China People Liberation Army Navy by DeWitt Booker

CHINA’S

PLAN Conrad Waters assesses the composition and aspirations of China’s fast-growing fleet.

he single most important development impacting the global balance of naval power over the past decade has been the dramatic rise of China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). The PLAN has rapidly expanded from a coastal defence force focussed on the protection of China’s littoral waters to a balanced oceanic leet capable of deployment around the world. Whether viewed as a threat to international stability or a force for good protecting

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the world’s trade routes, China’s Navy is a leet to be reckoned with. The early stages of the PLAN’s growth into an international naval power relied heavily on imported ships and systems. These included Russian ‘Kilo’ type submarines and Sovremenny class destroyers. Some ships still exhibit foreign inluence. For example, the navy’s irst locally-built aircraft carrier is a close copy of the Soviet Kuznetsov class Liaoning, which is already in Chinese service. The leet’s current helicopters trace their origins to either France or Russia. However, the more recent stages of Chinese naval expansion have been marked by a signiicant improvement in its maritime sector’s technological prowess. The country’s designers have proved adept at constructing increasingly sophisticated vessels with little foreign assistance. Indeed, China’s shipbuilding industry is now enjoying success exporting its own warship designs around the world. In some areas, the PLAN may even be gaining

a technological lead. Its latest destroyers incorporate indigenous phased array radars similar to – but arguably more advanced than – those found in the US Navy’s Aegis-equipped destroyers. The summary of the PLAN’s principal constituents that follows provides some indication of the extent of the leet’s progress in recent years.

AIRCRAFT CARRIERS It is probably China’s ambition to deploy carrier strike groups in similar fashion to the US Navy that has gained most international attention. This is not an easy goal to achieve. It therefore seems that the PLAN’s sole current aircraft carrier, Liaoning, is intended largely as a developmental and training vessel, paving the way for the creation of a more effective carrier capability at a later date. Acquired from Ukraine in an incomplete state in 1998, Liaoning was originally laid down for the Soviet Union as the second Project 1143.5 Kuznetsov class ‘heavy aircraft carrying cruiser’ Riga. She commenced sea trials after a lengthy period of rebuilding in 2011 and was commissioned on 25 September 2012. She has since largely been used to train Chinese naval aviators, embarking small numbers

NAVAL PROFILE

 China’s Type 001 aircraft carrier Liaoning seen in April. She is largely being used to develop carrier operating skills in advance of the delivery of more powerful vessels. JAPANESE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

of Shenyang J15 multi-role jets for this purpose. She is designated as a Type 001 carrier in PLAN service. Liaoning is being followed into service by an as-yetunnamed Type 001A design, which commenced sea trials in April. The locally built ship has a short take-off but arrested recovery (STOBAR) configuration similar to that of Liaoning and has the same four-shaft steam-turbine propulsion arrangement. However, she incorporates a number of improvements to enhance operational

performance. Local reports suggest she is intended to be an interim design, with China harbouring ambitions in the longer term to operate catapult-equipped, nuclearpowered carriers similar to those used by the US Navy. China’s plans to deploy major amphibious units are rather further advanced. It completed Kunlun Shan – the first of a series of about 20,000-ton Type 071 amphibious transport docks – as long ago as 2007. Four additional members of the class have since been

 The lead Type 052B destroyer Guangzhou incorporated significant amounts of Russian equipment. Subsequent developments of the design have benefited from Chinese-developed technology. CONRAD WATERS

The PLAN Type 052C destroyer Jinan leads a flotilla of Chinese and US Navy warships during an exercise in 2015. China’s PLAN has grown to become second only to the USN in overall capability. US NAVY

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 The Type 053C destroyer Jinan shares a common hull and propulsion system with the previous Type 052B design, but uses a Chinese phased array radar and other indigenous systems. US NAVY

 An Italian AW101 helicopter exercising with the PLAN Type 054A frigate Linyi in the Indian Ocean. The Type 054A frigates have become the ‘work horses’ of China’s navy on deployments to the Indian Ocean and beyond. EUROPEAN UNION NAVAL FORCE SOMALIA

commissioned and a sixth is currently under construction. The Type 071 design can embark a force of at least 500 troops and is equipped with LCAC (landing craft air cushioned) hovercraft and helicopters to deploy them. The PLAN also operates considerable numbers of smaller Type 072 and Type 073 series landing craft, in contrast to the oceanic Type 071s, which are largely intended for deployment in China’s littoral waters.

