The Dachou class range support vessel/target ship (AGT)/torpedo retriever (TR/TRW) is a class of little known auxiliary ship built in the People's Republic of China (PRC) for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).[1][2][3][4][5] Designed as a successor of earlier Type 917 torpedo retriever (TR/TWR)/target ship (AGT), the exact domestic Chinese type designation remains unknown, and this class is identified by its NATO reporting name Dachou class,[1][2][3][4] or 大筹 in Chinese, meaning "big plan". Specification:[1][2][3][4]
- Length: 68 meters (223 ft 1 in)
| History | |
|---|---|
 PRC | |
| Ordered | Late 2000s |
| Awarded | Early 2010s |
| Laid down | Early 2010s |
| Launched | Early 2010s |
| Completed | Since early 2010s |
| Commissioned | Since early 2010s |
| Status | Active |
| Class overview | |
| Operators |  People's Liberation Army Navy |
| Preceded by | Type 917 torpedo retriever (TR/TWR) / target ship (AGT) |
| Built | Early 2010s |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Dachou |
| Type | Torpedo retriever (TR/TWR) / range support vessel / target ship (AGT) |
| Length | 68 m (223 ft 1 in) |
| Propulsion | Marine Diesel |
| Sensors and processing systems | Navigation radar |
The Dachou class in PLAN service is designated by a combination of two Chinese characters followed by a three-digit number. The second Chinese character is Yun (运), meaning Transport in Chinese, indicating that in addition to range support and targeting missions, this class is also used as transport (AP), though some modification work is required to remove onboard range support and targeting equipment before it can be used to transport cargoes. The first Chinese character denotes which fleet the ship is service with, with East (Dong, 东) for East Sea Fleet, North (Bei, 北) for North Sea Fleet, and South (Nan, 南) for South Sea Fleet. However, the pennant numbers are subject to change due to changes of Chinese naval ships naming convention, or when units are transferred to different fleets. As of 2022, a total of four ships have been identified:[1][2][3][4]
| Type | NATO designation | Pennant No. | Name (English) |
Name (Han 中文) |
Commissioned | Displacement | Fleet | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dachou-class target ship (AGT) | Dachou class | Bei-Yun 530 | North Transport 530 | 北运 530 | ? | ? t | North Sea Fleet | Active |
| Dong-Yun 760 | East Transport 760 | 东运 760 | ? | ? t | East Sea Fleet | Active | ||
| Nan-Yun 846 | South Transport 846 | 南运 846 | ? | ? t | South Sea Fleet | Active | ||
| Nan-Yun 847 | South Transport 847 | 南运 847 | ? | ? t | South Sea Fleet | Active |
References
edit- ^ a b c d "PLANS recognition guide 2018". July 16, 2018.
- ^ a b c d "PLANS recognition guide 2019". February 19, 2020.
- ^ a b c d "PLANS recognition guide 2020". February 19, 2020.
- ^ a b c d "PLANS recognition guide 2015". August 7, 2015.
- ^ "Dachou class AGT/TR/TWR" (in Simplified Chinese). April 15, 2013.
