Haikun is expected to officially launch "deep-water submersible testing" in late October. (File photo, provided by Taiwan Shipbuilding Corporation)
[Reporter Luo Tianbin/Reporting from Taipei] The testing progress of the Chinese-made submarine prototype Haikun (serial number SS-711) is about to reach the most critical milestone! Military sources pointed out today that after successfully passing more than 20 pre-tests such as floating, mine-operating and shooting, and shallow-water diving, the Haikun is expected to officially launch "deep-water diving tests" in late October. This "competition test" that is about to take place in the deep sea waters around Taiwan is not only the last hurdle before the delivery of the Haikun, but is also regarded by the outside world as the ultimate test for Taiwan to demonstrate its independent submarine construction capabilities.
Shallow water diving and deep water diving are roughly divided by the depth of 100 meters underwater. The depth from the snorkel to the depth of 100 meters underwater is shallow water, and the depth below 100 meters is deep water. Deep water diving means that the submarine has to swim to the deep sea with a depth of more than 100 meters, and even go all the way down to the design limit depth of the submarine. In the past, when the Haikun was tested in shallow waters, the water pressure was relatively small, mainly to verify the basic water tightness and maneuverability. And this time in the deep water area, Haikun will directly face the terrifying physical high pressure and low temperature environment in the deep sea. This test is like an extreme crash test before a car leaves the factory. It must be experienced in person to prove that the submarine has the ability to remain invisible and survive safely for a long time in actual combat.
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The submarine Haikun successfully launched a mine control in May this year. (File photo, provided by Taiwan Shipbuilding Corporation)
Military personnel familiar with submarine operations said today that deep-water diving is called the "line of life and death" because it is extremely dangerous. For every 10 meters a submarine dives to the bottom of the sea, the atmospheric pressure on its shell will double. When the Haikun dived to a depth of hundreds of meters, the ship's hull had to bear an astonishing weight of hundreds of metric tons per square meter. In this extreme environment, as long as there is a slight flaw in the welding of the steel plate of the submarine, or a gap in the pipeline valve, seawater will be sprayed in instantly like a high-pressure water jet, which may cause the entire ship to lose control within a few seconds. The psychological pressure on the officers and soldiers on site can be imagined.
He said that in addition to the terrifying water pressure, there are many unpredictable difficulties in the deep sea world. For example, the low temperature under the sea will put the air conditioning and temperature control, life support system and high-capacity battery life of the ship to the ultimate test. Coupled with the frequent ocean currents and complex underwater terrain in the waters surrounding Taiwan, the "prototype ship" has no previous experience to refer to. Every time it goes down to explore new depths, it is competing with unknown dangers. To this end, the Navy is also fully prepared and will dispatch rescue ships and multiple surface ships to guard the surrounding area throughout the entire process to minimize risks.
Although this task is extremely challenging, deep-water diving is a "must pass" before every domestically-made submarine becomes a navy, and there is no way out. Only by surviving this baptism of high pressure in the deep sea can the Haikun truly transform into the "ghost of the deep" guarding the Taiwan Strait. As the test in late October enters its countdown, the Taiwan ship and navy teams are stepping up their efforts to make final system adjustments and sprint ahead. If all goes well in this deep-water sea trial, the Haikun is expected to be officially delivered to the Navy before the end of this year after completing subsequent acceptance and correction of defects, writing a new page in the history of Taiwan's national defense independence.
