Darong-class transport

Darong class transport (AP)/troopship (APT) is a class of auxiliary ship built in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] Intended as a successor of Qiongsha-class cargo ship, the exact domestic Chinese type designation remains unknown, so this class is identified by its NATO reporting name Darong class.[1][2][3][4] Specification:[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

History
PRC
StatusActive
Class overview
Operators People's Liberation Army Navy
Preceded byQiongsha-class cargo ship
BuiltAfter 2000
In serviceAfter 2000
In commissionAfter 2000
Planned2+
Completed2
Active2
General characteristics
Class and typeDarong
Typetransport (AP) / troopship (APT)
Displacement5,000 long tons (5,100 t)
Length68 m (223 ft 1 in)
PropulsionMarine Diesel
Sensors and
processing systems
Navigation radar
Electronic warfare
& decoys
None
ArmamentUnarmed
ArmourNone
Aircraft carriedNone
Aviation facilitiesHelipad

Darong 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. 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 the change of Chinese naval ships naming convention, or when units are transferred to different fleets. As of 2022, a total of two ships have been identified:[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

Type NATO designation Pennant No. Name
(English)
Name
(Han 中文)
Commissioned Displacement Fleet Status
Darong class transport (AP) / troopship (APT) Darong class Nan-Yun 830 South Transport 830 南运 830 ? 5,000 t South Sea Fleet Active
Nan-Yun 831 South Transport 831 南运 831 ? 5,000 t South Sea Fleet Active

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "PLANS recognition guide 2018". July 16, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d "PLANS recognition guide 2019". February 19, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d "PLANS recognition guide 2020". February 19, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d "PLANS recognition guide 2015". August 7, 2015.
  5. ^ a b c "Chinese Darong class AP Nan-Yun 831" (in Simplified Chinese). August 5, 2016.
  6. ^ a b c "Darong class AP Nan-Yun 831" (in Simplified Chinese). May 10, 2016.
  7. ^ a b c "Darong class AP Nan-Yun 831 of Chinese navy" (in Simplified Chinese). May 10, 2016.