Chinese frigate Yuncheng

Yuncheng in Rotterdam on 30 January 2015
History
China
NameYuncheng
Namesake
BuilderHuangpu, Shanghai
Launched8 February 2009
CommissionedDecember 2009
IdentificationPennant number: 571
StatusActive
General characteristics
Class and typeType 054A frigate
Displacement4,053 tonnes (full)
Length134.1 m (440 ft)
Beam16 m (52 ft)
PropulsionCODAD, 4 × Shaanxi 16 PA6 STC diesels, 5700 kW (7600+ hp @ 1084 rpm) each
Speed27 knots estimated
Range8,025 nautical miles (9,235 mi; 14,862 km) estimated
Complement165
Sensors and
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys
Armament
  • 1 × 32-cell VLS
  • 2 × 4 C-803 anti-ship / land attack cruise missiles
  • 1 × PJ26 76 mm dual purpose gun
  • 2 × Type 730 7-barrel 30 mm CIWS guns or Type 1130
  • 2 × 3 324mm Yu-7 ASW torpedo launchers
  • 2 × 6 Type 87 240mm anti-submarine rocket launcher (36 rockets carried)
  • 2 × Type 726-4 18-tube decoy rocket launchers
Aircraft carried1 Kamov Ka-28 'Helix' or Harbin Z-9C
Aviation facilitieshangar

Yuncheng (571) is a Type 054A frigate of the People's Liberation Army Navy. She was commissioned in December 2009.

Development and design

The Type 054A carries HQ-16 medium-range air defence missiles and anti-submarine missiles in a vertical launching system (VLS) system. The HQ-16 has a range of up to 50 km, with superior range and engagement angles to the Type 054's HQ-7. The Type 054A's VLS uses a hot launch method; a shared common exhaust system is sited between the two rows of rectangular launching tubes.[1]

The four AK-630 close-in weapon systems (CIWS) of the Type 054 were replaced with two Type 730 CIWS on the Type 054A. The autonomous Type 730 provides improved reaction time against close-in threats.[2]

Construction and career

Yuncheng was launched on 8 February 2009 at the Huangpu Shipyard in Shanghai. Commissioned in December 2009.

On November 2, 2011, Yuncheng and Haikou formed the tenth navy escort fleet from Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province to perform escort missions in the Gulf of Aden and the waters of Somalia.[3] The escort lasted 186 days, with a total voyage of 98,180 nautical miles, and completed 40 batches of 240 Chinese and foreign ships. On June 7, 2012, Yuncheng returned to Zhanjiang Military Port.[4]

On October 22, 2012, Yuncheng, Haikou and Guangzhou crossed the waters south of Okinawa and went to the western Pacific waters for routine training.[5]

On 19 December 2013, the South Sea Fleet consisting of Huangshan, Yuncheng, and Weishanhu set sail from Zhanjiang City and proceeded to the Western Pacific and other waters. Exercises in subjects such as continuous maritime alert, counter-terrorism and counter-piracy, and joint search and rescue.

In May 2014, the China National Offshore Oil Corporation's drilling platform Offshore Oil 981 conducted drilling operations in the Xisha waters. On May 13, Yuncheng arrived in the sea area where the drilling platform was located, driving away the Vietnamese coast guard ship that was interfering with the operation.[6] On August 1, Yuncheng, Changbai Shan and Chaohu formed the eighteenth navy escort formation from a military port in Zhanjiang, and then went to the Gulf of Aden and Somalia.

Chaohu alongside Yuncheng and Changbai Shan made a goodwill visit to Rotterdam on 30 January 2015.[7]

References

  1. ^ 舰载武器SHIPBORNE WEAPONS 2013 AUGUST ISSUE
  2. ^ "Chinese Navy". Archived from the original on 7 January 2007. Retrieved 27 March 2009.
  3. ^ "海军第十批护航编队起航 赴亚丁湾索马里海域". 2013-05-01. Archived from the original on 2013-05-01. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  4. ^ "海军第十批护航编队返航". 2013-05-02. Archived from the original on 2013-05-02. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  5. ^ "中国3军舰冲绳以南游弋_大公资讯_大公网". 2016-03-04. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  6. ^ "Trees with exported beans 'massacred' in central Vietnam". Tuoi Tre News. 2014-07-29. Retrieved 2021-05-05.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ torn, kees (2015-01-30), Chao Hu 890, retrieved 2021-04-16