,650[2]-2,000 tons[1]
Length68m (estimated)
Beam6.5m (estimated)
PropulsionDiesel-electric (?)
Speed(estimated) 16 knots (30 km/h) on surface, 10 knots (19 km/h) dived. (estimated)
Range1,500 nautical miles (2,800 km) (estimated)
Complement70–80 (estimated)[3]
Crew30–50 (estimated)
Armament

Design and features

The design may be influenced by older Yugoslavian designs such as Heroj and Sava.[6] There has been speculation the design is influenced by modern Russian submarines of Kilo class, or Golf class submarine, but the submarine is significantly smaller than these designs.[7]

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.[6]

The only submarine of this class is named 'August 24 Hero', with pennant number 824, named after the first successfully launched submarine-launched ballistic missile from a submarine on 24 August, 2016.[8]

Armaments

Satellite images suggest the presence of an opening on the conning tower indicating the presence of a launch tube for one or two missiles.[9]

In August 2016, during the annual joint US-South Korea military exercise, a submarine presumed to be this one launched what is believed to be a KN-11 ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan.[10] North Korea's first released pictures of the submarine associated it with the test of the KN-11 missile.[3]

On 19 October 2021, the '8.24 Hero' Sinpo/Gorae submarine conducted a launch of an SLBM apparently based on the KN-23 missile.[11]

Variants

Sinpo-C

In September 2016, analysts at 38 North reported on a 10-metre diameter object detected on satellite images of North Korea's Sinpo South Shipyard, believing the object may be a construction jig or possibly a pressure hull of a new submarine.[12]

US intelligence detected a new submarine being built at Sinpo which was considered a likely successor to Sinpo-B (Gorae) and labelled it Sinpo-C with an estimated submerged mass of over 2,000 tons and with an 11 metres beam.[1] 38 North also detected signs of submarine being built[13] and reported Satellite imagery from 5 November 2017 indicates a diameter of 7.1 metres.[14]

Tokyo Shimbun reported in September 2017, that new North Korean submarine in construction to weigh 3000 tons and have air-independent propulsion.[15] Also in September 2017, Sekai Nippo too reported on 3000 ton submarine and added it is nuclear powered.[16]

Also, the SINPO-C ballistic missile submarine (SSB)[17] and the SINPO-class experimental ballistic missile submarine (SSBA) were built in the Sinpo South shipyard.[17]

Chosun Ilbo reported on April 5 of 2019 that 3000 ton ballistic missile submarine is being built at Sinpo.[18][19]

Satellite images of Sinpo shipyard from March and April 2019 indicate that submarine construction is still ongoing.[20]

3000-ton submarine and 4000–5000-ton submarine

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 the early 1990s.[21] However, an analysis in 38 North disagrees with the Golf-II conversion theory, as such a hull has yet to be identified.[22]

Although a Type-033 submarine is the submarine being converted at the Sinpo South Shipyard, such a submarine, which originally weights 1830 tons is unlikely to become a 3000 ton submarine, by adding missile launch tubes and expanding the sail, as images released do not show the submarine being expanded in length. A Golf class submarine, however, would fit the description of a 3000 ton submarine, which is significantly larger than the Type-033 submarine that is the only known submarine undergoing reconstruction.[23]

A different South Korean report claims that North Korea is also developing a larger submarine, at around 4000 to 5000 tons. This particular weight would fit the category of a nuclear submarine, which had been a stated goal by Kim Jong-un at the 8th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea.[23]

References
  1. Panda, Ankit. "The Sinpo-C-Class: A New North Korean Ballistic Missile Submarine Is Under Construction". The Diplomat. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  2. "404: OK". www.hisutton.com. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  3. H I Sutton (27 August 2016). "Analysis – Sinpo Class Ballistic Missile Sub". Covert Shores. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  4. Sinpo / GORAE-Class Ballistic Missile Sub, GlobalSecurity.org, accessed 2017-04-18
  5. "Sinpo Class (Gorae)". Military Edge. Foundation for Defense of Democracies. 6 July 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  6. 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.
  7. "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.
  8. "Academy of Defence Science succeeds in test-fire of new-type SLBM". www.pyongyangtimes.com.kp. Retrieved 2021-10-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. "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.
  10. Sam LaGrone (23 August 2016). "North Korea Fires Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile". USNI News. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  11. North Korea’s “New Type Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile”: More Political Than Military Significance. 38 North. 22 October 2021.
  12. "Is North Korea Building a New Submarine?". 30 September 2016.
  13. "Sinpo South Shipyard: SLBM Test Not Imminent; Unknown Shipbuilding Program Underway – 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea". 11 October 2017.
  14. "North Korea's Submarine Ballistic Missile Program Moves Ahead: Indications of Shipbuilding and Missile Ejection Testing – 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea". 16 November 2017.
  15. "Report: North Korea completing work on new SLBM submarines". UPI.
  16. "北朝鮮、密かに原潜建造 ２～３年内に実戦配備 | 世界日報".
  17. "North Korea's Submarine Ballistic Missile Program Moves Ahead: Indications of Shipbuilding and Missile Ejection Testing". 38 North. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  18. "北, SLBM 3~4기 실을 3000t급 신형 잠수함 건조 중". www.chosun.com. July 18, 2020.
  19. "N.Korea 'Building New Ballistic Missile Submarine'". english.chosun.com.
  20. "North Korea's Sinpo South Shipyard: Submarine Shipbuilding Continuing at Slow Pace | 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea". 38 North. April 12, 2019.
  21. "N. Korea launches ballistic missile submarine: gov't sources". Yonhap News Agency. 2 November 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  22. "Media Busters: Is North Korea Building a Ballistic Missile Submarine? – 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea". 38north.org.
  23. "Ballistic Missile Submarines and Submarine-launched Ballistic Missiles of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea". oneearthfuture.org. Retrieved 2021-10-26.
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