.jpg) Type 054 frigateMa'anshan | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders | |
| Operators |  People's Liberation Army NavySurface Force |
| Preceded by | Type 053H3 frigate |
| Succeeded by | Type 054A frigate |
| Built | 1999–2005 |
| In commission | 2005–present |
| 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 | 27kn (50 km/h) estimated |
| Range | 8,025 nautical miles (14,900 km) estimated |
| Sensors and processing systems |
|
| Electronic warfare & decoys |
|
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried | 1KamovKa-28 'Helix' orHarbinZ-9C |
| Aviation facilities | hangar |
TheType 054 (NATO CodenameJiangkai I) is a class ofChinese multi-rolefrigates that were commissioned in thePeople's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force in 2005. They superseded theType 053H3 frigates. Only two ships,Ma'anshan (525), andWenzhou (526), were completed before production switched to theVLS equipped improvedType 054A frigate.
The Type 054 has a stealthy hull design with sloped surfaces, radar absorbent materials, and a reduced superstructure clutter.
The main anti-ship armament wereYJ-83 sea-skimminganti-shipcruise missiles in two four-cell launchers. It retained theHQ-7SAM, an improved version of the FrenchCrotale, 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 fourAK-630 CIWS turrets. A 100 mm main gun, also based on aFrench design, was mounted.
Both ships were powered by fourCODAD Type 16 PA6 STC marine diesel engines designed bySEMT Pielstick, each generating 6,330 hp. Licenses for the engines were sold to China in April 2002, where they were built by theShaanxi Diesel Engine Factory. Other reports claimed each ship was powered by two (or four) Type 16 PA STC and two MTU 20V 956TB92 diesels.
The Type 054 resembled the FrenchLa 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 theLa Fayettes in the 1980s.
The succeedingType 054A frigates incorporated a larger proportion of more-advanced indigenous systems.
Ma'anshan andWenzhou deployed fromZhoushan on 21 February 2011 to undertake ananti-piracy patrol offSomalia. They were the eighth such Chinese patrol[1] and, followingWenzhou's pennant number, gained the semi-compatibleTask Force designation 'Task Force 526'.Commodore Han Xiaohu commanded the flotilla fromWenzhou.[2] En route the flotilla made a stop atKarachi, before setting sail again on 13 March 2011.[3] The ships were joined by replenishment shipQiandaohu (886), which was already deployed with the preceding flotilla.[1]
| Number | Pennant number | Name | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Fleet | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 525 | 马鞍山 /Ma'anshan | Hudong | December 2001[4] | 11 September 2003[4] | 18 February 2005[4] | East Sea Fleet | Active |
| 2 | 526 | 温州 /Wenzhou | Huangpu | February 2002[4] | 30 November 2003[4] | 26 September 2005[4] | Active |
