Type 054 frigate

Type 054 frigate Wenzhou (526)
Class overview
Builders:
Operators:  People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force
Preceded by: Type 053H3 frigate
Succeeded by: Type 054A frigate
Completed: 2
Active: 2
General characteristics
Type: Frigate
Displacement: 3,900 tons (full)
Length: 134 m (440 ft)(CCTV)
Beam: 16 m (52 ft) (CCTV)
Draught: 5 m (16 ft)
Propulsion: Combined diesel and diesel (CODAD), 4× SEMT Pielstick 16 PA6 STC diesels, 5700 kW (7600+ hp @ 1084 rpm) each
Speed: 27 kn (50 km/h) estimated
Range: 8,025 nautical miles (14,900 km) estimated
Sensors and
processing systems:
Electronic warfare
& decoys:
Armament:
Aircraft carried: 1 Kamov Ka-28 'Helix' or Harbin Z-9C
Aviation facilities: hangar

The Type 054 (NATO Codename Jiangkai I) frigate is a Chinese multi-role warship that were commissioned in the People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force in 2005. They superseded the Type 053H3 frigates. Two ships, 525 Ma'anshan, and 526 Wenzhou, were completed before production switched to the improved Type 054A frigate.

Design

The Type 054 has a stealthy hull design with sloped surfaces, radar absorbent materials, and a reduced superstructure clutter.

The main anti-ship armament were YJ-83 sea-skimming anti-ship cruise missiles in two four-cell launchers. It retained the HQ-7 SAM, an improved version of the French Crotale, from the preceding Type 053H3; the HQ-7 had a ready-to-fire 8-cell launcher, with 16 stored in the automatic reloader. Short range defence was improved with four AK-630 CIWS turrets. A 100 mm main gun, also based on a French design, was mounted.

Both ships were powered by four CODAD Type 16 PA6 STC marine diesel engines designed by SEMT Pielstick, each generating 6,330 hp. Licenses for the engines were sold to China in April 2002, where they were built by the Shaanxi Diesel Engine Factory. Other reports claimed each ship was powered by two (or four) Type 16 PA STC and two MTU 20V 956TB92 diesels.

Comparison with La Fayette

The Type 054 resembled the French La Fayette-class frigates in shape and displacement. In addition, the Chinese used French, or French-derived, electronics and weapons. The French exported these systems to China in the 1980s, and later granted production licences. These systems were similar to those used on the La Fayettes in the 1980s.

The succeeding Type 054A frigates incorporated a larger proportion of more-advanced indigenous systems.

Operations

Ma'anshan and Wenzhou deployed from Zhoushan on 21 February 2011 to undertake an anti-piracy patrol off Somalia. They were the eighth such Chinese patrol[1] and designated Task Force 526. Commodore Han Xiaohu commanded the flotilla from Wenzhou.[2] En route the flotilla made a stop at Karachi, before setting sail again on 13 March 2011.[3] The ships were joined by replenishment ship 886 Qiandaohu, which was already deployed with the preceding flotilla.[1]

Ships of Class

Number Pennant number Name Builder Launched Commissioned Fleet Status
1 525 马鞍山/ Ma'anshan Hudong September 2003 February 2005 East Sea Fleet Active
2 526 温州 / Wenzhou Huangpu November 2003 September 2005 East Sea Fleet Active

References

  1. 1 2 "Latest Chinese naval escort fleet leaves for Somali waters". Xinhua. 22 February 2011. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
  2. ↑ "Commander CTF 151 Visits Chinese Independent Warship". Combined Maritime Forces. 15 May 2011. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
  3. ↑ Qiu Junsong (13 March 2011). "Chinese naval escort flotilla leaves Karachi for Gulf of Aden". Xinhua. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
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