Wikipedia

Type 075 landing helicopter dock

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).[2] 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]

Guangxi (32) sailing in 2022.
Class overview
BuildersHudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding
Operators People's Liberation Army Navy
Preceded byType 071 amphibious transport dock
Succeeded byType 076 landing helicopter dock
Built2018–present[2]
In service2021–present[1]
Planned8[4]
Building1[5]
Completed3
Active3[3]
General characteristics
TypeAmphibious assault ship
Displacement30,000 to 40,000 tons[6]
Length232 m (761 ft)[7]
Beam36.8 m (121 ft)[7]
Boats & landing
craft carried		2 × Type 726 Yuyi class LCAC[8]
Capacity60 armoured fighting vehicle[8]
Troops800 troops[8]
Armament
Aircraft carried28 helicopters[8]
Aviation facilitiesHangar deck

History edit

 
Guangxi (32) sailing in 2022.

The Marine Design and Research Institute of China (708 Institute) of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation began design work in 2011.[6] 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.[13] Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding received the contract in 2018 and construction began that year.[2]

Images of Hainan, the first ship,[14] under construction in drydock appeared by June 2019.[15] She suffered a minor fire while fitting out in April 2020 which did not slow construction.[16] Hainan commissioned on 23 April 2021[1] and reached initial operating capability in March 2022.[3]

In November 2022, The PLAN announced that the first two ships were combat ready.[17]

Design edit

 
Profile image of Guangxi (32), year 2023.

The flight deck is 226 meters long and 36 meters wide. There are seven flight spots - six along the port side and one aft of the island.[18] 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.[19] Two weapons elevators are located on the forward flight deck.[20] The hangar may be 150 meters long, 20 meters wide, and 6 meters high. The ship may operate 20-35 aircraft.[19]

The well deck and vehicle deck are one continuous space.[21] The well deck has a 20 meter wide gate and may be 80-90 meters long, sufficient for two or three Type 726 LCACs.[22] 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.[23]

List of ships edit

Pennant number Name Namesake Builder Launched Commissioned Fleet Status
31[1] Hainan[1] Province of Hainan Hudong-Zhonghua,
Shanghai[2] 		25 September 2019[1] 23 April 2021[1] South Sea Fleet[24] Active
32[1] Guangxi[1] Province of Guangxi 22 April 2020[1] April 2022[1] East Sea Fleet[24] Active
33[1] Anhui[1] Province of Anhui 29 January 2021[25] 1 October 2022[3] Active
TBA TBA TBA 14 December 2023[26] Fitting out[5]

See also edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Kennedy & Caldwell 2022, p. 10.
  2. ^ a b c d Kennedy & Caldwell 2022, p. 9.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ a b "China's Fourth Type 075 LHD Taking Shape In Shanghai". Naval News. 30 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  6. ^ a b Kennedy & Caldwell 2022, p. 8.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ a b c d The Military Balance 2023. International Institute for Strategic Studies. p. 240.
  9. ^ a b Kennedy & Caldwell 2022, p. 24.
  10. ^ United States Navy Office of Naval Intelligence (December 2022). "PLA Navy Identification Guide" (PDF). Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  11. ^ Kennedy & Caldwell 2022, pp. 28–32.
  12. ^ Kennedy & Caldwell 2022, pp. 15–17.
  13. ^ Kennedy & Caldwell 2022, pp. 8–9.
  14. ^ Kennedy & Caldwell 2022, p. 2.
  15. ^ Joe, Rick (17 July 2019). "The Future of China's Amphibious Assault Fleet". The Diplomat. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  16. ^ Farley, Robert (11 August 2020). "China's First Type 075 Amphibious Assault Ship Begins Sea Trials". The Diplomat. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  17. ^ Liu Zhen (29 November 2022). "China's Type 075 amphibious assault ships ready for combat, PLA Navy says". South China Morning Post.
  18. ^ Kennedy & Caldwell 2022, pp. 28–30.
  19. ^ a b Kennedy & Caldwell 2022, p. 19.
  20. ^ Kennedy & Caldwell 2022, pp. 29.
  21. ^ Kennedy & Caldwell 2022, p. 17.
  22. ^ Kennedy & Caldwell 2022, pp. 15–16.
  23. ^ Kennedy & Caldwell 2022, pp. 17–18.
  24. ^ a b Kennedy & Caldwell 2022, p. 34.
  25. ^ Tate, Andrew (29 January 2021). "China launches third Type 075 LHD for PLAN". Janes. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021.
  26. ^ Vavasseur, Xavier (14 December 2023). "China Launches 4th Type 075 LHD for the PLAN". Naval News. Retrieved 21 December 2023.

Sources edit

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