Naval News assessed on 15 September that a hull under construction at Hudong-Zhonghua in Shanghai, a state-owned naval shipyard, is China's first mothership for extra-large uncrewed submarines1. Satellite imagery shows a stern well-deck with a cradle on 12 jack-up arms and a forward hangar. Naval News calls that reading "by far the most plausible" and estimates the hangar could hold four of the largest vehicles. Chinese authorities have said nothing.
Naval News says China has already tested two very large types, of 35m and 45m, off Hainan. A mothership would let them start a patrol far from a naval base, the role Britain is giving its three mine-hunting motherships, bought jointly with Norway, for much smaller robots. The assessment rests on imagery alone, so the ship's purpose stays an inference until China shows it or the hull goes to sea.
