HONG KONG, July 17 (UPI) -- Due to the rapid expansion of its submarine fleet, China's East Sea Fleet now has a shortage of submarine docks. At the base of the No. 42 Submarine Flotilla in Xiangshan, eight dock bridges have been built. Four of them are used to anchor Kilo 636s, and each can accommodate two Kilos.

Type 033 diesel submarines were also noticed earlier at this base, but it is likely they were only there for training purposes. Currently it seems there are only Kilos at this base. The facilities at the whole Xiangshan Base are quite new.

At present, the People's Liberation Army navy is armed with eight Kilo 636-Ms and two Kilo 636s, the two basic versions of Kilo submarines.

Another key base for the East Sea Fleet's surface battleships is in Shanghai. As is widely known, because of the rapid growth of a merchandise economy, the outside world knows a lot more about the Shanghai Navy Base than other bases of the PLA navy. This base is the home port of mainly Yuting and Yukan class landing ships and several Jianghu III FFGs. Kilos and surface warships also anchor at this base for maintenance servicing.

In addition to these naval base upgrades, a lot of resources have been invested in upgrading the Navy Aviation Force bases. As reported earlier, the 10th Regiment of the Navy Aviation Force's No. 4 Division was the first regiment to receive Su-30MK2 fighters. After the regiment was removed to Feidong Airport in Anhui province, new underground aircraft hangars were built, along with 24 link-structured hangars.