Underwater vessels from China were detected by anti-submarine sonar operators aboard the frigates protecting the Carrier Strike Group. Specialists in the operations rooms of HMS Kent and HMS Richmond located two of 7,000-tonne Shang class submarines, armed with potentially devastating cruise missiles, as the carrier group left the South China Sea and entered the Pacific Ocean. The carrier was shadowed for a short period before being located by sonar radar.

       Operators aboard the frigates 'pinged' within hours of leaving the hugely-contested stretch of water in Asia, sea lanes of which China has claimed as its own after it built several artificial islands.

       In addition, a third Shang class vessel is understood to have been identified by a Royal Navy Astute class submarine as it patrolled ahead of the task force through a "running silent" process, a submarine terms where the crew makes no noise to allow operators to locate any sub-surface contact.

       A naval source said: “China is growing its sub force at speed, and we must not underestimate them, but they do not have the combat experience that US and UK submarine squadrons developed as a result of Cold War operations in the deep dark spaces of the Atlantic.

       “Beijing is using technology to locate our positions, but are deploying submarines to reinforce their wider intent to move towards super-power status and dominate trade and security across the Pacific - contrary to international law.”

       China currently operates six new Type 093 class second-generation submarines and with a crew of 85 aboard them, can remain at sea for 80 days with the capability to deliver supersonic ship-killing missiles.

       Beijing has trumped the Royal Navy and US Navy with a total of 66 submarines, as it looks to flex its military muscles across areas where President Xi Jinping insisted his country will dominate trade and reunify the island of Taiwan with mainland China.

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