VietNamNet Bridge – The first Vietnam-made mini-submarines have recently presented themselves before the public. However, this is not a complete first for the nation. Vietnam did set out to build a submarine half a century ago.

Nguyen Huu Bao, now an old engineer, is remembered by many as the person who successfully built the unmanned torpedo disarming vessel called T5. At the time, Bao worked for the Ship Design Sub-institute, now called the Ship Technology Institute.

As a young engineer, Bao was assigned to design the engine for a mock-up of a ship which could “swim under the water to serve combatant purposes”.

In 1960s, the engineers of the sub-institute undertook the design and manufacture of implements of war. An idea was raised at that time that Vietnam needed a ship which could travel under the water in the strictest secrecy.

“At that time, aircraft carriers always had the highest levels of protection. They were approachable only by the special means. And this could only be by submarine,” Bao explained.

“However, it was really very difficult to make a ship which could dive and resurface under the control of humans,” he said. “Therefore, we only dared to create a mock-up and consider possible solutions to determine if it was feasible to manufacture such a submarine”.

Bao then joined forces with Nguyen Binh, an engineer with a university education in Poland, to build a mini submarine. They planned on one which was just 2 meters long and 40 cm wide.

Bao, who was in charge of coming up with an engine for the ship, decided on a hydraulic motor.

“At that time, we did not think of oxygen-based combustion, or complicated technology like AIP (air-independent propulsion),” he said.

“However, a problem arose that the hydraulic engine relied on a strong magnetic field. In order to create a magnetic field, it was necessary to provide power. But we could not figure out how to provide sufficient power to create a strong enough magnetic field,” he continued.

The mock-up ultimately created by the engineers could dive and resurface in a water tank, but it could not be developed into a fully operational vessel.

Bao, who failed to manufacture a submarine, has expressed his admiration for Nguyen Quoc Hoa, inventor of the Truong Sa submarine. Bao says that he has high expectations for the underwater vessel.

“Hoa has shown an extraordinary willpower,” Bao commented.

He went on to say that Truong Sa can suggest useful applications for both civil and military purposes, once it is successfully tested.

“Scientists and state management agencies need to provide support, both material and spiritual, to facilitate the necessary tests, so that Vietnam can take further steps with the submarine,” he said.

Optimistic about the prospects for Truong Sa, Bao said it is quite within the reach of Vietnam to manufacture ships that serve the national defense.

“Why not? It would be very useful for submarine commandos.” he suggested.

In the latest news, Nguyen Quoc Hoa, father of the Truong Sa submarine, says everything is ready for his vessel to be tested at sea.

Dat Viet