MAJOR COMBATANTS The PLAN has made very considerable progress in modernising its force of major surface combatants in the last decade. Most of the obsolete ‘legacy’ designs operated during the Cold War era have been retired and replaced by modern construction incorporating the latest systems. This modernisation programme has had two main strands. The high end of China’s oceanic surface fleet is dominated by the Type 052 series of destroyers. The first of these were built in the 1990s but the current series essentially originates in two pairs of Type 052B and Type 052C ships delivered in 2004 and 2005. The Type 052B uses large amounts of Russian equipment, but the Type 052C added a Chinese phased array radar and vertical launch system to the same basic hull. Both variants incorporated a common combined diesel or gas propulsion system and

a significant amount of stealth technology. A further quartet of Type 052C class destroyers was subsequently delivered between 2013 and 2015. The Type 052C design was followed by the improved Type 052D variant, which started to be delivered in 2014. These also utilise the same basic hull and propulsion system as the earlier ships, but have been enhanced with better armament and electronic equipment. Their weapons include 64 multi-role vertical launch system (VLS) for a range of missiles, a 130mm gun, anti-submarine torpedo tubes and a variety of point defence systems. The class is being built at two shipyards and a final total of over 20 seems likely. The other modern component of China’s oceanic surface force is the flotilla of Type 054A frigates. These were developed from a pair of prototype Type 054 vessels delivered in 2004 and quickly became the main constituents of the naval task forces China has deployed to the Indian Ocean and elsewhere. They are equipped with a sophisticated area air defence system based on Russian technology, but their diesel propulsion system makes them less well-suited for antisubmarine operations. As a result, production for the PLAN is likely to end in 2019, when 30 have been completed, although more are being built for export. Although numbers of older destroyers and frigates remain in service, those not earmarked

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 The Type 54A frigates have a powerful anti-aircraft capability, but their diesel propulsion systems make them less suitable for anti-submarine work, so their construction is likely to end in favour of a new design. CONRAD WATERS

 This flotilla of PLAN combatants and auxiliaries at Pearl Harbor shows the range of vessels at China’s disposal. US NAVY

NAVAL PROFILE CHINA’S PLAN: MAJOR UNITS AS AT THE END OF 2018 TYPE

CLASS

NUMBER

TONNAGE

DIMENSIONS

PROPULSION

CREW

AIRCRAFT CARRIERS AND AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS Aircraft Carrier

Type 001 Liaoning (Kuznetsov)

1 (1)

60,000 tons

306m x 35/73m x 10m

Steam, 32 knots

Unknown

Amphibious Transport Dock

Type 071 Kunlun Shan (‘Yuzhao’)

5 (1)

20,000 tons

210m x 27m x 7m

CODAD, 20 knots

Unknown

MAJOR SURFACE COMBATANTS Destroyer

Type 052D Kunming (‘Luyang III’)

10 (11)

7,500 tons

156m x 17m x 6m

CODOG, 28 knots

280

Destroyer

Type 052C Lanzhou (‘Luyang II’)

7,000 tons

154m x 17m x 6m

CODOG, 28 knots

280

Destroyer

Type 052B Guangzhou (‘Luyang I’)

6,500 tons

154m x 17m x 6m

CODOG, 29 knots

280

Destroyer

Project 956E/EM Hangzhou (Sovremenny)

8,000 tons

156m x 17m x 6m

Steam, 32 knots

300

Frigate

Type 054A Xuzhou (‘Jiangkai II’)

28 (2)

4,100 tons

132m x 15m x 5m

CODAD, 28 knots

190

Frigate

Type 054 Ma’anshan (‘Jiangkai I’)

4,000 tons

132m x 15m x 5m

CODAD, 28 knots

190

There are also around 10 Type 051 and early series Type 052 destroyers and around 20 old Type 053 series frigates in service, largely in secondary roles

MINOR SURFACE COMBATANTS Corvette

Type 056/056A Bengbu (‘Jiangdao’)

Fast Attack Craft

Type 022 (‘Houbei’)

40+ (10+)

1,500 tons

89m x 12m x 4m

CODAD, 28 knots

200 tons

43m x 12m x 2m

Diesel + waterjets, 36 knots

9,000 tons

133m x 11m x 8m

Nuclear, 20+ knots

80+

Numerous other patrol vessels, mine hunters and logistic support ships are also in service

SUBMARINES Submarine – SSBN

Type 094 (‘Jin’)

Unknown

Submarine – SSN

Type 093/093G (‘Shang’)

6,000 tons

107m x 11m x 8m

Nuclear, 30 knots

Submarine – SSK

Type 039A/039B (Type 041 ‘Yuan’)

12+

2,500 tons

75m x 8m x 5m

AIP, 20+ Knots

Submarine – SSK

Type 039/039G (‘Song’)

2,300 tons

75m x 8m x 5m

Diesel-electric, 22 knots

Submarine – SSK

Project 877 EKM/636 (‘Kilo’)

3,000 tons

73m x 10m x 7m

Diesel-electric, 20 knots

100 Unknown

There are also a few older nuclear-powered submarines of doubtful operational status and c. 15 obsolescent patrol submarines of the Type 035 (‘Ming’ Class) Notes: CODAD = combined diesel and diesel; CODOG = combined diesel or gas; figures in brackets relate to ships under construction

for withdrawal are increasingly assigned to secondary or coast-guard roles.

