Chinese semi-submersible ship Yinmahu

Yinmahu (NATO reporting name Modified Hansa Sonderberg class^[1]) is a semi-submersible ship of the People's Liberation Army Navy.^[2]

History
China
Name	Yinmahu (饮马湖)
Namesake	Donghai Island (Previous name) Yinma Lake [zh] (Current name)
Builder	Huangpu Shipyard [zh]
Completed	2015
Commissioned	July 10, 2015
In service	July 10, 2015
Renamed	From Donghaidao (东海岛)
Identification	834 (Formerly 868)
General characteristics
Class & type	Type 711 semi-submersible ship
Displacement	20,000 long tons (20,000 t)
Length	175.5 m (575 ft 9 in)
Beam	32.4 m (106 ft 4 in)
Speed	14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Boats & landing craft carried	1 × daughter boat 1 × LCAC (well deck) or 3 tugboats
Electronic warfare & decoys	None
Aviation facilities	Deck can be used as a helipad

Design

According to state publications, the Yinmahu's deck measures over 100 meters in length and 30 meters in width, and can submerge more than six meters underwater while the other parts of the ship remain afloat.^[3][2]

History

In 2022, the ship was photographed transporting an amphibious hovercraft.^[2]

In 2023, the ship conducted its first night-time operations training.^[4]

See also

• Expeditionary Transfer Dock

References

1. "PLANS recognition guide 2020". February 19, 2020.
2. "Photos show China has fielded another semi-submersible transport ship". Defense News. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
3. "Chinese semi-submersible in night-time ops". Australian Naval Institute. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
4. Srinivasan, R.; Subramanyam, Adluri Raju (eds.). The Routledge Handbook of Maritime India: History, Strategy, and Engagement. Routledge. p. 333. ISBN 978-1-003-86361-8.