VietNamNet Bridge – It’s too early to say that development of the Truong Sa mini submarine has succeeded. It is still necessary carry out the air independent propulsion (AIP) technology test.

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The mini-submarine during the test in a lake last week.

News about the successful testing of the mini submarine named Truong Sa, manufactured by a Vietnamese engineer - Mr. Nguyen Quoc Hoa, has appeared on the first pages of all local newspapers.

After about two hours of testing in a lake in a private industrial zone in Thai Binh City, Truong Sa demonstrated what it could do in front of an audience of hundreds.

Prior to that, Hoa claimed that his submarine is now able to dive well and maintain its balance after being tested in a tank dozens of times.

Do Thai Binh, an engineer, while applauding the initial achievements of the manufacturer, noted that he was able to view Truong Sa running on water like a canoe, but he was unable to witness it perform the essential functions of a submarines.

Binh is a Member of the HCM City Association of Marine Science and Technology, Member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME).

During the latest event, Nguyen Quoc Hoa, manufacturer of the submarine, did not test the diving capacity, because the water level of the lake, at three meters,  was not deep enough. A minimum of five meters is required for the submarine to dive.

Binh also noted that the manufacturer only tested the submarine with the outside engine system, while the AIP technology was not used. AIP is any technology which allows a non-nuclear submarine to operate without the need to access atmospheric oxygen

“It is too early to say that Hoa has successfully tested Truong Sa,” Binh said. “The AIP technology, the focal point, the backbone of the submarine, has not yet been demonstrated.

“The inventor needs to show a scientific report on AIP testing,” he added.

According to the engineer, there is no need to test the submarine in a lake; it would instead be better to carry out an independent AIP test in a laboratory. The manufacturer needs to demonstrate the capabilities of the submarine with the proper scientific indicators.

For example, one test that should be conducted is to place the submarine in a closed chamber and have it idle without propellers. Binh explained that such an experiment is necessary to prove that the submarine can “live” with AIP only.

“In simple terms, you should hold the ‘nose’ of the submarine, not let it breathe fresh air, and find out if it can survive in a closed room,” he said.

“If the engine can continue to run under such conditions with the air recirculation system in operation, and does not cause explosions, this means that Hoa has succeeded,” he added.

However, Binh warned that AIP testing would be very dangerous, because it may indeed cause explosions. But until the right experiments are conducted, the submarine’s AIP technology remains an unanswered question.

According to the manufacturing group, the mini-submarine is designed and manufactured by Mr. Nguyen Quoc Hoa, 56 – director of a mechanic engineering company - and his friends. It is 9m long, 3m high, equipped with two 90 Hp diesel engines and the air-independent propulsion system (AIP). The designed maximum speed is 40km/h, 800km in radius of operation, diving time of 15 hours and the maximum depth of 50m.

The mini-submarine was successfully tested in a tank last year and in a lake last week. Hoa said he would test it at sea if he gets licence from the authorities.

Dat Viet