VN officially gets first submarine
Viet Nam`s first Kilo-class submarine, known as HQ 182-Ha Noi, on January 15 was officially handed over to the Vietnamese naval force at Cam Ranh Bay in the southern province of Khanh Hoa.
The Ha Noi was built by Russia at its Admiralty Verfi Shipyards in St Petersburg and was transported to Viet Nam by the Rolldock Sea, a Dutch heavy-lift vessel. The submarine arrived at the Cam Ranh military port on January 3.
The Kilo-class submarine with 52 crew is capable of operating at a maximum depth of 300 meters and at a range of 6,000 to 7,500 nautical miles for 45 days and nights. In addition, it is said to have the quietest engine in the world.
Viet Nam will receive two more Kilo-class submarines, the Ho Chi Minh and Hai Phong within this year.
Earlier, Viet Nam signed a US$2-billion deal with Russia to buy six diesel-electric submarines – considered improvements over the older Kilo-class – during a visit by PM Nguyen Tan Dung to the country in 2009.
Under the contract, Russia will deliver all the vessels by 2016, train Vietnamese crews, and supply Viet Nam with necessary spare parts.
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The official hand-over ceremony takes place at Brigade 189 military port, Cam Ranh base |
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A corner of the ceremony |
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Lieutenant-colonel Nguyen Van Quan is the first captain of HQ 182-Ha Noi submarine |
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The event marks Viet Nam's modernization of the naval force to contribute to protecting national sovereignty over islands and sea |
