The Type 052B (NATO/OSD Luyang I-class destroyer[5]) is a class of guided-missile destroyers in the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force (PLAN). The Type 052B was China's first modern destroyer design[6][7] and the first Chinese design to incorporate true medium-range air defence capability in the form of Russian Shtil-1 (improved navalized Buk, NATO designation SA-N-12) surface-to-air missiles (SAM).[8]

Guangzhou (168) in Cádiz in 2007
Class overview
BuildersJiangnan Shipyard
Operators People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force
Preceded by
Succeeded byType 051C
Built2001–2004
In serviceJuly 2004–present
Planned2
Completed2
Active2
General characteristics
TypeGuided-missile destroyer
Displacement7,000 tons[1]
Length155 m (509 ft)[1]
Beam17 m (56 ft)[1]
Draught6 m (20 ft)[1]
Propulsion
Speed29 kn (54 km/h; 33 mph)[1]
Range4500 nm at 14 kn[1]
Complement280[1]
Sensors and
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys
Armament
Aircraft carried1 helicopter: Harbin Z-9 or Kamov Ka-28[1]
Aviation facilitiesFlight deck and hangar[1]

Two ships - Guangzhou and Wuhan - were begun in 2001 and commissioned in July and December 2004 respectively.[1][9]

Programme

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In the early 2000's, China pursued multiple - and sometimes concurrent - programmes to acquire modern destroyers, purchasing Sovremennys from Russia and constructing the Type 052B, Type 051C, and Type 052C.[10] These ships also represented steps to develop adequate air defense capabilities by adopting Russian air defense technology.;[11] the 25-km range Uragan (navalized Buk, NATO designation SA-N-7) on the Sovremenny; the 35-km range Shtil-1 on the Type 052B; long-range area air defense with the 150-km range Rif-M (navalized S-300, NATO designation SA-N-20) on the Type 051C;[8] and finally the Chinese 100-km range HHQ-9 (S-300 derivative) on the Type 052D.[12]

The Type 052B's air defence capabilities were obsolete upon entering service when compared to contemporary American and Japanese designs.[13] Nonetheless it represented a considerable general improvement over previous Chinese warships[6] and was the precursor to later Chinese air warfare destroyers.[6][13]

Design

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The hull is based on the Type 051B destroyer with added stealth features.[1]

Ships of Class

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Number Pennant number Name Builder Launched Commissioned Fleet Status
1 168 广州 / Guangzhou Jiangnan 25 May 2002[9] 15 July 2004[9] South Sea Fleet Active
2 169 武汉 / Wuhan 9 September 2002[9] December 2004[9] Active
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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac Saunders, Stephan, ed. (2015). Jane's Fighting Ships 2015-2016. Jane's Information Group. p. 136. ISBN 978-0710631435.
  2. ^ Joe, Rick (12 September 2018). "The Chinese Navy's Growing Anti-Submarine Warfare Capabilities". The Diplomat. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  3. ^ "China Steals Another Russian Success". www.strategypage.com. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  4. ^ Bussert, James C. (1 November 2015). "China Develops Aircraft Carrier Group Leader". Afcea International. AFCEA. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  5. ^ United States Office of the Secretary of Defense (24 April 2014). Annual Report To Congress: Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China 2014 (Report).
  6. ^ a b c Kirchberger (2015): page 195
  7. ^ McDevitt (2017): page 57
  8. ^ a b Schwartz (2015): page 26
  9. ^ a b c d e Jane's Fighting Ships, 2023-24 Edition, ISBN 978-0-7106-3428 3, page 141.
  10. ^ Kirchberger (2015): page 193
  11. ^ Schwartz (2015): pages 25
  12. ^ Schwartz (2015): pages 26-28
  13. ^ a b McDevitt (2017): page 58
Bibliography