Chinese frigate Hengyang (568)

Last updated
PLANS Hengyang (FFG-568) 20150829.jpg
Hengyang underway on 29 August 2015
History
Naval ensign of China.svgChina
NameHengyang
Namesake
Builder Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding, Shanghai
Launched23 May 2007
Commissioned30 June 2008
Identification Pennant number: 568
StatusActive
General characteristics
Class and type Type 054A frigate
Displacement4,053 tonnes (full)
Length134.1 m (440 ft)
Beam16 m (52 ft)
Propulsion CODAD, 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 facilities hangar

Hengyang (568) is a Type 054A frigate of the People's Liberation Army Navy. She was commissioned on 30 June 2008.

Contents

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

Hengyang was launched on 23 May 2007 at the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai. Commissioned on 30 June 2008.

On 27 March 2013, Hengyang, Huangshan and Qinghaihu arrived in Grand Harbour, Malta. [3] [4]

Hengyang, Honghu and Yulin made a goodwill visit to Auckland, New Zealand in June 2017. [5]

In late February 2025, the Hengyang along with the Type 055 destroyer Zunyi and the Type 903 replenishment ship Weishanhu traversed the Coral Sea and conducted live-fire exercises within Australia's exclusive economic zone in the Tasman Sea, disrupting several international flights between Australia and New Zealand, before continuing west to circumnavigate the entire continent of Australia. Their activities were monitored by both the Australian and New Zealand Defence Forces, [6] [7] [8] with some Australian media labeling it "gunboat diplomacy". [9]

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. ↑ "PLAN Hengyang 568 no 2 - 30.03.2013 - Malta Ship Photos by Capt. Lawrence Dalli". www.maltashipphotos.com. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  4. ↑ B, K. (2013-03-27), 570 Huangshan 黃山 , retrieved 2021-05-05
  5. ↑ G, L. (2017-06-15), Hengyang (568), Yulin (569) , retrieved 2021-05-05
  6. ↑ "People's Liberation Army–Navy vessels operating near Australia". defence.gov.au. Australian Department of Defence. 1 March 2025. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  7. ↑ "What we know about the Chinese vessels conducting military exercises in the Tasman Sea". Radio New Zealand . 25 February 2025. Archived from the original on 1 March 2025. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  8. ↑ Doherty, Ben; Dumas, Daisy (26 February 2025). "A murky picture has emerged over China's live-fire drills. Who knew what when?". The Guardian . Archived from the original on 3 March 2025. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  9. ↑ "China's provocative gunboat diplomacy". The Canberra Times. 2025-02-28. Retrieved 2025-03-10.


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