Chinese destroyer Fuzhou (137)

Fuzhou (137) is a Type 956E destroyer of the People's Liberation Army Navy.

Fuzhou underway in 2023
History
China
Name	Fuzhou (福州市)
Namesake	Fuzhou Vdumchivyy
Builder	Severnaya Verf, Saint Petersburg
Laid down	22 April 1989
Launched	16 April 1999
Commissioned	20 November 2000
Renamed	from Vdumchivyy (Вдумчивый)
Homeport	Zhoushan
Identification	Pennant number: 137
Status	Active
General characteristics
Class and type	Type 956E destroyer
Displacement	6,600 tons standard, 8,480 tons full load
Length	156 m (511 ft 10 in)
Beam	17.3 m (56 ft 9 in)
Draught	6.5 m (21 ft 4 in)
Propulsion	2 shaft steam turbines, 4 boilers, 75,000 kW (100,000 hp), 2 fixed propellers, 2 turbo generators, and 2 diesel generators
Speed	32.7 knots (60.6 km/h; 37.6 mph)
Range	3,920 nmi (7,260 km; 4,510 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) 1,345 nmi (2,491 km; 1,548 mi) at 33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph)
Complement	350
Sensors and processing systems	Radar: Air target acquisition radar, 3 × navigation radars, 130 mm gun fire-control radars, 30 mm air-defence gun fire control radar Sonar: Active and passive under-keel sonar ES: Tactical situation plotting board, anti-ship missile fire control system, air defence, missile fire-control system, and torpedo fire control system
Electronic warfare & decoys	2 PK-2 decoy dispensers (200 rockets)
Armament	2 AK-130 guns 2 Kashtan CIWS 2 Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-6-30 1 (2 × 4) 3M80E Moskit anti-ship missiles 8 (2 × 4) (SS-N-22 'Sunburn') anti-ship missiles
Aircraft carried	1× Ka-27 series helicopter
Aviation facilities	Helipad

Development and design

Main article: Sovremenny-class destroyer

The project began in the late 1960s when it was becoming obvious to the Soviet Navy that naval guns still had an important role, particularly in support of amphibious landings, but existing gun cruisers and destroyers were showing their age. A new design was started, employing a new 130-millimetre (5.1 in) automatic gun turret.

The Type 956E destroyers were 156 metres (512 ft) in length, with a beam of 17.3 metres (56 ft 9 in) and a draught of 6.5 metres (21 ft 4 in).

The Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force (PLAN) had two modified Sovremenny-class destroyers delivered in December 1999 and November 2000. In 2002, the PLAN ordered two improved versions designated 956-EM. The first vessel was launched in late 2005, while the second was launched in 2006. All four vessels were commissioned to the East Sea Fleet.

The project cost was 600 million US$ (mid-1990s price) for Project 956E (two ships), and 1.4 billion US$ (early-2000s price) for Project 956EM (two ships).

Construction and career

Fuzhou was laid down on 22 April 1989 and launched on 16 April 1999 by Severnaya Verf in Saint Petersburg. She was commissioned on 20 November 2000.