Naval forces of the People's Republic of China. Asia's largest missile ship launched in Shanghai Chinese destroyer Project 055

The People's Liberation Army Navy of China wants to receive a large number of modern ships capable of solving a wide range of tasks in the ocean zone and ensuring a fleet presence in strategically important regions. To meet such requirements, the construction of the newest destroyers of Project 055 is underway. A few days ago it became known that the lead ship of this type had begun sea trials, which in the future will be followed by at least seven production destroyers. It is expected that the 055 class ships will have the most significant impact on the potential of the Chinese fleet.

According to Chinese and foreign media reports, on August 24, the first Project 055 destroyer, Nanchang, set sail for the first time from Shanghai. This ship was built in Shanghai at the Jiangnan-Changxing plant, part of the state shipbuilding corporation China Shipbuilding State Corporation. Over the next few months, the ship will have to pass all the necessary tests, based on the results of which it will be able to enter service. According to current plans, the destroyer will join the Navy next year in 2019.

The lead destroyer of Project 055 "Nianchang" during the launching ceremony, June 2017. Photo: Bmpd.livejournal.com

The ceremonial laying of the lead destroyer “055” took place in 2014. At the end of June 2017, the ship was launched, after which construction began on the quay wall. It took about a year to install all the necessary equipment and check the installed systems. A few weeks ago, preparations were made for sea trials, and on August 24, Nianchang left the port for the first time. The test plan and schedule, as always happens in such cases, were not specified.

It is expected that the emergence of a series of new Project 055 destroyers will have a serious impact on the state of the PLA Navy, as well as on the balance of forces in the Asia-Pacific region. According to various estimates, these ships can become one of the most serious forces in the Pacific Ocean. These estimates are based on available information about the characteristics and combat qualities, as well as the quantity and quality of weapons on board.

Destroyer or cruiser?

According to Chinese official documents, the new ships are classified as "10,000-ton class destroyers." The Nianchang and its sisterships will have a length of about 180 m and a total displacement of 13 thousand tons. Thus, the new Chinese destroyers are included in the list of the largest and heaviest surface combatants in the world that are not aircraft carriers. The size and displacement of the 055 ships leads to interesting classification implications.

A displacement of about 12-13 thousand tons is not at all typical for “traditional” destroyers - ships with such characteristics are usually classified as cruisers. As a result, since last year, the US Department of Defense in its documents and statements has stopped calling the 055 ships destroyers. In the American classification they are now listed as Renhai-class cruiser. Many experts from a number of countries agree with this view of the classification. However, this does not prevent the Chinese fleet from building precisely “10,000-ton destroyers.”

Atypical dimensions and displacement for destroyers were obtained for a number of obvious reasons. In accordance with the customer’s instructions, the Project 055 ship must carry a large number of various weapons. Thus, only vertical launchers should accommodate more than 130 missiles for various purposes. In addition to them, the ship has artillery, torpedoes, electronic weapons, etc.

Design Features

The 055 type destroyer is a large surface ship built using modern technologies and current developments. It has a length of 180 m with a width of up to 20 m and a normal draft of 6.6 m. The total displacement reaches 13 thousand tons, which directly affects the combat qualities of the ship.

"Nyanchang" goes out for testing, August 24, 2018. Photo: Cjdby.net

The design took into account the need to reduce the visibility of the destroyer to enemy radar. As a result, the hull and superstructure have characteristic contours. Thus, the sides of the hull are connected to the sides of the superstructure, and the latter is distinguished by a small number of protruding nodes. In particular, most of the antennas on the mast are placed under a radio-transparent casing. Almost all of the ship's weapons are protected by the hull and superstructure panels.

A large ship needs appropriate power plant. According to known data, Project 055 provides for the use of a COGAG type system built on the basis of four gas turbine engines QD-280 with a power of 38 thousand hp. each. Total power - more than 150 thousand hp. Also on board there are six QD-50 gas turbine generators with a power of 6700 hp each. every. Maximum speed when using all engines it is 30 knots. Cruising range – 5000 nautical miles.

