Vietnam receives 6th Russian-made submarine

The heavy lift vessel Rolldock Storm carrying Vietnam's sixth Russia-made submarine arrived at Cam Ranh Port in the country's southcentral coastal Khanh Hoa province on Friday, after a voyage of over 40 days from Russia.

After entering Cam Ranh bay, the Rolldock Storm will be docking in the water in the next few days to wait for experts to tow the submarine into Cam Ranh military port, reported the state-run news agency VNA.

Earlier in 2014 and 2015, Russia had delivered four similar Kilo-class submarines for Vietnam, namely HQ-182 Hanoi, HQ-183 Ho Chi Minh City, HQ-184 Hai Phong and HQ-185 Khanh Hoa.

These submarines have been officially serving under submarine brigade 189 of Vietnam People's Navy.

In early February 2016, the fifth Russian-made submarine, which is expected to be named HQ-186 Da Nang, arrived in Cam Ranh. The sixth and also final submarine will be called HQ-187 Ba Ria-Vung Tau. Flag-raising ceremony for the two submarines will be held in the coming time, said VNA.

With a displacement of 3,000-3,950 tons, the nearly 74m-long submarine can operate at an average depth of 240 meters and maximum depth of 300 meters, as well as can work for a range of 6,000-7,500 nautical miles for 45 days with 52 crew members.

(APD)