November 1968

Construction of the nation's first nuclear-powered submarine, a Type 09I attack submarine, begins at a shipyard in Northeast China. Sea trials begin in August 1971.

September 1970

Construction of the Navy's first nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, a Type 09II, begins at a shipyard in Northeast China. Sea trials begin in January 1983.

Dec 31, 1971

The first Type 051 guided-missile destroyer is delivered to the North Sea Fleet at Dalian Shipyard, Liaoning province. The Type 051 is China's first domestically developed destroyer. Several ships in this class are still in service, but are expected to be decommissioned soon.

Aug 1, 1974

The first Type 09I nuclear-powered attack submarine is commissioned.

Jan 24, 1977

CNS 252, a conventionally powered attack submarine, patrols the ocean for 30 days and reaches the western Pacific Ocean for the first time in the history of the Navy's submarine force, marking the force's first long-range training voyage.

December 1979

The Navy begins reestablishing the marine corps, which was disbanded in 1957. The 1st Marine Corps Brigade is formed in Hainan province.

April 1980

A fleet of 18 vessels sets sail to the Pacific Ocean to conduct the first mission of the Navy's surface force in the Pacific, organized to support the maiden test flight of the country's first long-range ballistic missile.

Nov 8, 1980

Two H-6 bombers from the 3rd Naval Aviation Division patrol the Nansha Islands in the South China Sea, indicating that the cover provided by the naval aviation force has expanded as far as the islands.

June 1981

Major construction projects for the Navy's first nuclear-powered submarine base conclude.

Oct 12, 1982

CNS Changcheng 200, a diesel-electric submarine, launches a ballistic missile in Chinese territorial waters to conduct the nation's first underwater test launch of a sea-based ballistic missile.

August 1983

The Navy's first nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, also the first of the Type 09II class, enters service.

Oct 1, 1984

The Navy displays its sea-based ballistic missiles and anti-ship missiles for the first time at a parade in Beijing to mark the 35th birthday of the PRC.