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Type 055 destroyer

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"Type 055" redirects here. For other uses, see Type 55 (disambiguation).

The Type 055 destroyer (NATO/OSD designation Renhai-class cruiser)[19] is a class of stealth guided-missile destroyers (rated as guided-missile cruisers per NATO/OSD standard parlance) constructed for the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). It has a multi-mission design; the combination of sensors and weapons provides a main role of area air defence, with anti-submarine warfare capabilities surpassing previous Chinese surface combatants.[20]

Nanchang in April 2021
Class overview
Builders
Operators People's Liberation Army Navy
CostCN¥6 billion (US$888 million) per unit including R&D (FY 2017)[1]
Built2014–present[2]
In service2020–present[3]
Planned16[6]
Building4[4]
Active8[5]
General characteristics
TypeGuided-missile destroyer
Guided-missile cruiser (per NATO)
Displacement
  • 11,000 tonnes (standard)[7]
  • 12–13,000 tonnes (full load)[8]
Length180 m (590 ft 7 in)[8]
Beam20 m (65 ft 7 in)[8]
Draught6.6 m (21 ft 8 in)[2]
Installed power
Propulsion
Speed30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)[2]
Range5,000 nmi (9,300 km) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)[2]
Complement300+[10]
Sensors and
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys
Armament
Aircraft carried
Aviation facilities
  • Stern hangar[17]
  • Helicopter landing platform[17]

The Type 055 undertakes blue-water expeditionary missions[21] and forms the primary escort for Chinese aircraft carriers.[20] The United States classifies these ships as cruisers[22] as the United States Navy (USN) defines a cruiser as a large multi-mission surface combatant with flag facilities;[23] this suggests the U.S. expects the Type 055 to fulfill a similar role to the USN's Ticonderoga-class cruiser.[20]

Development

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The People's Liberation Army Navy was interested in a large destroyer from as early as the late-1960s. A development program, code-named "055", initiated in 1976 was cancelled in 1983 after encountering insurmountable technical obstacles from industrial underdevelopment; for example, the required gas turbine power plants could neither be produced domestically nor imported at acceptable prices.[24]

In April 2014, an image emerged of a full-scale mock-up of the Type 055 superstructure—with enclosed integrated mast for radar and other electronics—at the Chinese naval electronic testing range in Wuhan.[25][26]

Nanchang, the first ship of the class,[27] began construction in 2014 at the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai,[2] and was commissioned on 12 January 2020.[3] Its first public appearance—preceding commissioning—was during the PLAN's 70th-anniversary parade[27] on 23 April 2019.[7] When launched, Nanchang was the largest post-Second World War warship launched in East Asia.[28][29]

The first batch of 8 vessels to this design were all laid down in 2014 to 2018, and all were in service by the end of 2022.[30] Further hulls were observed under construction, including two at Dalian in January 2022, by satellite imagery, and two at Jiangnan, as part of a second batch of 8 vessels (to reach a total of 16) under procurement provided for in the 14th Five Year Programme (2021–2025), aimed to equip all three Fleets.[30][6]

Satellite imagery reveals that the 9th and 10th vessels of the class have been launched at Dalian and Jiangnan respectively, with the 11th and 12th units nearing launch at these two yards.[31]

Design

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Stealth

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The Type 055 adopts a conventional flared hull with distinctive stealthy features including an enclosed forecastle that hides mooring points, anchor chains, and other equipment. The bow and main deckhouse are configured similarly to previous Type 052C/D destroyers. A continuous structure located amidships increases internal volume and reduces radar cross-section. The smokestack design reduces both infrared signature and radar cross-section.[9] Chinese sources credit the design as being generally stealthy, with reduced radar, noise, infrared, and electromagnetic radiation signatures.[32]

Power plants

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Propulsive power is generated by four 28 MW QC-280 gas turbines in combined gas and gas (COGAG) arrangement. Additional power may be provided by six 5 MW QD-50 gas turbines.[9]

The maximum speed is estimated to be 30 knots.[2]

Electronics

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Chinese literature suggests that the Type 055 is capable of "facilitat[ing] command management of a battlegroup and supporting elements". The command-and-control and battle management systems are likely comparable to contemporary PLAN systems, which reflect over a decade of intensive interest in information integration from the late 2000s.[33]

Multiple sensors are housed inside the integrated mast and ship superstructure.[13] The class has a dual-band radar system; four S-band Type 346B Dragon Eye active electronically scanned array (AESA) panels are mounted on the superstructure, and four smaller[34] X-band[11] panels are mounted on the mast. The Type 346B panels are estimated to be 40% larger than the Type 052D destroyer's Type 346A panels, for greater transmission power and sensitivity.[34] Chinese sources claim the radar has anti-stealth capability[35] and can be used to guide anti-satellite missiles.[34]

The ship structure also contains navigation radars, various communication and intelligence systems, electronic warfare support measures (ESM), electronic countermeasures (ECM), electro-optical (EO) sensors, laser-warning systems, optronic jammers, and datalink systems. They are likely more advanced than those deployed on previous ships.[13][9]

A deployment port exists for variable depth[9] and towed array sonar.[9][11] The large bulbous bow likely contains a bow sonar;[11][9] the Type 055 may mount a larger bow sonar than previous Chinese surface combatants.[9]

Armament

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The primary armament are missiles carried in 112 vertical launching system (VLS) cells,[8] 64 cells forward and 48 cells aft. The same VLS model is used on the Type 052D destroyer,[9] which is believed to be an implementation of the GJB 5860-2006 standard;[36] the GJB 5860-2006 is capable of hot and cold launches using concentric canisters.[37] The longest variant, with 9-metre cells, is likely used.[9] The Type 055 is expected to carry HHQ-9 surface-to-air missiles, YJ-18 anti-ship cruise missiles, CJ-10 land-attack cruise missiles, and missile-launched anti-submarine torpedoes upon entering service.[8] Potentially, the larger cells may also carry anti-ship ballistic missiles.[38][39]

Additional armament includes a 130-mm main gun, a 11-barrel 30-mm close-in weapon system (CIWS), a HHQ-10 short-range air defense system, 324-mm torpedo launchers, and decoy launchers. There is hangar space for two helicopters.[13]

Future developments

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It has been suggested that future variants may be armed with lasers or electromagnetic railguns.[9] Since the current design does not have integrated electric propulsion, installation of integrated electric propulsion will be required for the ship to meet the estimated power requirements for such weapons in the future.[40]

In 2021, United States Department of Defense identified Type 055 as the future launch platform for China's naval-based mid-course interceptors, such as the HQ-19 anti-ballistic missiles.[41]

Ships of class

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Pennant
number		 Name Namesake Builder Laid
down		 Launched Commissioned Fleet Status
101[42] 南昌／Nanchang[42] City of
Nanchang,
provincial
capital of
Jiangxi 		Jiangnan Shipyard,[43]
Changxingdao, Shanghai 		2014 [30] 28 June 2017[44] 12 January 2020[3] North Sea Fleet[45] Active[3]
102[42] 拉萨／Lhasa[42] City of
Lhasa,
regional
capital of
Tibet 		Jiangnan Shipyard,
Changxingdao[43] 		2015 [30] 28 April 2018[46] 2 March 2021[47] North Sea Fleet[48] Active[48]
105[42] 大连／Dalian[42] City of
Dalian,
in Liaoning 		Dalian Shipyard,[30]
Liaoning 		2016 [30] 3 July 2018[30] 23 April 2021[49] South Sea Fleet[50] Active[5]
106[42] 延安 / Yan'an[42] City of
Yan'an,
in Shaanxi 		Dalian Shipyard,[51]
Liaoning 		2016 [30] 3 July 2018[30] February 2022[30] South Sea Fleet[30] Active[52]
103[42] 鞍山／Anshan[42] City of
Anshan,
in Liaoning 		Jiangnan Shipyard,
Changxingdao[30] 		2017 [30] 12 September 2019[30] 11 November 2021[30] North Sea Fleet[30] Active[5]
107[42] 遵义 / Zunyi[5] City of
Zunyi,
in Guizhou 		Dalian Shipyard,[30]
Liaoning 		2017 [30] 26 December 2019[30] November 2022[30] South Sea Fleet[30] Active[5]
104[42] 无锡／Wuxi[42] City of
Wuxi,
in Jiangsu 		Jiangnan Shipyard,
Changxingdao[30] 		2018 [30] 9 May 2020[30] March 2022[30] North Sea Fleet[30] Active[5]
108[42] 咸阳 / Xianyang[5] City of
Xianyang,
in Shaanxi 		Dalian Shipyard,[30]
Liaoning 		2018 [30] 30 August 2020[30] December 2022[30] South Sea Fleet Active[5]

