The fifth of six Kilo Class submarines which Viet Nam has contracted to buy from Russia was launched at the Admiralty Shipyards in St Petersburg on 28 December.

At the launching ceremony 52 naval officers and men in uniforms were standing along the submarine’s hull next to a plaque inscribed “DA NANG”.  This offered a memorable moment on a special day when the submarine “HQ-186 Da Nang” was given its name.

The submarine was built under a 2 billion USD deal signed during the 2009 visit to Russia by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

The HQ-186 Da Nang

Building of the HQ-186 Da Nang started on 1 July 2013.  It is now undergoing tests and is expected to be delivered to the Viet Nam People's Navy early in 2016.

Developed by Russia’s Rubin Central Marine Design Bureau, all the submarines are diesel-electric powered.  They are described in the West as "black holes in the ocean" for their low level of noise which makes detection difficult.

The launching ceremony

The submarines feature advanced technology in their periscopes, accumulators, sound-absorbing tiles and life-sustaining equipment for crew members, and they have greater firepower than previous submarines.  They are equipped with modern weapons to facilitate the expansion of the scale of attack and enhance their ability to destroy military targets.

They are ideally suited to surveillance, patrol and reconnaissance tasks.  In addition, they boast anti-aircraft and anti-submarine warfare systems which can be used to protect naval bases, coastal areas and sea routes.

The Deputy Secretary of the Da Nang Party Committee, Mr Vo Cong Tri, (4th right) visiting the vessel and its crew members

According to unwritten rules, in many countries submarines are named either after their large cities or famous people.  The six submarines in this deal are coded HQ-182 Ha Noi, HQ-183 Ho Chi Minh City, HQ-184 Hai Phong, HQ-185 Khanh Hoa, HQ-186 Da Nang, and HQ-187 Ba Ria Vung Tau.