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Naval ForcesChina

Type 033 Class (Romeo Class)

Diesel-electric submarineFielded 1962Pending verification
Naval ForcesCHN
Type 033 Class (Romeo Class)
Photo: Cjsy2026 · CC0, Wikimedia Commons
Fact cardConfidence · Source
System
TypeDiesel-electric submarine
Date of introduction1962
ProliferationOrigin country only
Crew65Med[1]
Dimensions and weight
Length76.6 m251 ftMed[1]
Beam6.7 m22 ftMed[1]
Draft5.0 mMed[1]
Displacement (surface)1,319 tons surfaceMed[1]
Displacement (submerged)1,830 tMed[1]
Propulsion and performance
PropulsionType 37DMed[1]
Engine power2,700 total bhp; 2 shafts hpMed[1]
Protection
NBC Water Washdown SystemYesMed[1]
Electronic Warfare1 CEIEC Model 92A interceptMed[1]
Armament
Torpedo Launcher: number of tubes8 533-mm tubes (6 fwd; 2 aft)Med[1]
MinesCan carry 28 mines in lieu of torpedoesMed[1]
ArmamentSAET-60; Yu-1Med[1]
Fire control
Radars and sonars1 x Snoop PlateMed[1]
Name1 x 1 Herkules or Tamir-5L high-frequency active/passive search and attackMed[1]
Variants
Project 633 Class; NATO: Romeo ClassUnder the 1950 Sino-Soviet Friendship and Mutual Assistance Treaty, the Soviets passed to China (and later to North Korea) the documentation necessary to produce Romeo submarines in 1963. The Chinese variant is known as the Type 033 Romeo.[1]
Type 6633Original Chinese built Romeo, China was to have assembled these Romeos from knock-down kits provided by the Soviet Union, 6 were planned, but only 2 were completed.[1]
Type 033Complete domestic production in China was achieved in 1967, and subsequently the project was renamed the Type 033. However, experience from deployment of completed boats in warmer climates proved that the original Soviet refrigeration and air conditioning…[1]
ES5AUpgraded Type 033, with improvements mainly involving the replacement of equipment of Soviet origin with domestic Chinese systems, which includes: QZHA―10 (Type 779) attack periscope and QDYA―10 (Type 778) general purpose periscope.[1]
Type 033GDevelopment of the ES5A, with the incorporation of the capability to launch acoustic homing torpedoes; analog computers installed to achieve automation of, and speeding up of, torpedo fire control calculations that were previously manually calculated.[1]
Type 033G1A single Type 033G was modified to carry 6 YJ-1 (CSS-N-4) anti-ship missiles, this variant is called Type 033G1, with the rumored NATO reporting name of Wuhan A.[1]
ES5BDevelopment of the Type 033G, primarily intended for export. This is an upgrade package for Romeo submarine users. The primary improvement of this class is the ability to launch wire guided torpedoes and anti-ship missiles (AShM) while submerged.[1]
Weapons and payload options · 2Confidence · Source
SAET-60Heavy Weight Torpedo
Med[1]
Range
13 km8 mi · 7 nmi
Quantity
14
Type
Heavy Weight Torpedo
Guidance
Homing Passive acoustic homing
Speed
42 kt
Length
7.80 m
Yu-1Torpedo
Med[1]
Range
4 km2 mi · 2 nmi
Type
Torpedo
Guidance
Straight running gyroscopic, later upgraded to passive acoustic homing
Warhead weight
400 kg
Speed
39 to 50 knots
Length
7.8 m
Summary

Chinese Type 033 Romeo-class Under the 1950 Sino-Soviet Friendship and Mutual Assistance Treaty, the Soviets passed to China (and later to North Korea) the documentation necessary to produce Romeo submarines in 1963. The Chinese variant is known as the Type 033 Romeo.

Draft entry. Values come from the cited public sources and are awaiting editor verification.
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Operators
China
Sources
  1. Type 033 Class (Romeo Class) Chinese Diesel-Electric Submarine, U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)
    Published/updated 2026-03-20 · Tier 1 · checked 2026-10-10
Change log
  • 2026-10-10 Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import
  • 2026-10-10 Added photo (CC0)