Type 052B destroyer
The Type 052B or Guangzhou-class destroyer (NATO/OSD Luyang I-class destroyer[4] is a class of guided missile destroyers in the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force (PLAN). The Type 052B was China's first modern destroyer design[5][6] and the first Chinese design to incorporate true medium-range air defence capability in the form of Russian Shtil-1 (improved navalized Buk, NATO designation SA-N-12) surface-to-air missiles (SAM).[7]
| .jpg.webp) Guangzhou (168) in Cádiz in 2007 | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders | Jiangnan Shipyard | 
| Operators |  People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force | 
| Preceded by | Type 956E / 956EM | 
| Succeeded by | Type 052C, Type 051C (interim) | 
| Built | 2001–2004 | 
| In service | July 2004–present | 
| Planned | 2 | 
| Completed | 2 | 
| Active | 2 | 
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Guided missile destroyer | 
| Displacement | 7,000 tons[1] | 
| Length | 155 m (509 ft)[1] | 
| Beam | 17 m (56 ft)[1] | 
| Draught | 6 m (20 ft)[1] | 
| Propulsion | 
 | 
| Speed | 29 kn (54 km/h; 33 mph)[1] | 
| Range | 4500 nm at 14 kn[1] | 
| Complement | 280[1] | 
| Sensors and processing systems | |
| Electronic warfare & decoys | |
| Armament | 
 | 
| Aircraft carried | 1 helicopter: Harbin Z-9 or Kamov Ka-28[1] | 
| Aviation facilities | Flight deck and hangar[1] | 
Two ships - Guangzhou and Wuhan - were built and commissioned in July 2004.[1]
Programme
    
In the early 2000's, China pursued multiple - and sometimes concurrent - programmes to acquire modern destroyers, purchasing Sovremennys from Russia and constructing the Type 052B, Type 051C, and Type 052C.[8] These ships also represented steps to develop adequate air defense capabilities by adopting Russian air defense technology.[9]; the 25-km range Uragan (navalized Buk, NATO designation SA-N-7) on the Sovremenny; the 35-km range Shtil-1 on the Type 052B; long-range area air defense with the 150-km range Rif-M (navalized S-300, NATO designation SA-N-20) on the Type 051C;[7] and finally the Chinese 100-km range HHQ-9 (S-300 derivative) on the Type 052D.[10]
The Type 052B's air defence capabilities were obsolete upon entering service when compared to contemporary American and Japanese designs.[11] Nonetheless it represented a considerable general improvement over previous Chinese warships[5] and was the precursor to later Chinese air warfare destroyers.[5][11]
Design
    
The hull is based on the Type 051B destroyer with added stealth features.[1]
Ships of Class
    
| Number | Pennant number | Name | Builder | Launched | Commissioned | Fleet | Status | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 168 | 广州 / Guangzhou | Jiangnan | 20 May 2002 | July 2004 | South Sea Fleet | Active. | 
| 2 | 169 | 武汉 / Wuhan | Oct 2002 | Late 2004 | Active. | ||
Gallery
    
 Type 052B destroyer Guangzhou (168) in Saint Petersburg, Russia Type 052B destroyer Guangzhou (168) in Saint Petersburg, Russia
 052B in the South China Sea 052B in the South China Sea
_20150610.jpg.webp) Wuhan (169) in the western Pacific Wuhan (169) in the western Pacific
References
    
- Saunders, Stephan, ed. (2015). Jane's Fighting Ships 2015-2016. Jane's Information Group. p. 136. ISBN 978-0710631435.
- "China Steals Another Russian Success". www.strategypage.com. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
- Bussert, James C. (1 November 2015). "China Develops Aircraft Carrier Group Leader". SIGNAL Magazine. AFCEA. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
- United States Office of the Secretary of Defense (24 April 2014). Annual Report To Congress: Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China 2014 (Report).
- Kirchberger (2015): page 195
- McDevitt (2017): page 57
- Schwartz (2015): page 26
- Kirchberger (2015): page 193
- Schwartz (2015): pages 25
- Schwartz (2015): pages 26-28
- McDevitt (2017): page 58
- Bibliography
- Kirchberger, Sarah (2015). Assessing China's Naval Power: Technological Innovation, Economic Constraints, and Strategic Implications. Global Power Shift. Springer. ISBN 978-3-662-47127-2.
- McDevitt, Michael (2017). "The Modern PLA Navy Destroyer Force". CSMI Red Book. United States Naval War College. 14: 55–65. ISBN 978-1-935352-45-7. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
- Schwartz, Paul (August 2015). Russia's Contribution to China's Surface Warfare Capabilities: Feeding the Dragon. Global Power Shift. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-4422-5879-2.