Chinese Type 055 Destroyer: the World’s Largest Destroyer with 112 VLS Missiles

Описание: The Type 055 destroyers are the largest surface combatant currently being built in the world.

⌚ Timestamps:
00:00 Commissioning of fourth Type 055 Destroyer Anshan
01:07 Design & Development of Type 055 Destroyers
02:35 Specifications of Chinese Type 055 Destroyers of
03:38 Weapon Systems of Type 055 Destroyer
05:39 Sensors of Type 055 Destroyer
07:15 Advancement of Chinese Military Technology

The Nato reporting Renhai class cruiser Lhasa is the second of most advanced destroyer of People’s Liberation Army Navy. The Type 055 is considered as the second most powerful destroyer after the DDG-1000 Zumwalt class stealthy destroyer of US Navy. The 112 VLS vertical launch cell systems installed onboard Type 055 destroyers make them multirole warship having state of the art air defense, anti ship and anti submarine capabilities. These ships have been designed to escort Chinese air craft carriers and type 075 amphibious assault ships.

The P L A Navy had plans for the large destroyer since 1960s. A development program code-named "055" initiated in 1976 was cancelled in 1983 after encountering technical obstacles. In April 2014, Chinese social media revealed images of the full-scale mock-up of Type 055 superstructure at PLA Navy electronic testing range of Wuhan featuring integrated mast for radar and other electronics. Construction of these large destroyers is split between two local shipyards: Jiangnan Changxing Shipyard in Shanghai and Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company in Dalian. The 101 Nanchang being first ship of the class was launched on June 28, 2017 at the Jiangnan Changxing Shipyard in Shanghai with commissioning on 12 January 2020. Presently, china is operating 8 Type 055 destroyers. Five amongst these ships are combat ready. Type 055 Nanchng, Lhasa, Anshan and Wuxi have been commissioned into North Sea Fleet, whereas Type 055 Dalian has been deployed with South Sea Fleet. PLA Navy has plans to build 8 more ships of the class.

Type 055 Destroyer has a length of 180 meters, a beam of 20 meters and a draft of 6.6 meters for a full load displacement of about 13,000 tons, though officially PLAN designation is 10000-tons class destroyer. In comparison, the US Navy’s Ticonderoga-class cruiser and the Flight-3 Arleigh Burke-class destroyer displace 9,800 tons. Similarly, the Type 45 Daring Class Destroyer of Royal Navy displaces 8,500 tons only.

Type 055 Destroyers are installed with state-of-the-art weaponry including 112 cells V L S Silos Missile system and HQ-10 short-range Surface to air missiles. The silos are split in two areas: 64x cells forward and 48x cells aft, just in front of the ship’s double hangar. They are of the same model as those fitted aboard Type 052D destroyers, compatible with both hot and cold launch missiles due to Concentric Canister Launcher concept.

The class has a dual-band radar system; four S-band type 346B Dragon Eye active electronically scanned array panels are mounted on the superstructure, and four smaller X-band panels are mounted on the mast. The Type 346B panels are estimated to be 40% larger than the Type 052D destroyer's 346A panels, for greater transmission power and sensitivity.

Chinese sources claim the radar has anti-stealth capability and can be used to guide anti-satellite missiles. A deployment port exists for variable depth and towed array sonar. The Type 055 has a larger bow sonar than previous Chinese surface combatants.

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