Type 055 destroyer

The lead ship of the Type 055 Class on her first sea trial.
Class overview
Builders:
Operators: PLA Navy Surface Force
Preceded by: Type 052D
Cost: CN¥6 billion/unit (including R&D)[1]
Built: 2014–present[2]
In service: 2019 (est.)[3]
Planned: 8[4]
Building: 6[5]
General characteristics
Type: Guided missile destroyer
Displacement: 12-13,000 tonnes (full load)[6]
Length: 180 m (590 ft)[6]
Beam: 20 m (66 ft)[6]
Draught: 6.6 m (22 ft)[2]
Installed power:
Propulsion:
Speed: 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)[2]
Range: 5,000 nmi (9,300 km)[2]
Sensors and
processing systems:
Electronic warfare
& decoys:
Armament:
Aircraft carried:
Aviation facilities:
  • Stern hangar for up to two medium-lift helicopters
  • Helicopter landing platform

The Type 055 destroyer (NATO/OSD Renhai-class cruiser[11]) is a class of guided missile destroyers being constructed for the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force. It is a multi-mission design; the combination of sensors and weapons suggests a main role of area air defence, with anti-submarine warfare capabilities surpassing previous Chinese surface combatants.[12]

The Type 055 is expected to undertake expeditionary missions[13] and form the primary escort for Chinese aircraft carriers.[12]

The United States classifies these ships as cruisers[11]. The United States Navy defines a cruiser as a large multi-mission surface combatant with flag facilities[14]; this suggests the U.S. expects the Type 055 to fulfil a similar role as the Ticonderoga-class cruiser.[12]

Development

In April 2014, image emerged of a full-scale mock-up of the Type 055 superstructure - with enclosed integrated mast for radar and other electronics - at the Chinese naval electronic testing range in Wuhan.[9][15]

The first ship began construction in 2014 at the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai[2], and launched on 28 June 2017.[16] When launched, it was among the largest post-Second World War warships launched in East Asia[17][18], and the largest surface combatant launched by China.

In March 2018, six Type 055s were under construction simultaneously.[19][4]

Design

The Type 055 adopts a conventional flared hull with distinctive stealthy features including an enclosed bulbous bow that hides mooring points, anchor chains and other equipment. The bow and main deckhouse are configured similarly to previous Type 052C/D destroyers. A continuous structure amidship increases internal volume and reduces radar cross-section. The smoke stack design reduces both infrared signature and radar cross-section.[7] Chinese sources credit the design as being generally stealthy, with reduced radar, noise, infrared, and electromagnetic radiation signatures.[20]

Power plants

Propulsive power is generated by four 28 MW QC-280 gas turbines in combined gas and gas arrangement. Additional power may be provided by six 5 MW QD-50 gas turbines. It does not have integrated electric propulsion.[7]

The maximum speed is estimated to be 30 knots.[2]

Electronics

The Type 055's battle management system may allow integration with carrier strike groups.[21]

The integrated mast may mount X band radar in four fixed active electronically scanned arrays (AESA). The deckhouse may mount four Type 346B AESA panels; the previous Type 346 was a dual S and C band radar, but the Type 346B may only be S band as a X band radar is included. The X band radar may be mounted higher as it is better suited for horizon search and low altitude object detection. The Type 346B arrays can be larger and have higher power when mounted on the deckhouse below the X band radar.[7]

Various electronic warfare support measures (ESM), electronic countermeasures (ECM), and electro-optic (EO) sensors and datalinks are mounted. They are likely more advanced than those deployed on older ships.[7]

A deployment port exists for variable depth and towed array sonar. The large bulbous bow likely contains a bow sonar; the Type 055 may mount a larger bow sonar than previous Chinese surface combatants.[7]

Armament

The primary armament are missiles carried in 112 universal vertical launch cells (VLS)[6]; 64 cells forward and 48 cells aft. Each cell has a diameter of 0.85 metres. The cells support cold launches, and hot launches with concentric canisters. The universal cell comes in three lengths; the cells on the Type 055 are likely the longest 9-metre variant.[7] The Type 052D destroyer uses the same model of universal cell.[1] The cells carried on the Type 055 are larger than the strike-length Mark 41 VLS and Mark 57 Peripheral VLS cells employed by the United State Navy.[7]