See also

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References

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Citations

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  1. ^ "Chinese Cruiser or Destroyer ? Full Details on PLAN's First Type 055". Navyrecognition.com. 29 June 2017. Archived from the original on 29 June 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Rahmat, Ridzwan (29 June 2017). "China launches largest surface combatant to date". Janes. Archived from the original on 1 July 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d Tate, Andrew (13 January 2020). "Chinese navy's first Type 055-class destroyer enters service". Jane's. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  4. ^ "China launches 10th Type 055 Vessel, increases production". 28 May 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h "The eighth Type 055 destroyer officially commissioned to PLA Navy". China Military. 23 Apr 2023. Retrieved 23 Apr 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Hints of Chinese Naval Ambitions in the 2020s". The Diplomat. 25 December 2020. Archived from the original on 25 December 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  7. ^ a b Tate, Andrew (24 April 2019). "Chinese navy puts newest platforms on display". Jane's 360. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Tate, Andrew (3 July 2018). "China launches two Type 055 destroyers simultaneously in Dalian". Janes. Archived from the original on 4 July 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Joe, Rick (8 June 2018). "All You Need to Know About China's New Stealth Destroyer". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  10. ^ "China Kicks off Work on 6th Type 055 Guided-Missile Destroyer". The Diplomat. 15 March 2018. Archived from the original on 20 March 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  11. ^ a b c d e f Caldwell et al.: page 8
  12. ^ "Type 055 Class Destroyers". Naval Technology. 11 September 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  13. ^ a b c d e Wertheim, Eric (March 2023). "Type 055 Renhai-class Cruiser: China's Premier Surface Combatant". U.S. Naval Institute.
  14. ^ a b Caldwell et al.: page 13
  15. ^ Chan, Minnie (20 April 2022). "Chinese navy shows off hypersonic anti-ship missiles in public". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  16. ^ a b Caldwell et al.: page 12
  17. ^ a b c d e Caldwell et al.: page 15
  18. ^ Wang, Amber (23 April 2022). "Chinese navy shows off new anti-submarine helicopter". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  19. ^ O'Rourke, Ronald (7 October 2021). China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities - Background and Issues for Congress (Report). Congressional Research Service. pp. 24–25. RL33153. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  20. ^ a b c Rogoway, Tyler. "China's Type 055 Super Destroyer Is A Reality Check For The US And Its Allies". The Drive. Archived from the original on 22 August 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  21. ^ Holmes, James R. (15 February 2018). "Fleet Design with Chinese Characteristics" (PDF). United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 July 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  22. ^ United States Department of Defense (May 2017). Annual Report To Congress: Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China 2017 (PDF) (Report). p. 25. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  23. ^ "United States Navy Fact File: Cruisers - CG". 9 January 2017. Archived from the original on 6 July 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  24. ^ "Summary of Historic facts （Part 3, Reviews of Large Size Destroyer Research）". Historical Data of Destroyers. Historical Data of Chinese Shipbuilding Industry (in Simplified Chinese). China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, Department of Equipment and Technology of People's Liberation Army Navy. pp. 10–11.
  25. ^ Caldwell et al.: page 4
  26. ^ Lin, Jeffrey; Singer, P.W. (9 April 2014). "The next new major Chinese warship arrives, on land". Popular Science. Archived from the original on 30 April 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  27. ^ a b Chen, Zhuo, ed. (26 April 2019). "China to commission first Type 055 guided missile destroyer". Xinhua. Archived from the original on 28 April 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  28. ^ Mizokami, Kyle (29 June 2017). "China launches Asia's biggest post-WWII warship". Popular Science. Archived from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  29. ^ Lin, Jeffrey (28 June 2017). "China Launches Asia's Largest Surface Warship". Popular Mechanics. Archived from the original on 15 August 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  30. ^ 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 ad Jane's Fighting Ships, 2023-24 Edition, ISBN 978-0-7106-3428 3, page 138.
  31. ^ Luck, Alex (2024-05-28). "China launches 10th Type 055 Vessel, increases production". Naval News. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
  32. ^ Lendon, Bard (28 June 2017). "China's newest destroyer seen as challenge to Asia rivals". CNN. Archived from the original on 28 June 2017. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  33. ^ Caldwell et al.: page 9
  34. ^ a b c Tate, Andrew (13 October 2020). "More details emerge about detection capabilities of Type 055 destroyer's radar". Janes. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  35. ^ "Chinese Type 055 destroyer has anti-stealth and anti-satellite capabilities". Navy Recognition. 12 October 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  36. ^ Wang, Weixing, ed. (4 September 2012). "谜一样的战舰 从052D驱逐舰看中舰艇系统" [A Ship of Mystery: The Shipborne Systems of Type 052D] (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2012-10-11.
  37. ^ Bussert, James C. (1 July 2013). "China's Navy Deploys Three-Tier Defensive Weapons". Afcea International. AFCEA. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  38. ^ Caldwell et al.: pages 11-12
  39. ^ "Will China upgrade its destroyers with 'carrier killer' missiles?". South China Morning Post. 2020-09-12. Retrieved 2020-12-14.
  40. ^ Zhang, Tao, ed. (8 January 2015). "Expert: Don't overanalyze PLAN's type-055 destroyer". China Military Online. Archived from the original on 27 April 2015. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  41. ^ United States Department of Defense (May 2017). Annual Report To Congress: Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China 2021 (PDF) (Report). p. 80.
  42. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n United States Navy Office of Naval Intelligence (December 2022). "PLA Navy Identification Guide" (PDF). Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  43. ^ a b Tate, Andrew; O'Connor, Sean (26 April 2017). "Construction of China's Type 055 destroyers forges ahead". Janes. Archived from the original on 25 April 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  44. ^ 陈国全; 尹航 (28 June 2017). 陈丽娜 (ed.). 我国新型万吨级驱逐舰首舰下水 (in Chinese). Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China. Archived from the original on 5 July 2017. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  45. ^ 夏阳 (29 March 2021). 杨宜修 (ed.). "改进型052D官宣入列东海舰队| 反潜能力提升, 还能探测隐身目标". eastday.com. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  46. ^ Tate, Andrew (30 April 2018). "China launches second Type 055 destroyer". Jane's 360. Archived from the original on 1 May 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  47. ^ "055型驱逐舰拉萨舰正式加入中国海军序列". Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China. 25 March 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  48. ^ a b Tate, Andrew (8 March 2021). "PLAN's second Type 055-class destroyer enters service". Janes. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  49. ^ Tate, Andrew (27 April 2021). "China commissions three major naval vessels on PLAN's 72nd anniversary". Janes. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  50. ^ "La Armada china recibe 3 buques para reforzar el control en el mar de China Meridional". Agencia EFE (in Spanish). 25 April 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  51. ^ Gady, Franz-Stefan (15 March 2018). "PLA Navy commissions destroyer". The Diplomat. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  52. ^ Zhao Lei (2 August 2022). "PLA Navy commissions destroyer". China Daily. Retrieved 28 January 2023.

Sources

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