The main means of monitoring the surface and air situation on the destroyer "055" is the H/LJG-346B radar station, which uses several antennas with an active phased array. Large antenna devices are installed on the frontal part of the superstructure. It is also known about the use of various radars responsible for searching for targets and using them. To counter enemy systems, there is an electronic warfare complex, including jamming stations and launchers.

There is a hydroacoustic station in the underwater part of the ship’s bow to search for enemy submarines. The ship can also use a long-length towed antenna.

At the rear of the superstructure there is a hangar for two medium helicopters. Behind it is the take-off platform. First of all, the new ships will have to carry Harbin Z-9C or Changhe Z-18F anti-submarine warfare helicopters. It is also possible to use machines for other purposes.

Armament

One of the reasons for criticism of the official Chinese classification of Project 055 is the excessive amount of weapons for a destroyer, suitable for solving completely different combat missions. Using the existing systems, Nanching and subsequent ships in the series will be able to attack air, coastal and underwater targets of various types. Moreover, in terms of the size of its ammunition, the new Chinese ship surpasses not only existing destroyers foreign countries, but also some cruisers.

Head "055" near Shanghai. Photo: Cjdby.net

The main armament of the destroyer "055" are two universal vertical launchers. The first has 64 cells for transport and launch containers with missiles and is placed in front of the superstructure. The second includes 48 cells and is located in the center of the superstructure, in front of the hangar. The cell of such an installation has a diameter of 850 mm and a length of about 9 m. It is possible to use missiles with mortar launch and “hot” launch. Thanks to this, the destroyer can use all major types of existing Chinese-made naval missiles.

To attack enemy surface ships, the destroyer must use YJ-18 missiles with a flight range of up to 540 km. The main part of the trajectory of such a weapon travels at subsonic speed, and in the final section it accelerates to M=3. It is proposed to use a ship-based modification of the CJ-10 “land” cruise missiles against coastal targets. Such a product is capable of delivering a 500-kg warhead to a range of up to 1,500 km.

Medium- and long-range anti-aircraft missiles of the HH-9 family should also be used with vertical installations. Existing anti-submarine missiles carrying homing torpedoes are also compatible with such installations.

In addition to a pair of universal installations, the 055 ship carries several other weapons systems. On the tank there is an H/PJ-38 artillery mount with a 130 mm caliber gun, designed for firing at surface, coastal and air targets. On the bow of the superstructure, directly behind one of the launchers, a seven-barreled 30-mm H/PJ-14 anti-aircraft gun is placed.

The artillery is complemented by the HQ-10 short-range anti-aircraft missile system. At the rear of the superstructure there is a separate vertical launcher with 24 missiles of this type. With their help, air targets can be intercepted within a radius of 8-10 km.

Before launching a destroyer, you can examine the design and equipment of the superstructure. Photo: Atimes.com

In the recent past, there have been references in the foreign press to the future expansion of the capabilities of Project 055 destroyers through the installation of fundamentally new weapons. It was assumed that in the future such ships could become carriers of combat lasers or rail guns. Whether such ideas can be implemented in practice is unknown. There is also a plausible version about the fundamental possibility of creating an interceptor missile, which will make it possible to use the “055” ships as part of a missile defense system.

Construction progress

According to known data, China plans to build at least eight ships of Project 055. The lead one recently entered sea trials, and seven serial ones are already at various stages of construction. It cannot yet be ruled out that the PLA Navy plans to order several more destroyers of the new project, but official data on this matter is currently missing.

In order to quickly implement the command’s plans, it was decided to involve two enterprises at once in the construction of destroyers. The Jiangnan-Changxing shipyard / Shanghai Jiangnan Changxing Shipbuilding and Heavy Industry Corporation is responsible for the lead ship and several serial ships. The second large order was received by the Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company, part of the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, operating in Dalian. In accordance with current plans, two factories must build four ships each.

