Chinese destroyer Zhuhai (1990)

Zhuhai (166) is a Type 051 destroyer of the People's Liberation Army Navy.

Zhuhai at San Diego on 21 March 1997
History
China
Name	Zhuhai (珠海)
Namesake	Zhuhai
Builder	Dalian Shipyard, Liaoning
Launched	18 October 1990
Commissioned	21 November 1991
Decommissioned	28 August 2020
Identification	Pennant number: 166
Status	Decommissioned
General characteristics
Class and type	Type 051 destroyer
Displacement	3,670 tons
Length	132 m (433 ft 1 in)
Beam	12.8 m (42 ft 0 in)
Draught	4.6 m (15 ft 1 in)
Propulsion	2 steam turbines 72,000 shp (53,700 kW)
Speed	32 knots (59 km/h)
Range	2,970 miles
Complement	280
Armament	16 anti-ship missiles 8 surface-to-air missiles + 16 spare (manual reload) 2 twin-barrel 130 mm dual purpose guns 4 Type 76A dual-37 mm anti-aircraft guns 2 Type 75 anti-submarine rocket systems 6 torpedo tubes Depth charges 38 naval mines

Development and design

The PLAN began designing a warship armed with guided missiles in 1960 based on the Soviet Neustrashimy, with features from the Kotlin-class destroyer, but the Sino-Soviet split stopped work. Work resumed in 1965 with nine ships being ordered. Construction started in 1968, with trials beginning in 1971. The ships nominally entered service in the early 1970s, but few were fully operational before 1985; workmanship was poor due to the Cultural Revolution.

Construction of the second batch began in 1977, with the last commissioning in 1991. The second batch may have been ordered due to the Cultural Revolution disrupting development of a successor class. These ships may be designated Type 051D. The PLAN initiated an abortive modernization program for the first batch in 1982. The ships would be reconstructed with British weapons and sensors acquired from British Aerospace. The Falklands War made the prospective upgrades less impressive and cost effective, and the project was cancelled in 1984. A 1986 upgrade project using American power plants, weapons, sensors, and computers was cancelled because of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests.

Construction and career

Zhuhai was launched on 18 October 1990 at the Dalian Shipyard in Liaoning. Commissioned on 21 November 1991.

On 28 August 2020, Zhuhai was officially retired, and a retirement ceremony was held together with the previous Zhanjiang.

Gallery

• 
  Zhuhai in California on 25 March 1997.
• 
  Zhuhai underway on 1 May 1994.