Huang Xuhua is one of the pioneers and founders of China's nuclear submarine industry. He successively served as the deputy chief designer and chief designer of the mainland's first-generation nuclear submarine project, successfully developed the mainland's first-generation nuclear submarine, and made outstanding contributions to the realization of the historic leap from scratch of the mainland's sea-based nuclear forces.
HUANG Xuhua
A lifetime of nuclear submarines
Huang Xuhua was born in a family of doctors, and when he was young, he hoped that he could also eliminate pain and save patients with higher medical skills when he grew up.
In the year of the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, Huang Xuhua graduated from elementary school. Watching his parents treat people, he suddenly understood a truth, medical skills can save people, but not the country, since then he has the idea of building planes and warships, science and technology can resist foreign invaders.
In 1945, Huang Xuhua was admitted to the Department of Shipbuilding of National Jiaotong University (now Shanghai Jiao Tong University), which laid a solid professional foundation for the development of nuclear submarines in the future.
In June 1958, the Republic began the development of nuclear submarines. Soon, Huang Xuhua received a phone call asking him to go to Beijing on business. After rushing to Beijing, Huang Xuhua received an instruction that "the state wants to carry out nuclear submarine research and decides that you will participate in this work."
This major national initiative is an important turning point in Huang Xuhua's life, and Huang Xuhua has been associated with nuclear submarines all his life.
Huang Xuhua in his youth
Nuclear submarines refer to nuclear-powered submarines, which can be hidden in the depths of the ocean for a long time to form a strong nuclear deterrent, which is an important symbol of a country's national defense.
Although Huang Xuhua majored in shipbuilding, he basically studied the technical theory of civilian ships, and did not come into contact with military ships. Not only that, but even the nuclear submarine does not know what it looks like. With China's scientific and technological level, economic basic capabilities and industrial manufacturing environment at that time, it was not known where to start building nuclear submarines for a while.
This year, Huang Xuhua was 33 years old, and he thought to himself that he had never seen the appearance of a nuclear submarine, so he would try to find information in this regard. After searching non-stop in libraries and databases, he found that nuclear submarines, as the most mysterious core secrets of the possessor countries, are difficult to find even clues at home, and foreign channels are even more tightly sealed, making it difficult to obtain any reference materials.
Even so, Huang Xuhua and others did not lose heart, but summoned up their energy to study while pondering, studying while verifying, and there was no condition to create conditions to explore and move forward.
He and his colleagues began the start of the nuclear submarine with the "three mirrors", using the "magnifying glass" to track and pursue effective clues, using the "microscope" to see the content and essence, and using the "mirror of the demon" to fake the real and use it for our use, piecing together the initial outline of the nuclear submarine.
In those days, there were not even hand-cranked calculators, and they stunned to complete the calculation of tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of core data with abacus beads and slide rules. In order to ensure the accuracy of the calculation results, Huang Xuhua and others were divided into three groups, and the personnel of the three groups calculated according to the same method, if the calculated results were completely consistent, the correctness of the data results could be confirmed, and as long as there was a set of data inconsistent, it would be recalculated until each group of data was confirmed. It is with this most primitive soil method that they have solved the most cutting-edge and advanced technical problems.
Chinese nuclear submarines are self-reliant on such a poor and white basis. Under the condition of "three noes" without foreign aid, no data, and no computers, the project started three years after it was established, launched two years after the start of construction, and officially installed four years after launching, creating an unprecedented speed in the history of nuclear submarine development in the world, making China one of the five countries in the world that had nuclear submarines at that time.
The stormy seas show the heart of serving the country
Stability of the center of gravity is a very important key data for a submarine. Under the conditions at that time, it was only possible to adopt the soil method of "weighing and calculating", weighing all pipes, cables, and wires to be installed on the submarine and recording them, and then collecting the cut corner waste after installation and weighing them strictly, still recording them next to the original weight, and finally verifying them one by one and deducting them from the total weight.
