 lead ship Hainan in Hong Kong on 2024.
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders | Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding |
| Operators |  People's Liberation Army Navy |
| Preceded by | Type 071 amphibious transport dock |
| Succeeded by | Type 076 landing helicopter dock |
| Built | 2018–present |
| In service | 2021–present |
| Planned | 8 |
| Building | 1 |
| Completed | 4 |
| Active | 3 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Amphibious assault ship |
| Displacement | 35,000 to 40,000 t (34,000 to 39,000 long tons) |
| Length | 232 m (761 ft 2 in) |
| Beam | 36.8 m (120 ft 9 in) |
| Boats & landing craft carried | 2 × Type 726 Yuyi-class LCAC |
| Capacity | 60 armoured fighting vehicle |
| Troops | 800 troops |
| Armament | |
| Aircraft carried | 28 helicopters |
| Aviation facilities | Hangar deck |
The Type 075 landing helicopter dock (NATO reporting name: Yushen-class landing helicopter assault) is a class of Chinese amphibious assault ships built by Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). It has a full-length flight deck for helicopter operations and features a floodable well deck from which to disembark hovercraft and armored amphibious assault vehicles.
History
The Marine Design and Research Institute of China (708 Institute) of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation began design work in 2011. Debate over the desired result may have continued into 2016. Reportedly, the Central Military Commission Equipment Development Department favored a smaller design than the final Type 075, effectively an enlarged Type 071 amphibious transport dock, possibly due to concerns that the existing propulsion plant was insufficient for a larger ship. Ultimately, the PLAN's desire for an LHA prevailed. Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding received the contract in 2018 and construction began that year.
Images of Hainan, the first ship, under construction in drydock appeared by June 2019. She suffered a minor fire while fitting out in April 2020 which did not slow construction. Hainan commissioned on 23 April 2021 and reached initial operating capability in March 2022.
In November 2022, the PLAN announced that the first two ships were combat ready.
Design
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The flight deck is 226 meters (741 ft 6 in) long and 36 m (118 ft 1 in) wide. There are seven flight spots - six along the port side and one aft of the island. The forward aircraft elevator can carry one medium helicopter with rotors folded; the stern elevator is larger and can carry Changhe Z-8 helicopters with rotors folded. Two weapons elevators are located on the forward flight deck. The hangar may be 150 m (492 ft 2 in) long, 20 m (65 ft 7 in) wide, and 6 m (19 ft 8 in) high. The ship may operate 20 to 35 aircraft.
The well deck and vehicle deck are one continuous space. The well deck has a 20-meter (66 ft) wide gate and may be 80–90 m (262 ft 6 in – 295 ft 3 in) long, sufficient for two or three Type 726 LCACs. The vehicle deck is large enough for a PLAN Marine Corps amphibious mechanized infantry company plus additional platoon-sized tank or artillery elements. An opening on each side allows roll-on/roll-off access to the vehicle deck. The ship has an estimated displacement between 35,000 to 40,000 t (34,000 to 39,000 long tons), or more than 40,000 t (39,000 long tons) at full displacement.
List of ships
| Pennant number | Name | Namesake | Builder | Launched | Commissioned | Fleet | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | Hainan | Province of Hainan | Hudong-Zhonghua, Shanghai |
25 September 2019 | 23 April 2021 | South Sea Fleet | Active |
| 32 | Guangxi [zh] | Autonomous Region of Guangxi | 22 April 2020 | April 2022 | East Sea Fleet | Active | |
| 33 | Anhui [zh] | Province of Anhui | 29 January 2021 | 1 October 2022 | Active | ||
| 34 | Jiangxi | Province of Jiangxi | 14 December 2023 | Fitting out |
See also
Citations
- ^ Kennedy & Caldwell 2022, p. 9.
- ^ Kennedy & Caldwell 2022, p. 10.
- ^ "China's Fourth Type 075 LHD Taking Shape In Shanghai". Naval News. 30 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- "003型航母最新衛星圖片曝光 傳中國擬追建多型驅逐艦護衛艦". HK01 (in Chinese). 21 November 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
- ^ China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities—Background and Issues for Congress (Report). 265. Congressional Research Service. 1 December 2022. p. 34. RL33153. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
- ^ P. Funaiole, Matthew; S. Bermudez Jr., Joseph (24 November 2020). "China's New Amphibious Assault Ship Sails into the South China Sea". Center for Strategic and International Studies.
- ^ "黄浦江长江口10月8日试航船沪中24轮长232米宽36.8米黄浦江长江上海段下行-沪航警827/21". 中华人民共和国海事局. Archived from the original on 10 October 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
- ^ The Military Balance 2023. International Institute for Strategic Studies. p. 240.
- ^ Kennedy & Caldwell 2022, p. 24.
- United States Navy Office of Naval Intelligence (December 2022). "PLA Navy Identification Guide" (PDF). Retrieved 20 December 2022.
- Kennedy & Caldwell 2022, pp. 28–32.
- Kennedy & Caldwell 2022, pp. 15–17.
- Kennedy & Caldwell 2022, p. 8.
- Kennedy & Caldwell 2022, pp. 8–9.
- Kennedy & Caldwell 2022, p. 2.
- Joe, Rick (17 July 2019). "The Future of China's Amphibious Assault Fleet". The Diplomat. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
- Farley, Robert (11 August 2020). "China's First Type 075 Amphibious Assault Ship Begins Sea Trials". The Diplomat. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
- Liu Zhen (29 November 2022). "China's Type 075 amphibious assault ships ready for combat, PLA Navy says". South China Morning Post.
- Kennedy & Caldwell 2022, pp. 28–30.
- ^ Kennedy & Caldwell 2022, p. 19.
- Kennedy & Caldwell 2022, pp. 29.
- Kennedy & Caldwell 2022, p. 17.
- Kennedy & Caldwell 2022, pp. 15–16.
- Kennedy & Caldwell 2022, pp. 17–18.
- 馬靜 (21 November 2024). "海軍艦艇編隊今抵港 市民有望登艦飽眼福 [Naval fleet arrives at Hong Kong today, citizens are expected to board the ships and enjoy the tour]" (PDF). Ta Kung Pao (in Traditional Chinese).
- ^ Kennedy & Caldwell 2022, p. 34.
- Tate, Andrew (29 January 2021). "China launches third Type 075 LHD for PLAN". Janes. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021.
- Xavier Vavasseur (1 October 2022). "China's 3rd Type 075 LHD Anhui 安徽 Commissioned With PLAN". Naval News.
- Vavasseur, Xavier (14 December 2023). "China Launches 4th Type 075 LHD for the PLAN". Naval News. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
Sources
- Kennedy, Conor M.; Caldwell, Daniel (October 2022). The Type 075 LHD: Development, Missions, and Capabilities (Report). CMSI China Maritime Reports. Vol. 23. United States Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute.
