and anti-ship missiles (AShM) while submerged. The program originally begun in the mid-1980s, and Egypt is reported to be the only customer when China won a contract to upgrade its Romeo-class submarine fleet, including both Soviet built and Chinese built units. This is the last type of Chinese Romeo class submarine; with noise reduction of 20 dB to 140 dB in comparison to the 160 dB of the original Soviet Project 633 submarines acquired by China. Operators Current Currently 4 countries are using Romeo class submarines in an operational capacity: North Korea operates 20 Romeo class submarines. Seven were directly imported from China between 1973 and 1975, and the remainder locally assembled with Chinese supplied parts between 1976 and 1995. One apparently sank in an accident in 1985. Four Chinese imported units are based on the western coast. Egypt operates four of an original eight Romeo class submarines that are upgraded variants of the Chinese design. Currently using Romeo class submarines in non-operational capacities (i.e. training): Russia and the Soviet Union had 20 Romeo class vessels in service. These vessels are no longer used as combat vessels in the Russian Navy, although one or two remain in service as immobile training facilities. China has operated an estimated 84 of the Type-33 submarine (Romeo) during the Cold War. Most have been scrapped, but 13 are still in use for training. Former No longer using Romeo class submarines in any reported capacity: Bulgaria operated four Romeo class submarines (S-81 Pobeda, S-41 Viktoriya, S-83 Nadezhda, S-84 Slava. Decommissioning began in the 1990s and ended in 2011: Pobeda in 1990, Viktoriya in 1992, Nadezhda in 2008, Slava in 2011. All but Slava was scrapped. Syria received three Romeo class submarines built in 1961 for the Soviet Navy: S-1, S-53, S-101. All were decommissioned in the mid 1990s and sold for scrap in 1996. Algeria has two Romeo class ex-Soviet Navy submarines: S-10 and S-11. Delivered in 1982 and in 1983, but they were decommissioned in 1989 and all scrapped. Surviving boats Changcheng 237, in Qingdao Naval Museum, Qingdao Changcheng 274, in Taizhou Naval Museum, Taizhou Changcheng 279, in Liugong Island, Shandong Changcheng 280, in Shanghai Oriental Land, Shanghai Changcheng 303, in Wuhan Science and Technology Museum, Wuhan Changcheng 349, in 349 Submarine Sightseeing Base, Jiaojiang Changcheng Lüshunkou, in Lushun Submarine Museum, Liaoning S-49, in Pivdenna Bay, Sevastopol In August 2021, the "floating battery recharging