Chinese destroyer Nanchang (101)

Last updated
PLANS Nanchang (DDG-101) 20210427.jpg
Nanchang underway on 26 March 2021
History
Naval ensign of China.svgChina
NameNanchang
Namesake
Builder Jiangnan Shipyard, Shanghai
Laid downDecember 2014
Launched28 June 2017
Commissioned12 January 2020
Identification Pennant number: 101
StatusActive
General characteristics
Class and type Type 055 destroyer
Displacement12-13,000 tonnes (full load)
Length180 m (590 ft 7 in)
Beam20 m (65 ft 7 in)
Draught6.6 m (21 ft 8 in)
Installed power
Propulsion
Speed30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range5,000  nmi (9,300 km)
Complement300+
Sensors and
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys
Electronic warfare system
Armament
  • 1 × H/PJ-38 130 mm gun
  • 1 × H/PJ-11 CIWS
  • 1 × HQ-10 short-range SAM 24-cell launcher
  • 112 VLS
    • HHQ-9 surface-to-air missiles
    • YJ-18 anti-ship cruise missiles
    • CJ-10 land-attack cruise missiles
    • Missile-launched anti-submarine torpedoes YJ-21 anti-ship ballistic missiles
  • 2 x sets
Aircraft carried
Aviation facilities
  • Stern hangar
  • Helicopter landing platform

Nanchang (101) is a Type 055 destroyer of the People's Liberation Army Navy. She was commissioned on 12 January 2020.

Contents

Development and design

The People's Liberation Army Navy was interested in a large destroyer from as early as the late-1960s. A development program, code-named "055", initiated in 1976 was cancelled in 1983 after encountering insurmountable technical obstacles from industrial underdevelopment; for example, the required gas turbine power plants could neither be produced domestically, nor imported at acceptable prices. [1] In April 2014, an image emerged of a full-scale mock-up of the Type 055 superstructure - with enclosed integrated mast for radar and other electronics at the Chinese naval electronic testing range in Wuhan. [2] [3]

The Type 055 is expected to undertake expeditionary missions and form the primary escort for Chinese aircraft carriers. [4] [5] The United States classifies these ships as cruisers. [6] The United States Navy defines a cruiser as a large multi-mission surface combatant with flagship capabilities; this suggests the U.S. expects the Type 055 to fulfill a similar role as the Ticonderoga-class cruiser. [4] [7]

Construction and career

Nanchang is the lead ship of the class and laid down in December 2014 at the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai. She made her first public appearance preceding commissioning was during the PLAN's 70th anniversary parade on 23 April 2019. [8] [9] When launched, Nanchang was among the largest post-Second World War warships launched in East Asia. [10] [11] [12] She was commissioned on 12 January 2020. [13]

On April 5, 2021, Nanchang became the first destroyer of her class to take part in an aircraft carrier group, which included the aircraft carrier Liaoning, Chengdu, Taiyuan, Huanggang, and Hulunhu. This group was spotted between Okinawa and Miyako Island. [14]

On 22 May 2022, Nanchang conducted drills in the East China Sea as a part of the Liaoning Carrier Group; and they were sighted near Miyako Island by the JMSDF. [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aircraft carrier</span> Warship that serves as a seagoing airbase

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carrier battle group</span> Type of naval fleet with an aircraft carrier

A carrier battle group (CVBG) is a naval fleet consisting of an aircraft carrier capital ship and its large number of escorts, together defining the group. The CV in CVBG is the United States Navy hull classification code for an aircraft carrier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">People's Liberation Army Navy</span> Maritime service branch of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army

The People's Liberation Army Navy, also known as the People's Navy, PLA Navy or simply Chinese Navy, is the naval warfare branch of the People's Liberation Army, the military of the People's Republic of China. As of 2024, it is the second-largest navy in the world in terms of total displacement, and the largest navy per number of ships in active service.

<i>Kuznetsov</i>-class aircraft carrier Russian and Chinese ship class

The Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrying cruiser, Soviet designation Project 1143.5, is a class of STOBAR aircraft carriers operated by the Russian and Chinese navies. Originally designed for the Soviet Navy, the Kuznetsov-class ships use a ski-jump for launching high-performance jet aircraft and arrestor gears for landing. The design represented a major advance in Soviet fleet aviation over the Kiev-class carriers, which do not have full-length flight deck and could only launch VSTOL aircraft. The Soviet Union's classification for the class was as a heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser, which permits the ships to transit the Turkish Straits without violating the Montreux Convention. However, the Chinese variants are classified as aircraft carriers.

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Type 051 destroyer Class of guided missile destroyers fielded by the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army Navy

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Chinese destroyer <i>Xining</i> (117) Type 025D destroyer of the PLA Navy

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Ürümqi (118) is a Type 052D destroyer of the People's Liberation Army Navy. She was commissioned on 5 January 2018.

Chinese destroyer <i>Taiyuan</i> Type 025D destroyer of the PLA Navy

Taiyuan (131) is a Type 052D destroyer of the People's Liberation Army Navy. She was commissioned on 29 November 2018.

Chengdu (120) is a Type 052D destroyer of the People's Liberation Army Navy. She was commissioned on 1 August 2019.

Chinese destroyer <i>Zhengzhou</i> (151) Type 025C destroyer of the PLA Navy

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Chinese frigate <i>Huanggang</i> (577) Type 054A frigate of the PLA Navy

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Chinese destroyer <i>Lhasa</i> Type 055 destroyer of the PLA Navy

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Chinese ship <i>Hulunhu</i> Type 901 combat support ship

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Dalian (105) is a Type 055 destroyer of the People's Liberation Army Navy. She was commissioned on 23 April 2021.

References

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  2. Caldwell et al.: page 4
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