Myanmar commissioned a former People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN or Chinese Navy) Type 35B Ming-class submarine from China last week. The submarine, named “UMS Minye Kyaw Htin” joined the fleet during a ceremony on 24 December 2021 which also marked the 74th Anniversary of the Myanmar Navy.
UMS Minye Kyaw Htin is the second submarine to join the Myanmar Navy fleet following the commissioning of former Indian Navy Kilo-class submarine INS Sindhuvir last year. It is named after the King of the Toungoo dynasty, who reigned from 1673 to 1698.
According to the official PR website of the Myanmar military:
Chairman of the State Administration Council of Republic of Union of Myanmar and Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing was attends the commissioning ceremony of new warships, include UMS Minye Kyaw Htin (72), the former chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN)’s Type 035 ‘Ming’-class submarine; UMS Inwa (53), the Inlay-class Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV); two of 18m Riverine Fast Attack Crafts and four of 20m Riverine Patrol Boats on 24 December 2021, 74th Anniversary of the Myanmar Navy.
About Type 35 Ming-class submarines
Commissioning ceremony of Type 035B submarine UMS Minye Kyaw Htin
According to “World Submarines Recognition Guide”, the Chinese Ming-class diesel-eclectic attack submarine was built in four variants over 25 years beginning in 1974. The Type 035B variant which just joined the Myanmar fleet is equipped to fire missiles from its torpedo tubes. Bangladesh is an existing customer of the class, having procured two Type 035G for $203 million. Both were delivered in 2016.
Type 035 main specifications
Displacement: 2,100 tons (submerged)
Length: 76 meters
Beam: 7.6 meters
Speed: 18 knots submerged
Operating depth: 300 meters
Propulsion: 2x Type E390ZC-1 diesels (5,200 hp each), two shafts
Complement: 57 sailors
Weapons: 8x 533 torpedo tubes (6x forward; 2x aft) for 16 torpedoes or 32 mines
