The first Zhou-class submarine, a cutting-edge nuclear-powered attack vessel, sank at the Wuchang shipyard in Wuhan. This unfortunate incident marks a significant setback for China’s ambitions to expand and modernize its naval fleet amid an ongoing arms race with the United States.
The sinking occurred dockside sometime in May or June of this year but was first reported by The Wall Street Journal on Thursday. A senior U.S. defense official, who requested to remain anonymous, has since confirmed the event.
A series of satellite images illustrate the incident unfolding over several weeks, documenting the recovery efforts that followed. The submarine’s distinctive X-shaped stern facilitated its identification as a Zhou-class vessel. In the days after the sinking, a fleet of floating cranes arrived at the port, likely mobilized for recovery operations.
The third-generation nuclear submarine was initially spotted in satellite imagery as early as May 2021 and was formally unveiled by China’s navy in July 2022.
- Marex Media