Shanghai shipbuilders have already completed part of the tasks assigned to them. Last year they launched the lead ship of the series. A few days ago he was taken out for testing. At the end of April this year, another destroyer was launched in Shanghai. The other two ships remain on the stocks for now. Apparently, they will be launched and completed for completion no later than next year. On July 3, 2018, two promising destroyers were launched on the same day in Dalian. The other two ships still remain in the assembly shops, but their launching should also take place in the foreseeable future.

Despite the large size of the ships and the complexity of construction, the two shipyards show very remarkable results. The first of the already built ships is planned to be accepted into the Navy in next year. If the current pace of construction is maintained, we can expect that all eight destroyers will begin service in 2022-23. By this time, the command may announce its intention to continue the series.

Strategy Issues

By now, the Chinese navy has become one of the most powerful fleets in the Pacific. In terms of quantitative indicators, they are inferior only to the US Navy. In addition, according to various estimates, there is a certain lag in quality. However, Beijing plans to claim the title of the leading power in the region, for which, among other things, it is building a large and powerful fleet.

Rocket firing as imagined by an artist. Picture: Wikimedia Commons

The latest Project 055 destroyers/cruisers are part of a larger plan to build a powerful navy capable of leadership. The Chinese fleet already has several dozen modern ships of the main classes, from corvettes to aircraft carriers. The appearance of “10,000-ton destroyers” should have a positive impact on the potential of the fleet as a whole and individual ship groups in particular.

In Project 055, special attention is drawn to the proposed composition of weapons and their quantity. On board the destroyer there can be more than 130 missiles for various purposes, of which 112 are in a universal launcher. According to available data, the ship is capable of monitoring the situation in the air, on the surface, on land and under water, and also receiving necessary measures regarding the objects found. In fact, “055” turns out to be a universal means for striking the enemy and simultaneously protecting ship formations.

From the point of view of technical features and capabilities, the new 055 destroyers can be considered direct competitors of the American Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruisers. Existing and promising US destroyers - the Arleigh Bukre and Zumwalt projects - cannot be fully considered analogues or rivals of the Chinese ship, since they are inferior in the size of their ammunition load. At the same time, Zumwalt-class destroyers are slightly larger than the 055-class ship, and also have a large displacement - up to 15-16 thousand tons.

The Ticonderoga missile cruisers with a displacement of 9800 tons are equipped with two universal launchers Mk 41, which carries 122 missiles of various types. Typical ammunition includes Tomahawk cruise missiles, SM-2 and SM-3 anti-aircraft missiles, and ASROC anti-submarine missiles. The number and proportions of missiles depend on the task at hand. At the same time, anti-ship missile weapons are represented only by the Harpoon complex with 8 missiles. The American fleet currently has 22 Ticonderoga cruisers in service. Half of these ships serve in the Pacific Ocean.

The emergence of eight new large-displacement destroyers with advanced missile weapons, capable of competing with foreign ships, will allow the PLA Navy to more effectively solve its main tasks. The formation of naval groups with the participation of type 055 destroyers will allow maintaining or expanding control over sea communications. If necessary, the fleet will be able to project power in a given region. The presence of ships with powerful strike weapons will increase such a potential of the Navy.

Wanting to become the leading power in its region, China is building new warships. To solve current problems, combat units of all types are required, including unusual “10,000-ton class” destroyers. The first ship of this kind will enter service next year, and seven more will follow. It looks like the situation in the Asia-Pacific region will not get any easier. On the contrary, the presence of large and powerful ships will allow the main countries of the region to more actively promote their interests.

Based on materials from sites:
http://navyrecognition.com/
http://janes.com/
http://fas.org/
https://naval-technology.com/
http://english.chinamil.com.cn/
http://atimes.com/
http://navy.mil/
https://bmpd.livejournal.com/

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