China Has About 21 Type 039 Yuan-Class Attack Submarines, Each With 6 533mm Torpedo Tubes. They Do Not Have to Chase a US Navy Carrier Strike Group — They Can Sit in a Chokepoint and Wait for It.

China Has About 21 Type 039 Yuan-Class Attack Submarines, Each With 6 533mm Torpedo Tubes. They Do Not Have to Chase a US Navy Carrier Strike Group — They Can Sit in a Chokepoint and Wait for It.

China's Type 039A/B/C Yuan-class is a 3,600-ton diesel-electric attack submarine with air-independent propulsion, 6 533mm torpedo tubes, Yu-6 heavyweight torpedoes and YJ-18 anti-ship cruise missiles. The Nuclear Threat Initiative puts the fleet at around 21 boats. Their advantage is not speed — it is that they never have to surface to recharge, and a submarine that does not snorkel is a submarine that is very hard to find.