The Type 055 VLS is expected to carry HHQ-9 surface-to-air_missiles, YJ-18 anti-ship cruise missiles, CJ-10 land-attack cruise missiles, and missile-launched anti-submarine torpedoes upon entering service.[6]

Future developments

It has been suggested that future variants may be armed with lasers or electromagnetic railguns.[7] However, these would require the installation of integrated electric propulsion to meet power requirements.[22]

The universal VLS makes it possible to carry future anti-ballistic missiles (ABM)[7]; the value of ABM capability on the Type 055 is limited so long as China lacks overseas military bases requiring such protection.[1]

Ships of class

#Pennant numberNameBuilderLaunchedCommissionedFleetStatus
1 Jiangnan Shipyard (Group) Co. Ltd.[5] 28 June 2017[16] Sea trials[23]
2 Jiangnan Shipyard (Group) Co. Ltd.[5] 28 April 2018[24] Fitting out
3 Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company[5] 03 July 2018[6] Fitting out
4 Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company[5] 03 July 2018[6] Fitting out
5 Jiangnan Shipyard (Group) Co. Ltd.[4] Under construction
6 Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company[4] Under construction

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Chinese Cruiser or Destroyer ? Full Details on PLAN's First Type 055". Navyrecognition.com. 29 June 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rahmat, Ridzwan (29 June 2017). "China launches largest surface combatant to date". Janes. Archived from the original on 1 July 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  3. ↑ O'Rourke, Ronald (21 May 2018). China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities—Background and Issues for Congress (PDF) (Report). Congressional Research Service. p. 32. RL33153. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "China Kicks off Work on 6th Type 055 Guided-Missile Destroyer". The Diplomat. 15 March 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Tate, Andrew; O'Connor, Sean (26 April 2017). "Construction of China's Type 055 destroyers forges ahead". Janes. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Tate, Andrew (3 July 2018). "China launches two Type 055 destroyers simultaneously in Dalian". Janes. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Joe, Rick (8 June 2018). "All You Need to Know About China's New Stealth Destroyer". The Diplomat. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  8. 1 2 Chinese Type 055-Analysis - Navyrecognition.com, 7 July 2017
  9. 1 2 3 4 "China May Have Started Construction of Next Generation Destroyer Type 055 for the PLAN". Navyrecognition.com. 30 December 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  10. ↑ "China Launches Next-Generation Guided-Missile Destroyer". The Diplomat. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  11. 1 2 United States Department of Defense (May 2017). Annual Report To Congress: Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 2017 (PDF) (Report). p. 25. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  12. 1 2 3 Rogoway, Tyler. "China's Type 055 Super Destroyer Is A Reality Check For The US And Its Allies". The Drive. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  13. ↑ Holmes, James R. (15 February 2018). "Fleet Design with Chinese Characteristics" (PDF). The Drive. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  14. ↑ "United States Navy Fact File: Cruisers - CG". 9 January 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  15. ↑ Lin, Jeffrey; Singer, P.W. (9 April 2014). "The next new major Chinese warship arrives, on land". Popular Science. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  16. 1 2 陈国全; 尹航 (28 June 2017). 陈丽娜, ed. 我国新型万吨级驱逐舰首舰下水 (in Chinese). Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  17. ↑ Mizokami, Kyle (29 June 2017). "China launches Asia's biggest post-WWII warship". Popular Science. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  18. ↑ Lin, Jeffrey (28 June 2017). "China Launches Asia's Largest Surface Warship". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  19. ↑ "China beings work on sixth Type 055 destroyer". Jane's 360. 15 March 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  20. ↑ Lendon, Bard (28 June 2017). "China's newest destroyer seen as challenge to Asia rivals". CNN. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  21. ↑ Lendon, Bard (13 July 2018). "China's new destroyers: 'Power, prestige and majesty'". CNN. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  22. ↑ Zhang, Tao, ed. (8 January 2015). "Expert: Don't overanalyze PLAN's type-055 destroyer". China Military Online. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  23. ↑ Dominguez, Gabriel (28 August 2018). "China's second aircraft carrier, first Type 055 destroyer embark on sea trials". Jane's 360. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  24. ↑ Tate, Andrew (30 April 2018). "China launches second Type 055 destroyer". Jane's 360. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
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