Posted on 09/27/2017 8:04:22 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Our colleagues from East Pendulum are reporting that the Huangpu Shipyard of the Chinese naval group CSSC launched a Type 054A frigate for People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN or Chinese Navy) on September 22nd. This is the 14th frigate of this class (designated Jiangkai II-class by NATO) built in this shipyard, located near the city of Guangzhou in southern China, and the 28th overall in the series. The 27th Type 054A was launched less than 6 months ago, showing once again the fast pace of China's naval shipbuilding industry. Note that this new frigate is also the 3rd one to have been launched in 2017.
Launch of the 28th Type 054A Frigate for the PLAN.
Type 054A Frigate
The Type 054A is 140 meters long with a displacement of 4,000 tonnes full load. The ship has a range of over 4,000 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 18 knots.
Based on the Type 054 Frigates, the Type 054A incorporates a larger number of more-advanced indigenous systems. The first of class entered service with the PLAN in January 2008.
Type 054A Frigates are fitted with 32 VLS (Vertical Launch System) cells for HQ-16 surface to air missiles, 8x YJ-83 (export designation C-803) anti-ship missiles, a H/PJ-26 76mm main gun, two H/PJ12 seven-barreled 30mm CIWS guns (for frigates 1 to 16 in the series) or H/PJ11 eleven-barreled 30mm CIWS for new vessels starting with Huanggang (hull number 577) the seventeenth ship of the class. Two triple YU-7 torpedo launchers and anti-submarine rocket launchers are fitted for ASW warfare.
For the time being, it is the best anti-submarine anti-submarine platform for the Chinese Navy, with a full ASW suite including a hull sonar, a variable depth towed sonar, a sound control system and submarine communications, as well as torpedoes, ASROC Yu-8 and anti-submarine rockets.
Since first ship of the class was commissioned in January 2008, the PLAN commissioned 25 Type 054A multi-mission frigates in just 9 years.
The relatively low operational (and through life support) cost, its versatility and comfort (which is reportedly very appreciated by PLAN sailors) make the Type 054A class the backbone of the PLAN blue water capabilities. The number of Type 054A to be delivered to the PLAN has been revised several times upwards, from 24 originally planned to at least 28 units today. This 28th unit is set to join the PLAN in the fall of 2018.
The new Type 054B class (fitted with a full electric propulsion system) is set to follow on.
In parallel to the launch of this Type 054A frigate, the Huangpu shipyard also floated a 110-meter-long, 6,000 tons ocean going tug.
This is the third vessel in the class, the first of which has already been commissioned with the Northern Fleet on July 20th this year.
Looks like it packs a punch.
How many frigates did we build in the same time period?
what are the two cylindrical objects on the bow, forward of the gun turret? they look like the chambers of a revolver.
my google-fu is not strong enough tonight.
Impressive ships designed to keep nuclear submarines far from Chinese shores and make it difficult for an offensive Naval fleet to attack Chinese interests. Nevertheless if they are located, and existing American weapons are manned by well trained, disciplined ratings ( apparently not a given in today’s “diverse” military), these Chinese ships would not survive long in full combat.
Wait until they start cranking out flattops like pop tarts. Nice to them to have an industrial base.
I think you are referring to the two anti-submarine/anti-diver rocket launchers. A very Soviet legacy.
http://jgmjgm516.blogspot.in/2017/01/chinese-warships-visit-victoria.html
Anti submarine rocket launchers, similar to the Soviet/Russian RBU. Hedgehog on steroids.
ah. indeed. thanks much.
gotcha. appreciate the info.
None. We built LCS instead. We do not have a frigate class *because* of the stupid LCS. The Navy is rapidly reconsidering it now.
You might want to look at the antimissile defenses of these things.
They either have two of these:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_730_CIWS
Or two of these:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_730_CIWS#Type_1130
The things mount a Euro clone of Aegis and they *do* have their own version of Link 11A/B which means the damn things fight datalinked and assign targeting data. They also fire an improved Chinese version of the Buk missile that has anti-missile capability and it can ripple fire 32 of them at 2 second intervals. Further, it’s got twin 18-tube missile decoy launchers.
Our closest and most recent equivalent in service in any numbers was built without any sort of CIWS system. They’ve been hastily bolting them back on but it’s clearly a lashed together hack. We just (as in a couple months ago) ordered our first destroyer in over a decade that has any CIWS out of the box. It’s not due for a couple years.
Type 87 240mm short range anti-submarine rocket launchers in twin six-launcher clusters. They carry three reloads for each cluster.
They are indeed impressive ships. You would not want four or five of them within 100 miles of a naval task force with 5,000 sailors on a super carrier. All the shooting on both sides would be over in ninety seconds. As good as defensive weapons are ( missiles. lasers, ship stealth, speed etc) there are those who argue persuasively that the days of big surface capital ships are over. However from the Chinese perspective, if they lost ten of these frigates in a combined arms action but managed to stop a naval offense against their territory or interests, they strategically win. The world has changed.
Very ineresting!
The first sign that a US CBG would have of being under attack is when the Russian K-100s or Chinese PL-15s (or even their unnamed VLRAAM) come screaming in out of the dark, set to home on radar broadcast. The AWACS aircraft would be gone and with it much of our air superiority and tactics developed over the past 30 years. Remember, even the stealthy F-22 can get killed (relatively easily - an EA-6G has managed it) if it has to seek targets for itself with the onboard radar.
We don’t have an AWACS killer missile. So we can’t return the favor. Yes, the Chinese have AWACS. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KJ-2000
And the Sec of the Navy is talking about bringing some ancient destroyers out of mothballs. It does seem like the chicoms are planning better than we are for “something”. Thanks Obamoa/s
Are you confident that today’s Navy crews are adequately trained, disciplined and led to deploy the weapons they do have expertly and effectively? Believe the question is appropriate given the recent “mishaps” in the Pacific.
No, I am not at all confident about that. Unlike more than a few people on this forum who see the Navy through rose colored glasses fitted with optional blinders.
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