Tragedy Beneath Waves: Submarine Disaster

In April 2003, a chilling incident unfolded in the Yellow Sea between North Korea and China's Shandong province. A Chinese fishing boat spotted an unusual object protruding from the water, initially resembling an antenna. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be the periscope of a seemingly abandoned Chinese submarine. Concerned, the fishing boat alerted the Navy, suspecting an intrusion by a neighboring country's submarine. As Navy vessels approached, they identified the submarine as Chinese but were met with radio silence.

Upon boarding the submarine the next day, a harrowing discovery awaited them. The vessel, a diesel-electric sub, housed 71 bodies with no survivors. The crew members were found at their stations, appearing as though they had suddenly succumbed to an unknown threat. Subsequent investigations revealed a catastrophic chain of events. The submarine's engine, contrary to protocol, was running without ventilation, depleting the air inside in just two minutes. This left the crew unconscious within three minutes, leading to tragic fatalities. High-ranking officials were dismissed, and the incident prompted crucial reforms in naval protocols.

The accident was reported as the deadliest peacetime military disaster in Communist Chinese history. The submarine, identified as Navy Submarine No. 361, was engaged in an exercise when a mechanical malfunction resulted in the tragedy.