A rare look at life aboard China’s ‘Dragon Palace’ submarines

In Chinese mythology, Ao Guang is the king of all sea dragons, ruling over them from his underwater crystal palace. But life aboard People’s Liberation Army (PLAN) submarines is far from palatial, the CMSI report shows, providing a rare glimpse into submarine life, which is shrouded in Chinese military secrecy and widespread regime censorship and intimidation. Crews were found to suffer from excessive noise, poor lighting and poor air quality. The canned goods often served are so tasteless, some sailors develop eating disorders.

“Working aboard PLAN submarines can cost personnel health,” the CMSI report said. For example, various studies over the past two decades have found numerous diseases, including mouth ulcers and back pain. “In 2018, researchers from several PLAN institutes and hospitals conducting surveys at a submarine base found that submariners as a profession were prone to back pain due to restrictive work spaces, long hours in fixed or contorted positions and of the constant vibrations it is at. The results showed a 33.81% occurrence of back pain in commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Crews suffer psychological effects from the constant noise and poor air quality they are subjected to. “Crew members who work and live in the poor microclimate of a submarine are prone to boredom, fatigue, lethargy and discomfort, which affects their psychological state, cognitive abilities and emotional well-being,” the report states. “These problems are further compounded by noxious gases, magnetic fields, noise, vibration and many other barriers to restful and comfortable sleep.”

Noise levels on board the Chinese have been measured as high as 90 to 130 decibels, which even exceeds the Chinese military’s threshold of 85 to 100 decibels. Subordinate crews also reported vision problems arising from poor lighting. “The analysis attributed this to low light causing visual strain and close quarters, causing a problem in the ciliary muscles that regulate changes in the curvature of the eye’s lens,” CMSI said. “The teams asked for more compartment lighting and lighting modes that could give an indication of day or night.”

Meanwhile, medical care during long-haul trips is lacking due to poorly trained caregivers and unmaintained medical equipment, the report found.

This may be why China’s secondary force has recently turned to traditional Chinese medicine, already used by other branches of the Chinese military. “Until recently, traditional Chinese medicine was not present aboard PLAN submarines because there were no designated posts to administer it,” CMSI said.

Sailors in most navies grumble about food. Even US Navy submarines, which are supposed to have better food than other ships, have their share of gripes about criminal quality meals. Providing palatable food for months at a time is a challenge for Chinese submarines, whose crews range from about 60 people on a diesel-powered attack boat to about 120 people on a ballistic missile submarine.

Although some recent photos suggest an enticing menu, underwater Chinese cuisine still seems to be missing. “Because submarines prohibit cooking with open flames, canned food appears to have been a staple in long-range deployments for many years,” CMSI said. After “the poor taste of canned food eventually drove some sailors to become anorexic”, more fresh and frozen foods were served. But when ‘fresh food runs out or power conservation is adopted, submarine crews begin eating standard field rations, such as the Navy’s KT-07 nutritional supplement rations. To compensate for these conditions, submariners can usually expect a feast to welcome them. upon returning to shore.”

Ultimately, the question is whether these problems undermine the effectiveness of China’s 61 submarines. Although most are conventional rather than nuclear, they could be among Beijing’s most effective weapons if China were to invade Taiwan.

“Many of the characteristics of a professional submarine force culture are present aboard PLAN submarines, particularly secrecy, safety and expertise,” CMSI concluded. “Whether it’s equipment maintenance procedures or nuclear reactor safety, the force appears to demonstrate a high level of professionalism and a desire to uphold the highest standards across the fleet.”

Chinese submariners have their own “dragon palace culture”. These include activities such as arm wrestling and ping-pong competitions, as well as other morale boosters such as in-flight newsletters and poetry readings.

And what submarine force would be complete without its special rituals (which often confuse earthlings). For example, a ceremony honoring those making their first long-duration deployments is held when the submarine reaches its maximum submersible depth, the report said. “Recognized personnel will kiss a buttered hammer and drink seawater drawn from the depths, which is kept in a phial.”

Michael Peck is a defense writer whose work has appeared in Forbes, Defense News, Foreign Policy magazine, and other publications. He holds a master’s degree in political science from Rutgers Univ. Follow him further Twitter and LinkedIn.