OVERVIEW: The Song class SSK (Type 039) is a single shaft, medium endurance, diesel electric powered attack submarine.

DETAILS:    
The Song- class is the first diesel-electric submarine to be fully developed within China and was designed to replace the Romeo / Ming Class submarines.  It is also the first Chinese diesel-electric submarine to use the modern teardrop hull shape.  The class is mainly intended for anti-shipping and anti-submarine operations, likely in the "blue water" environment. It can also perform the missions of reconnaissance, mine laying and patrolling.

For quieter operation, the engines are mounted with shock absorbers and the hull is plated in rubber tiles for sound deadening.  The class also uses a seven-blade propeller for quieter operation.  The result is a design that is reportedly as quiet as a US Los Angeles-class SSN.

Three German MTU 16V396SE84 diesel engines drive the large asymmetrical skewed seven-bladed propeller through a single shaft. The submarine is equipped with four alternators and an electric motor.

The main sensor is a Chinese development of the French Thomson-CSF TSM-2233 medium-frequency passive/active sonar, which is mounted in the bow of the submarine. The bow-mounted sonar can track 4-12 targets simultaneously.  To enhance passive search capabilities, it has a French Thomson-CSF TSM-2255 low frequency sonar on the flanks of the boat.  This sonar can four targets simultaneously to a maximum range of 30km. The system is further enhanced with the integration of a domestic Chinese passive ranging sonar on board, designated as H/SQG-04 sonar. For surface search, a small I-band radar is fitted.

In addition to torpedoes, the Type 039 is also armed with YJ-8 anti-ship cruise missiles.

Specifications:

       Displacement: 2,250 tons surfaced; 3,670 tons submerged.
       Speed: 12-15 knots surfaced, 22 knots submerged
       Machinery: 4 x 6,090 hp diesel engines, 1 electric motor driving 1 shaft.
       Endurance: ?? days; ?? nm surfaced @ 7 knts; ??nm @3 knts submerged
       Operational Depth: 240-250 m
       Maximum Depth:     300m	(crush depth)			 
       Complement: 60

            
NOTES: IOC: 1999. Although launched in May 1994 it was not commissioned until June 1999 due to design and performance problems, reportedly from problems integrating the Chinese, Russian, German and French systems in the design.   Subsequent purchases of Kilos by the PLAN suggest these problems remain. The chief visual distinction of this class is the "stepped" sail.  Units in class: No. 320
  
SOURCES:  "Essay: Inside the Design of China’s Yuan-class Submarine." USNI News. Last modified August 31, 2015. https://news.usni.org/2015/08/31/essay-inside-the-design-of-chinas-yuan-class-submarine. ; Pike, John. "Song Class Type 039 - People's Liberation Army Navy." GlobalSecurity.org. Last modified January 1, 2019. https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/song.htm. ; "Song Class Patrol Submarine | Military-Today.com." MILITARY TODAY - Everything About Modern Warfare. Accessed May 22, 2021. https://www.military-today.com/navy/song_class.htm. ;"Type 39 / Song Class Attack Submarine." Naval Technology | Naval Defence News & Views Updated Daily. Last modified April 15, 2010. https://www.naval-technology.com/projects/songclassubmarine/.