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]
![]() Guangzhou (168) in Cádiz in 2007  | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders | Jiangnan Shipyard | 
| Operators | |
| 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
052B in the South China Sea
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.
 
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