HobbyBoss 1/350 PLA Navy Type 035 Ming Class Plastic Model Kit [83517]

The Type 035 (export name: ES5; NATO reporting name: Mingclass) was PRC's first independently developed diesel-electric submarine, basedon the 1950s-era Soviet Romeo class design with some modifications. A total of21 submarines in three variants have been built since the early 1970s, with 18still remaining in operational service with the PLA Navy today. The latest Type035G features improved fire control system and much reduced acoustic signature.The last boat of the class was commissioned in 2001.

Construction of the first Type 035began in October 1969 at Wuhan Shipyard in central China. The boat was launchedin July 1971 and entered service with the PLA Navy in April 1974.There are atleast four known variants of the Type 035. The first three boats (hull 232, 233and an unidentified boat) built between 1969 and 1979 are ES5C. They are saidto be trouble-prone and were retired in the 1980s. After the submarine receivedits national design certificate in 1983, the production resumed in 1987 in theimproved Type 035G (ES5D/E), with a total of 12 boats (hull 342, 352~354,356~363) built between 1988~1995. In the late 1990s, the Type 035 productionline was re-opened due to the delay in the development of the new-generationType 039. An additional 6 boats (hull 305~310) in the improved Type 035Bvariant were built between 1997 and 2001.