The Type 075 landing helicopter dock (NATO reporting name: Yushen-class landing helicopter assault[10]) is a class of Chinese amphibious assault ships built by Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).[1] It has a full-length flight deck for helicopter operations[11] and features a floodable well deck from which to disembark hovercraft and armored amphibious assault vehicles.[12]
.png) Guangxi at sea during training exercises, 2022
| |
| 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[1] |
| In service | 2021–present[2] |
| Planned | 8[4] |
| Building | 1[3] |
| Completed | 3 |
| Active | 3[5] |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Amphibious assault ship |
| Displacement | 36,000 tonnes (full load)[6] |
| Length | 232 m (761 ft 2 in)[7] |
| Beam | 36.8 m (120 ft 9 in)[7] |
| Boats & landing craft carried | 2 × Type 726 Yuyi-class LCAC[8] |
| Capacity | 60 armoured fighting vehicle[8] |
| Troops | 800 troops[8] |
| Armament | |
| Aircraft carried | 28 helicopters[8] |
| Aviation facilities | Hangar deck |
History
edit
The Marine Design and Research Institute of China (708 Institute) of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation began design work in 2011.[13] 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.[14] Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding received the contract in 2018 and construction began that year.[1]
Images of Hainan, the first ship,[15] under construction in drydock appeared by June 2019.[16] She suffered a minor fire while fitting out in April 2020 which did not slow construction.[17] Hainan commissioned on 23 April 2021[2] and reached initial operating capability in March 2022.[5]
In November 2022, The PLAN announced that the first two ships were combat ready.[18]
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.[19] 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.[20] Two weapons elevators are located on the forward flight deck.[21] 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.[20]
The well deck and vehicle deck are one continuous space.[22] 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.[23] 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.[24]
List of ships
edit| Pennant number | Name | Namesake | Builder | Launched | Commissioned | Fleet | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31[2] | Hainan[2] | Province of Hainan | Hudong-Zhonghua, Shanghai[1] |
25 September 2019[2] | 23 April 2021[2] | South Sea Fleet[25] | Active |
| 32[2] | Guangxi[2] | Autonomous Region of Guangxi | 22 April 2020[2] | April 2022[2] | East Sea Fleet[25] | Active | |
| 33[2] | Anhui[2] | Province of Anhui | 29 January 2021[26] | 1 October 2022[5] | Active | ||
| 34 | Jiangxi | Province of Jiangxi | 14 December 2023[27] | Fitting out[3] |
See also
editCitations
edit- ^ a b c d Kennedy & Caldwell 2022, p. 9.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Kennedy & Caldwell 2022, p. 10.
- ^ a b "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.
- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ Xavier Vavasseur (1 October 2022). "China's 3rd Type 075 LHD Anhui 安徽 Commissioned With PLAN". Naval News.
- ^ a b "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.
- ^ a b c d The Military Balance 2023. International Institute for Strategic Studies. p. 240.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ Vavasseur, Xavier (14 December 2023). "China Launches 4th Type 075 LHD for the PLAN". Naval News. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
Sources
edit- 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.