Dachou-class torpedo retriever/target ship

Last updated
History
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg PRC
OrderedLate 2000s
AwardedEarly 2010s
Laid downEarly 2010s
LaunchedEarly 2010s
CompletedSince early 2010s
CommissionedSince early 2010s
StatusActive
Class overview
OperatorsNaval ensign of China.svg  People's Liberation Army Navy
Preceded by Type 917 torpedo retriever (TR/TWR) / target ship (AGT)
BuiltEarly 2010s
General characteristics
Class & typeDachou
Type Torpedo retriever (TR/TWR) / range support vessel / target ship (AGT)
Length68 m (223 ft 1 in)
Propulsion Marine Diesel
Sensors &
processing systems
Navigation radar

The Dachou class range support vessel/target ship (AGT)/torpedo retriever (TR/TRW) is a class of little known auxiliary ship built in the People's Republic of China (PRC) for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] Designed as a successor of earlier Type 917 torpedo retriever (TR/TWR)/target ship (AGT), the exact domestic Chinese type designation remains unknown, and this class is identified by its NATO reporting name Dachou class, [1] [2] [3] [4] or 大筹 in Chinese, meaning "big plan". Specification: [1] [2] [3] [4]

The Dachou class in PLAN service is designated by a combination of two Chinese characters followed by a three-digit number. The second Chinese character is Yun (运), meaning Transport in Chinese, indicating that in addition to range support and targeting missions, this class is also used as transport (AP), though some modification work is required to remove onboard range support and targeting equipment before it can be used to transport cargoes. The first Chinese character denotes which fleet the ship is service with, with East (Dong, 东) for East Sea Fleet, North (Bei, 北) for North Sea Fleet, and South (Nan, 南) for South Sea Fleet. However, the pennant numbers are subject to change due to changes of Chinese naval ships naming convention, or when units are transferred to different fleets. As of 2022, a total of four ships have been identified: [1] [2] [3] [4]

Type NATO designation Pennant No. Name
(English)
Name
(Han 中文)
Commissioned DisplacementFleetStatus
Dachou-class target ship (AGT)Dachou classBei-Yun 530North Transport 530北运 530 ?? t North Sea FleetActive
Dong-Yun 760East Transport 760东运 760 ?? t East Sea FleetActive
Nan-Yun 846South Transport 846南运 846 ?? t South Sea FleetActive
Nan-Yun 847South Transport 847南运 847 ?? t South Sea FleetActive

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "PLANS recognition guide 2018". July 16, 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "PLANS recognition guide 2019". February 19, 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "PLANS recognition guide 2020". February 19, 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "PLANS recognition guide 2015". August 7, 2015.
  5. "Dachou class AGT/TR/TWR" (in Simplified Chinese). April 15, 2013.