【By Observer News, Shanzhuo】
According to reports from Taiwanese media, the first domestically built conventional submarine "Haikun" left the port today (January 29) for its first diving test. At around 11 a.m. today, the "Haikun" left the second port of Kaohsiung Port under the escort of several ships from the Taiwan Shipbuilding Company, Kaohsiung Port Authority, and the Taiwanese military.
The "Haikun" left the port of Kaohsiung
In a recent article titled "Submarine Knowledge Popularization" released by the company responsible for building the submarine, it was confirmed that the "Haikun" would conduct its first diving test on January 29. According to related reports, during the previous "pre-dive test" on January 26, the "Haikun" reported its call sign as "Navy 111" when leaving the port. However, this time, it reported leaving the port with the call sign "Work Boat" at around 10 a.m. before departure, and then at about 10:50 a.m., the pilot boarded the submarine and it departed from the shipyard area of the company.
Several ships from the shipyard, port, and the Taiwanese military accompanied the "Haikun" during its departure
The report said that the "Haikun" would first conduct a shallow water dive to test the sonar, power system, etc. It is reported that high-level personnel from the shipbuilding company and the Taiwanese navy were also on board to participate in the test. Another report stated that local military analyst Ji Dongyun speculated that after leaving Kaohsiung Port, the "Haikun" might head towards the Zuo Ying area, proceeding to the planned training area for submergence. He also mentioned that the depth of today's first test could range from over 10 meters to 50 meters at periscope depth. In the complete shallow sea test, the depth would be gradually increased and repeatedly verified. When moving to deep-sea testing, it might go to the waters south of Xiaoliuqiu, where the test depth can exceed 200 meters.
The Taiwan Shipbuilding Company stated that the diving test would first carry out a 10 to 20-meter snorkel depth test to verify watertightness, underwater balance stability, onboard systems, and their combined functions. Subsequently, the depth would be further increased to 50 to 100 meters to continue verifying watertightness and balance stability. After that, a "deep diving" test would be conducted to depths exceeding 100 meters until reaching the maximum design depth, continuing to check watertightness and stability, and gradually conducting pressure resistance tests. After completing the diving test, subsequent tests would be conducted by the manufacturer, focusing on system evaluations, and by the Taiwanese military, focusing on tactical evaluations.
Ma Wenjun, a legislator from the Kuomintang party, expressed concerns that whether the hydraulic system that had issues during previous trials had been completed, whether the two faulty diesel engines among the six had been restored, and whether the anchor machine had been returned to the factory for calibration. If these problems were not resolved, forcing the submarine into diving might cause significant safety concerns. On the other hand, Huang Shuguang, the head of the "submarine self-reliance" project, previously claimed he would dive along with the "Haikun." However, Huang has already resigned, and Ma Wenjun criticized that throughout the past and present, many people just talk big and make empty promises. He hopes that public figures will be more rigorous when making statements or commitments and avoid promising things they cannot do, only to be held accountable when problems arise.
According to information released by the Taiwan Shipbuilding Company, as the first prototype of the "submarine self-reliance" project by the authorities, the "Haikun" started design on March 21, 2017, officially began construction on November 24, 2020, laid the keel on November 16, 2021, and held the "naming and launching ceremony" at the company's Kaohsiung plant on September 28, 2023. Despite the original plan to conduct the first sea test in 2024, it actually delayed until June 17 last year for its first voyage. As of January 26 this year, it had undergone six floating state tests, with the test on the 26th reportedly serving as a "preparatory work" for this diving test. According to another report, since the originally scheduled delivery date of November 2025 had passed, the current planned delivery date is temporarily set for this June, so the results of the subsequent diving tests are crucial.
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Original: toutiao.com/article/7600697858303558184/
Statement: The article represents the personal views of the author.