This approach, although cumbersome, is also effective. In this way, Huang Xuhua's team relied on the spirit of creating conditions without conditions to complete the task, overcame one technical difficulty after another, and achieved one research result after another.
On December 26, 1970, China's first torpedo attack nuclear submarine was successfully launched. When the nuclear submarine, which condensed the blood and sweat of thousands of developers, surfaced steadily, Huang Xuhua's slitted eyes rolled tears, and the joy and excitement in his heart were indescribable.
In December 1970, the first nuclear submarine was launched
As the chief designer, Huang Xuhua knows that to build a nuclear submarine, in addition to the cumbersome structure and complex strength, the internal subsystem is as thin as a cow's hair. From the system, to every screw spring, every cable and wire, and every solder joint weld must be coordinated, reliable and reliable.
One afternoon, when the nuclear submarine that had successfully returned from its mission docked at the pier, everyone got out of the cabin one by one, and the author and Huang Xuhua stepped out of the submarine together and walked to the shore from the simple pontoon bridge set up between the nuclear submarine and the pier. Before stepping on the ground, he suddenly heard a metallic sound on the boat behind him, which would not touch the nerves of ordinary people at all, but Huang Xuhua, who was walking in front, stopped, he turned his head with extreme sensitivity, focused on the part where the nuclear submarine made the sound, and very seriously gathered the research unit and the supervisors of the nuclear submarine together, and ordered them to immediately find the exact source of the metal sound, even if they fought overnight, they must be thoroughly investigated.
At the dispatch meeting early the next morning, a large spring that broke in two was placed on the conference table. This large spring is the thickness of a bucket, more than a foot high, and the steel wire is the thickness of a wine glass. It turned out that yesterday's metallic sound was made when it broke.
The problem point was found. Is it unreasonable design, inaccurate theoretical calculation, unqualified material selection, excessive fatigue of materials in use, or mismatched mechanical combination? These assumptions will be checked one by one until they are accurate and accurate.
The role of nuclear submarines is to dive deep
China has its own nuclear submarines, but whether nuclear submarines can form combat effectiveness must go through the key links of extreme deep diving tests.
On April 29, 1988, China's nuclear submarine will conduct its first deep-diving limit test in the South China Sea as planned. Previously, only conventional submarines in China had done this test. As a newly developed large nuclear submarine deep diving test, there are too many uncertainties, compared with conventional submarines, complexity and danger are not an order of magnitude at all.
On March 4, 1988, Huang Xuhua took a photo in front of the nuclear submarine
Before the deep dive of the nuclear submarine, many crew members secretly wrote down the bold words and instructions to go to sea to carry out deep diving tasks, "Our deep diving is the need of the motherland, the needs of the people, for the strength of our national defense forces, we must stand up and dive!" In case of accidents, don't feel sorry for me, be proud of me! ”
Huang Xuhua was deeply moved, and he suddenly raised his voice and said to the more than 100 boarders who participated in the test: "I am the chief designer of this nuclear submarine, and my emotions for nuclear submarines are like fathers to their children, and I not only love submarines, but also trust them." Although there are risks and safety is not guaranteed, I have decided that I will dive with you and challenge the limits in the predetermined deep diving area. I am with everyone to live and die together, the purpose is to stabilize everyone's emotions, overcome fear, that is, to eliminate any negligence and worry from everyone. Please comrades be faithful to their duties and firm confidence, as long as we follow the test outline and operating procedures meticulously and seriously, we will definitely win the final victory of the deep diving test. ”
Considering the danger of the nuclear submarine's deep diving limit test and the harsh environment inside the boat, everyone strongly discouraged it, but Huang Xuhua was firm. He said: "Our nuclear submarine, from the inside out, from front to back, all steel plates, cables, pipelines, weldments, equipment, materials are all produced and manufactured by China itself, we are meticulous in selecting materials, we are serious in processing and manufacturing, we are cautious in quality testing, and the entire nuclear submarine is designed with sufficient redundancy for various indicators." If there is an extreme situation that we are not aware of underwater, it is even more necessary for me and my comrades to observe, judge and deal with it on the spot. ”
Huang Xuhua's personal boarding not only inspired all the crew, but also reflected his sense of responsibility to the motherland and the people.