MINOR COMBATANTS While China’s recent naval ambitions have been focussed on developing globallydeployable forces, the defence of the country’s extensive coastline remains an important priority. As a result, large numbers of smaller vessels continue to be built. The most significant of these

littoral warfare vessels are the Type 056 class corvettes. These diminutive vessels displace around 1,500 tons and first entered service in 2013. They are being built by as many as four shipyards, and over 40 have been commissioned to date – at one stage it was estimated that one was being delivered every six weeks. They are designed to combat a range of threats but anti-submarine warfare appears to be a particular

priority, particularly for the variable depth sonar-equipped Type 056A variant, in spite of their potentially noisy diesel propulsion. The design has attracted interest overseas, and both Bangladesh and Nigeria have bought modified versions of the design for their navies. The corvettes are seemingly intended to operate alongside the more numerous Type 022 fast attack craft in coastal waters. These numerous catamarans – around 80 were commissioned

 China’s development of amphibious shipping has progressed more swiftly than its aircraft operations, with five Type 071 amphibious transport docks now in commission. This is Chang Bai Shan departing Portsmouth after a goodwill visit in 2015. CROWN COPYRIGHT 2015

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China has been building increasing numbers of replenishment ships to support its global operations. This picture shows the lead Type 903 replenishment tanker Qiandaohu in 2015. US NAVY

in the first decade of the millennium – can achieve speeds approaching 40 knots, and are powerfully armed with a battery of eight surface-tosurface missiles. However, both warship types lack significant protection against an aerial threat and would be highly dependent on land-based aviation to operate effectively in their intended missions.

As with any modern navy, the PLAN needs an effective logistical capability to support its overseas deployments. Until recently, this seems to have been an area where its capacity lacked the progress made with the rest of the fleet, particularly with respect to replenishment tankers. However, considerable efforts have been made to bridge this

gap by bringing new tonnage into service. The Type 903 replenishment ships currently form the core of the oceanic logistical support fleet. Displacing over 20,000 tons, the first two members of the class entered service in 2004. They are capable of carrying over 10,000 tons of fuel and smaller amounts of potable

SUBMARINES  The Chinese submarine force is cloaked in secrecy, and precise details of its capabilities remain uncertain. The boat nearest the camera is a Type 039 Song class diesel-electric submarine. US NAVY  A handful of old ‘Ming’ class submarines remain in PLAN service to make up fleet numbers. IAN SHIFFMAN

China’s submarine force remains shrouded in secrecy and there is uncertainty about its precise composition. The cloak of security is particularly tight around the small flotilla of strategic submarines that form a key part of the country’s nuclear deterrent. Most sources agree that this comprises four or five Type 094 Jin class boats, each armed with 12 JL-2 ballistic missiles.

There is also a somewhat larger

flotilla of nuclear-powered attack submarines, comprising around six Type 093 Shang/Shang II boats and a handful of the remaining Cold War era Type 091 Han class. None of these submarines are able to match recent Western and Russian designs in the area of acoustic stealth. The core of the submarine fleet is therefore made up of the country’s conventionally-powered submarines. It is believed that two eight-strong

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flotillas are maintained by each of China’s three separate fleets, making a requirement for a total of 48 boats. In addition to the 12 relatively modern Kilos acquired from Russia, there are around 24 modern Chinese-designed submarines of the Type 039 Song and Type 039A/B Yuan classes. This suggests that a number of the very elderly Cold War Ming class are still retained in service to make up numbers.

water and solid stores. After a considerable gap, a further six were delivered in rapid order between 2013 and 2016. This has allowed the retirement of the few older vessels currently in service. The Type 903 class is now being followed into service by the first of at least two Type 901 combat support ships. Powered by gas turbines, these ships are considerably faster than the earlier vessels and, with a displacement of over 40,000 tons, are much larger in size. It is therefore likely that they have been specifically designed to operate with fastmoving carrier task forces in similar fashion to that of the

NAVAL PROFILE US Navy’s Supply (T-AOE-6) class vessels.

FUTURE PLANS

 The PLAN’s Type 054A frigates will be succeeded by new ships as fleet modernisation continues. US NAVY The PLAN tanker Wei Shanhu is one of a number of modern replenishment vessels entering Chinese fleet service. CROWN COPYRIGHT 2007

This brief overview of PLAN shows that China has made considerable strides in developing a balanced and effective fleet with an increasing capacity to deploy across the world’s oceans. It is probably second only to the US Navy in overall capability and appears to have quite similar capabilities to traditional naval powers such as France and the UK in terms of global operations. Moreover, the PLAN does not intend to rest on its laurels. The plans for larger US-style aircraft carriers already mentioned are just part of an ambitious programme of new construction that extends to new classes of surface combatant and even nuclearpowered replenishment vessels. Plans include the new 12,000-ton Type 055 Renhai class cruisers, the largest surface combatants in Asia. The first of these commenced sea trials in August and five more are currently being built. Whatever its intentions, China’s PLAN seems determined to remain in the headlines for a long while yet.

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Type 052C destroyer Jinan and Type 054A frigate Yi Yang exercising with the Royal Australian Navy frigate Darwin in 2016. The PLAN has become a force to be reckoned with across the world’s oceans. ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY