Hobby Boss 83514 PLA Navy Type 031 Golf Class

Type 031 is the term for a single diesel-electric submarine built in the PRC (People's Republic of China) capable of carrying ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads. The unit probably entered service in 1978 or 1979. It is assumed that its length was approx. 99 m, with a width of approx. 8.2 m and a draft of approx. 8-8.5 meters. It can be assumed that its underwater displacement reached about 3,000 tons.

The origins of the Type 031 unit date back to 1960-1966, when the Type 6631 submarine was built in the Chinese port of Dalian, which is essentially a Chinese, "licensed" version of the Soviet Golf class unit. It is assumed that after entering service, the unit was initially intended for training submarine crews and was only equipped with a ballistic missile firing simulator. However, it probably became fully operational in 1968, receiving ballistic missiles. The Type 6631, however, underwent a deep modernization in the second half of the 1970s, and its name was changed to Type 031 (sometimes you can find information that the ship was called the Great Wall). The major change was that the Type 031 was able to fire its missiles from an underwater position. Although nowadays the unit is outdated and in virtually every field it gives way to modern Russian or Western constructions, it still remains in service (probably!). However, there is no clear data as to whether as a training ship or as a combat unit.