Today, the submarine bearing the name of the central coastal city has secured its place within the formation of six Kilo-class submarines that Vietnam has commissioned to carry out missions in its sovereign waters.

Submarine 186 Da Nang is the fifth of six Varshavyanka 636.1-class submarines that Vietnam ordered from Russia under a contract signed in 2009.

With a displacement of nearly 3,000–3,950 tonnes and a length of about 74 meters, the submarine can dive to depths of around 300 meters.

Against the backdrop of ongoing fluctuations in the East Sea, the presence of submarine 186 represents more than a piece of military hardware.

It embodies Vietnam’s determination for self-reliance and self-strengthening in maritime security management.

Every hour of operation at sea requires the crew to work in perfect coordination under darkness, intense pressure and absolute precision.

To meet the requirements of safeguarding national maritime sovereignty in the new situation, and in line with the policy of building a modern submarine force set by the Party, the State, the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense, Crew No.5, the predecessor of submarine 186, was established.

The initial crew comprised 68 officers and sailors selected from units across the armed forces.

They formed an elite group with strong health, exemplary political qualities, a high sense of responsibility and solid professional competence.

From the earliest days in Russia, with the support of local experts, the crew entered an intensive transfer training phase.

Training focused on mastering modern technical systems and strengthening close coordination among all onboard positions.

They trained under harsh weather conditions, far from home, while working and living in a confined environment.

At the same time, they had to absorb professional knowledge delivered in a foreign language.

Each officer and sailor clearly understood the honor and responsibility entrusted to them.

They upheld strong determination, unity and resilience, overcoming all difficulties to successfully complete the transfer training.

Within just over one year, from April 2014 to October 2015, the crew completed the full training program from basic to advanced levels.

Their performance earned high praise from foreign experts and continued the proud tradition of earlier crews.

This solid foundation enabled the unit to move confidently into a new phase of comprehensive development.

On February 5, 2016, after nearly two months crossing three oceans, submarine 186 arrived safely at Brigade 189 in Cam Ranh.

It officially entered service, operating in the waters of the homeland.

Carrying out special and demanding missions

Between 2016 and 2026, submarine 186 Da Nang consistently fulfilled and exceeded all training programs and combat readiness missions.

Absolute safety was maintained for personnel, weapons and technical equipment.

The submarine undertook many missions of a special nature, requiring high proficiency in operating weapons systems and tight coordination among command and combat positions.

These included successful torpedo firing exercises, notably remote-controlled torpedo launches using guide wires.

The submarine also participated in confrontation drills and search and rescue exercises with the Russian Navy.

Through each mission, the crew’s command organization, situational handling and coordination capabilities continued to improve.

These advancements met the growing demands of missions in the new context.

Thanks to these achievements, from 2016 to 2026, submarine 186 was repeatedly recognized with the titles “Emulation Flag Unit” and “Excellent Training Unit.”

It received commendations from the Minister of National Defense.

The Party cell of the submarine consistently fulfilled its tasks with distinction.

Many collectives and individuals were praised and rewarded at various levels for outstanding performance.

Thanh Hue