The nuclear submarine hundreds of meters deep diving is squeezed by the strong pressure of the seawater, like holding an egg with your hand, as the water pressure increases, the nuclear submarine will be broken at any time like an eggshell, at this time the nuclear submarine is 30 meters, 50 meters, 100 meters, 200 meters underwater ... Keep diving into the extreme depths of the sea, and then diving again. At this time, the structure of the submarine began to have an abnormal sound of "crunching, crunching", and the dark deep sea was dangerous, and every abnormal sound was creepy. Huang Xuhua stood in the boat with a calm and calm demeanor, scanning every display screen with full attention, listening to every sound, and "watching the six roads and listening to all directions" commanding Ruoding.
Despite the dangers, the nuclear submarine deep diving limit test was completed in full accordance with the predetermined tactical and technical indicators. When the nuclear submarine surfaced after completing the deep diving test, the whole boat was boiling. The publicity officer of the "Submarine Express" asked the chief designer to wave the inscription, and Huang Xuhua happily shook the pen: "Flower armor idiot, Zhi Tanlong Palace." Have fun with the stormy seas! ”
On September 15, 1988, the calm sea rushed out of the fire-breathing dragon, and the deafening roar resounded in the sea and air, which was a missile launched in the missile barrel of a nuclear submarine hidden in the depths of the sea. China's first-generation missile submarines have completed all tests, becoming the fifth country after the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and France to have the ability to launch missiles underwater, and the Chinese Civilian Navy has become a truly strategic service.
Earth-shattering and incognito
Huang Xuhua said: "When the motherland needs me to charge, I will shed my blood at once; When the Motherland needs me to bleed drop by drop, I will shed drop by drop. ”
HUANG Xuhua
From 1957 to 1986, Huang Xuhua completely cut off contact with his family, relatives, friends, and classmates. The siblings complained that he was an "unfilial son"; The father longed day after day to be able to see this son, but he could not achieve it until he left this world; The mother began to break her fingers day by day at the age of 63, and it was not until the age of 93 that she touched her son's wrinkled cheeks with her dry hands; He went to the nuclear submarine development site for 100 days and a half, and every time he came back, his young daughter thought that her father was not from this family.
In this regard, Huang Xuhua has deep regrets in his heart, but he does not regret such a choice. He said: "I have not wasted time in my life, my whole life belongs to nuclear submarines and to the motherland, and I have no regrets!" ”
Huang Xuhua often said that he has been devoted to nuclear submarines for decades, and although he is passionate about nuclear submarines, the huge pressure of nuclear submarines is like Mount Tai's peak. When balancing the relationship between the country and the family, it is clear that the family affection in his heart is infinite but can only be iron-hearted, and he can only comfort himself with the ancient admonition of "loyalty and filial piety since ancient times".
Recalling the glorious and arduous course of China's nuclear submarine development, Huang Xuhua said emotionally:
I have been engaged in the development of nuclear submarines for 60 years, and I am pleased to see that the nuclear submarine that I have dreamed of and fought for all my life has been built. As a veteran, I participated in the whole process of this design and did my due responsibility. This is what I should do as an intellectual. What I have achieved is also the result of the joint efforts of everyone, the price they have paid is enormous, and their achievements are indelible. The years go by, and the career advances. Now we are facing new challenges, and the wave of new technologies and high technology in the world is causing a series of profound changes in scientific research, production and economy. In the face of the new situation, we are required to have the courage to open up and face up to the challenges posed by reality.
Although I am old, as an academician, I still have to aim for thousands of miles, and Song Ren Ouyang Xiu has a saying that "this year's flower is better than last year's popularity, and it is expected to spend better next year." I am determined to work with the old and new nuclear submariners, like the first generation of nuclear submarines, fearless, forge ahead, pass on the spirit of nuclear submarines, and work together with young people to create new brilliance! (Wang Jianmeng)
Source: Chinese Cai magazine