Submariners keep nation's flag flying under the sea

Like a giant steel shark gliding silently through the depths, a naval submarine under the command of the People's Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command has carried out numerous missions in recent years. Hidden beneath the waves and out of public view, its crew members have endured dizziness, isolation and demanding conditions, remaining steadfast in their duties throughout each deployment.

Xu Guangze, a 23-year-old who joined its crew two years ago, completed his first sailing mission in 2025. For him, the experience was unforgettable.

As a new crew member, Xu followed a veteran sergeant responsible for the submarine's propulsion system. Although the deployment was relatively short, Xu admitted that there was much to adapt to.

Life underwater

Deprived of sunlight beneath the surface, crew members depended on a 24-hour clock to distinguish day from night. Their biological clocks were synchronized with the submarine's watch rotation, leaving them with fragmented sleep between shifts.

Xu knew that every section of the submarine was vital to its operation."When I was alone at my post, I was very nervous," he said.

Fortunately, Xu did not suffer from seasickness, and he took every opportunity to learn from his fellow crew members.

After returning to shore, Xu still felt as though the ground was swaying beneath his feet. Fresh air filled his lungs, a stark contrast to the atmosphere inside the sealed submarine, where the air carried a mixture of smells from cooking, paint, electrical equipment and microbial fermentation.

There was little time to recover, however, as he and his fellow crew members quickly shifted their focus to reviewing the mission, drawing lessons from their experience and preparing for the next deployment.

This has become routine for Tang Jin over the past decade. A veteran submariner, Tang progressed from a novice sailor to a highly experienced sergeant during nearly 20 years of service in the PLA Navy.

In charge of the submarine's logistics support system, Tang said the sense of responsibility has long outweighed the discomfort of seasickness. He is known as the submarine's "troubleshooter" because he can solve a wide range of mechanical problems, from repairing valves to fixing onboard equipment.

Years of experience have enabled Tang to quickly identify problems. Once the submarine is underwater, he said, it is difficult to sleep soundly because he is constantly thinking about his responsibilities and remains on high alert.

In the submarine's cramped living quarters, three sailors shared two narrow bunks equipped with safety straps. As crew members rotated through shifts around the clock, the bunks were rarely empty and were often still warm when the next sailor climbed in.

For the crew, their priority is always the successful completion of the mission. During one deployment, Tang had just lain down when a fellow sailor woke him up to help drain contaminated water from the submarine.

"If the submarine has problems, about 70 percent fall under my area of responsibility, such as issues related to water and electricity," Tang said.

Before every mission, he repeatedly checked the equipment, knowing that any malfunction should be addressed as early as possible.

Recalling his first deployment 10 years ago, when he was still an apprentice, Tang said he became severely seasick, vomiting five times in just four hours in one instance. Although he still experiences occasional seasickness, he is now able to perform his duties without being affected.

The transition from a new sailor to a senior crew member takes three to five years of intensive training, according to Tang.

"Responsibility matters throughout the process," he said.

Tang said he is honored to serve in the PLA Navy. Since his days as a conscript, he has carried with him a saying: "For two years, roughly one thirty-fifth of a lifetime, you protect others. For the rest of your life, others protect you."

More to learn

Over the years, the crew has cultivated many technical experts like Tang.

Zhou Xiaohui, a veteran sailor with 30 years of experience, also lectures and mentors younger sailors.

"When I was a young sailor, I got nervous too," he said. "Now, whenever a problem occurs, I can usually determine the cause immediately, even pinpointing it to a specific screw."

In one year, Zhou spent more than 100 days aboard the submarine.

When the team was established, its members had an average age of 28. A long-standing tradition of mentoring and passing on experience has helped make it a well-known talent incubator in the PLA Navy. So far, the team has produced four submarine captains.

Zhang Shouwei, who has served in the PLA Navy for 16 years, said many sailors have devoted their youth to submarine service. While the vessel has been key to their personal growth, they have also witnessed the evolution of several generations of submarines.

Because a submarine is a highly complex system, Zhang said sailors must master a broad range of knowledge, from theory to operational skills. Even while ashore, their daily routine centers on training and navigation simulations.

The rapid evolution of equipment also requires sailors to continually update their knowledge and skill sets. Even Tang, now a sergeant in his 40s, is still learning to operate new equipment.

"There's always more to learn, like rust can never be fully scraped away," he said.

Describing a deployment as "a hundred men working in unison on a single gun", Zhang said every crew member must obey orders and perform their duties professionally to ensure the submarine operates smoothly and safely.

Young sailors like Xu are not intimidated by the long hours of study and training. Instead, they find them motivating.

"No matter how old we are, we stand together on the submarine, supporting one another," Xu said.

Homesickness

"Through the long night, the bells and drums seemed endlessly delayed, and the gleaming river of stars lingered as the sky approached dawn," said Zhang as he referenced an ancient Chinese poem to describe life aboard a submarine.

Sometimes deployments coincided with traditional festivals such as Mid-Autumn Festival. On those occasions, sailors lined up for a chance to look through the periscope and catch a glimpse of the full moon, Zhang said.

Beyond the physical and psychological demands of their work, submarine sailors must also cope with homesickness.

"We can't tell our families exactly when a mission begins or ends, and we don't want them to worry," Tang said.

During one deployment, his child fell seriously ill at home. His wife called him repeatedly, but he was unable to answer.

After Xu completed his first deployment, he discovered numerous missed calls from his parents.

"I called them back immediately," Xu said. "As soon as my mother saw me on the video call, she burst into tears."

Over time, their families came to understand the unique demands and sacrifices of submarine service.

However, submarine sailors do not dwell on these hardships. Instead, they remain focused on their duties and continue honing their technical skills.

"Being a soldier means dedication," Tang said.

Sun Chao and Ding Feiyu contributed to this story.

lishangyi@chinadaily.com.cn