Shichang is a training ship in the People's Republic of China's People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). The ship is formally designated as a "defence mobilization vessel" and may be used for helicopter or navigation training, as a container ship, or as a hospital ship. It is the PLAN's first aviation training ship.[1] The NATO reporting name for the type is Daishi-class AXT.[2]
History | |
---|---|
People's Republic of China | |
Name | Shichang |
Builder | Qiuxin Shipyard[1] |
Launched | April 1996[1] |
Commissioned | 27 January 1997[1] |
Identification | Hull number: 82[1] |
Status | Active |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Training ship[1] |
Displacement | 10,160 tonnes (full load)[1] |
Length | 120 metres (390 ft)[1] |
Beam | 18 metres (59 ft)[1] |
Draught | 7 metres (23 ft)[1] |
Propulsion | |
Speed | 17.5 knots (32.4 km/h; 20.1 mph)[1] |
Range | 8,000 nautical miles (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph)[1] |
Capacity | 300 containers[1] |
Complement | |
Aircraft carried | 2 x Harbin Z-9A[1] |
Aviation facilities | Flight deck[1] |
Design
editThe original plan was to convert Shichang from the civilian roll-on/roll-off ship Huayuankou; a new ship was built instead.[3]
Shichang has a bridge structure forward with the flight deck occupying most of the remaining area behind it; the funnel is toward the stern on the starboard side. The flight deck has two landing spots and may be reconfigured;[1] options include a modular hangar and control space behind the forward structure, or 300 standard 20-foot containers.[3]
See also
edit- RFA Argus (A135), a Royal Navy auxiliary with a similar configuration
References
editSources
edit- Saunders, Stephan, ed. (2015). Jane's Fighting Ships 2015-2016. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0710631435.
- Wertheim, Eric (2013). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems (16 ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1591149545.