Type 075 landing helicopter dock

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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

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]

History

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

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

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

Citations

  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

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