Setback to China as Nuke sub sinks

China's newest nuclearpowered submarine sank pierside in the spring, and the Chinese navy tried to conceal details regarding the loss, CNN reported, citing two US defence officials.

The official said that the attack submarine was the first of its new Zhou-class line of vessels, under construction at a shipyard near Wuhan. The Zhou-class submarines have a distinctive X-shaped stern, made to improve manoeuvrability underwater.

A satellite image from March 10, captured by Maxar Technologies, shows the Zhou-class sub, with its signature x-shape tail, docked at the port. Furthermore, Maxar imagery reviewed in June shows that the sub did not return to the pier, according to CNN.

The senior US defence official said, "It's not surprising that the PLA Navy would try to conceal the fact that their new first-inclass nuclear-powered attack submarine sank pierside."

Tom Shugart, an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security who routinely studies satellite imagery of Chinese shipyards, was the first one who observed the unusual activity at the shipyard.