 Two Type 025 boats in Romanian service, 1992, in foreground | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Type 025 (Huchuan) |
| Builders | Hudong Shipyard, Shanghai |
| Operators | |
| Preceded by | Type 02 |
| Succeeded by | Type 027 |
| In commission | 1966 |
| Completed | 220+ |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Fast attack hydrofoil-torpedo boats |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 22.5 m (73.8 ft) |
| Beam | 3.8 m (12.5 ft) |
| Draft | 3.6 m (11.8 ft) |
| Propulsion | 3 × M 50F diesel engines; 3 shafts, 3,300 hp (2,500 kW) |
| Speed | 50 knots (93 km/h) |
| Range | 500 mi (800 km) at 30 knots (56 km/h) |
| Complement | 11 to 16 |
| Sensors & processing systems | Surface search/fire control; Soviet Skin Head at E-band or Chinese Type 753 navigational radar at I-band |
| Armament |
|
TheType 025 torpedo boat, also known as theHuchuan orHu Chwan class, was once the backbone of thePeople's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) in its confrontations with its much larger opponents in theRepublic of China Navy. Although no longer serving in that capacity, this class is still active. While relatively unsophisticated, the class has enjoyed a longevity in active service thanks to a philosophy within PLAN which has continued to favor its use. Powered bySoviet-era engines, thehydrofoil-equipped boats are capable of 50knots (93 km/h; 58 mph) and carry twotorpedo tubes, with some known to be armed withnaval mines.
The Type 025torpedo boats have astandard displacement of 39 long tons (40 t) and are 45 long tons (46 t) at full load. They are 21.8 metres (71.5 ft) long with abeam 6.3 metres (20.7 ft) and ahullborne draft of 3.6 metres (11.8 ft). The torpedo boats are powered by three Type M 50Fdiesel engines rated at 3,300horsepower (2,461 kW) driving threeshafts.[1] Equipped withhydrofoils, they are located forward while the stern planes are located on the surface.[2] The maximum speed while on foils is 50knots (93 km/h; 58 mph) and the vessels have a range of 500nautical miles (930 km; 580 mi) at 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph). The torpedo boats are equipped withSoviet-made "Skin Head" radar operating on E band. The vessels are armed with two 533-millimetre (21 in)torpedo tubes and two twin 14.5-millimetre (0.57 in) heavy machine guns. In Romanian service, the Type 025 vessels had two rails fordepth charges added and Chinese Type 753 radar operating on the I band.[3]
The Type 026, a variant of the Type 025, are 46 long tons (47 t) at full load, 22.5 metres (73.8 ft) long with a beam of 5.0 metres (16.4 ft) and a draft of 2.1 metres (6.9 ft). They have three Type L-12V-180 diesel engines rated at 3,600 horsepower driving three shafts. They also have hydrofoils and have similar speed and range to the Type 025. The Type 026 is also armed with two twin 14.5 mm machine guns and two 533 mm torpedo tubes. However, they have Chinese Type 753 surface search radar operating on the I band.[4]
In an era of increasingly effectivecountermeasures againstanti-ship missiles, the countermeasures againsttorpedoes are relatively few and less effective in comparison, so although ineffective in open waters, torpedo boats can still play a role in coastal defense given sufficient protection. Their stealthiness and high speed are useful for surprise attacks on an enemy from coastal hideouts, such as caves, if the boats are integrated into an overall system that includes a supportingC4ISR structure, as well as shore defenses, aircraft, and larger ships. As a result of this philosophy, the production of Type 025 torpedo boats lasted well into the 1990s, despite the fact that the retirement of early units of this class had already begun in the mid 1980s.
The Type 025 was originally designed to solve the problems presented by existing Soviet torpedo boats in the Chinese inventory. TheP 4-class torpedo boat (Type K-123) was lightly armed, and thus did not have sufficient self-defense firepower in a retreat after having launched its torpedoes. The P 6-class torpedo boat (Type K-183) had enough guns for self-defense, but its wooden hull was vulnerable to fire if hit. The Type 025 was subsequently developed to incorporate the advantages of both classes by adopting the metallichull of the P 4 class and the heavier self-defense armament of the P 6 class. Several versions of the class exist, which differ mainly in their secondary armament. For example, some had extra guns in addition to the standard 14.5 mm heavy machine guns, while others had the capability to carry and lay two additional mines. Due to the different the weapons carried, thecomplement of each boat varies from 11 to 16. Structurally, some of the hulls have an additional pair of small hydrofoils near thebow, while others do not have hydrofoils at all. Guns are usually mounted aft, but some examples of the type possess one forward mounting and one aft. Although small batch orders continued into the 1990s, production had completely stopped by the early 2000s. At least half a dozen variants of Huchuan class have been confirmed in service with PLAN:
