Chinese Nuclear Submarine Suffers Catastrophic Failure After Caught in Trap for US, UK Vessels; 55 Sailors Feared Dead

Inno Flores, Tech Times 04 October 2023, 04:10 am

In a devastating event that unfolded in the Yellow Sea, a Chinese nuclear submarine carrying a crew of 55 is suspected to have become entangled in a trap originally intended for British sub-surface vessels. This unfortunate incident reportedly claimed not only the life of the captain but also 21 other officers on board.

(Photo : MARK SCHIEFELBEIN/AFP via Getty Images)
A type 094 Jin-class nuclear submarine Long March 15 of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy participates in a naval parade to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the founding of China's PLA Navy in the sea near Qingdao, in eastern China's Shandong province on April 23, 2019.

Chinese Nuclear Submarine Experiencing System Failure

A tragic incident has unfolded in the Yellow Sea as the Chinese nuclear submarine, known as "093-417," is feared to have been ensnared in a trap intended for British sub-surface vessels.

According to a confidential UK report obtained by Daily Mail, the submarine's oxygen systems experienced a catastrophic failure, resulting in the tragic demise of the crew.

The unfortunate incident claimed the lives of the captain and 21 other officers on board. The incident reportedly happened during a mission in the Yellow Sea on August 21 at 8:12 a.m. local time.

"Incident happened at 08.12 local resulting in the death of 55 crew members: 22 officers, 7 officer cadets, 9 petty officers, 17 sailors. Dead include the captain Colonel Xue Yong-Peng," the UK report said.

The report suggests that the cause of death was hypoxia due to a malfunction in the submarine's system. The submarine reportedly hit a chain and anchor obstacle that the Chinese Navy put to trap US and allied submarines.

The report said this incident led to system failure, which took six hours to repair before resurfacing. Unfortunately, a catastrophic failure of the onboard oxygen system resulted in the crew's poisoning.

China's Response to Reported Chinese Nuclear Submarine Incident

There has been no external verification of the presumed loss of the Chinese submarine available to the public at this time. Beijing has vehemently denied open-source speculation regarding the incident, saying it is "completely false." Taiwan has similarly rejected internet reports related to the incident.

The Sun reported that official sources opted not to provide comments or guidance. It is worth noting that the UK report, derived from defense intelligence, carries a high-level classification.

Offering Alternative Perspective

A British submariner offered an alternative perspective and stated that this scenario holds merit, and it is doubtful that the Chinese would have sought international assistance given the circumstances.

If the submarine found itself entangled in the net system with dwindling battery power (a plausible situation), it could have led to a gradual failure of the air purifiers and air treatment systems. This, in turn, might have prompted a shift to secondary systems, which plausibly failed to maintain adequate air quality.

Express reported that this could have resulted in asphyxiation or poisoning. The British submariner told Daily Mail that they have a kit that absorbs CO2 and generates oxygen in such a situation, adding that it "is probable that other nations do not have this kind of tech."

The Chinese Type 093 submarines have been in active service for 15 years. These submarines, measuring 351 feet in length, are equipped with torpedoes. They are regarded as some of China's more advanced submarines, distinguished by their reduced noise levels. The incident is believed to have occurred in the waters near China's Shandong Province.