 | This article needs additional citations for verification .(May 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) |
Type 991 cable layer is a family of Chinese cable layers first saw service in Chinese navy, and later on, additional units also entered service with Chinese civilian authorities.
Type 991 I is the first member of Type 991 series, and it is the first purposely designed cable layer / repair ship in China. Program begun in early 1961 when Chinese naval headquarter formally issued the order to the 708th Institute of China State Shipbuilding Corporation, and the 708th Institute is also more commonly known as China Shipbuilding and Oceanic Engineering Design Academy (中国船舶及海洋工程设计研究) nowadays. After extensive research, the 3rd Directorate of the 708th Institute (708所3室) begun design work in October 1963, but reviews revealed that there are some inadequacy in the design, so two new modified design was created in February 1964. The biggest change of the modified designs is that the original cable carrying capacity is limited to 155 tons in a single cargo hold compartment with cable length of 40 km at maximum. In the modified design, this is increased to 270 tons in two cargo hold compartments with cable length of 40 km at maximum. The diameter of the cable remained unchanged at 40 mm. On August 2, 1965, the 6th Ministry approved the design of Type 991. In March 1966, some final modification begun at Wuchang Shipyard, where the ship was planned to be built, and this final modification was completed in June 1966. However, Wuchang Shipyard did not built the ship, but instead, the ship was built in Guangzhou Shipyard, with work begun in 1967 and launched on June 7, 1969. On January 1, 1971, trials were successfully completed and the ship entered service in Chinese South Sea Fleet with pennant number B230. Type 991I is equipped with10 ton (98.1 KN) EKM-20 cable laying machine that is indigenously designed in China. Specification: [1]
After Type 991I cable layer entered service, Chinese navy recommended upgrading the ship based on the experience gained from deployment, but in order to reach the new requirement, major modification of the ship is needed. Designers notified the Directorate of Communication of Chinese naval headquarter on November 12, 1971, and on March 19, 1972, Chinese naval headquarter notified the 7th Academy accordingly. On December 6, 1972, review of the design of Type 992II was completed, and additional requirement for further upgrade was issued, which was subsequently completed on July 10, 1973.
In 1974, there was a change in priority because after more than two years of negotiation with Japan to purchase a cable layer for Xisha Islands, the deal was cancelled because the price tag of 25.6 million US dollars was too expensive and the 30 months it takes to complete was too simply slow. In addition, Ministry of Postal and Telecom also urgently needed a cable layer in order to meet the deadline of laying cable between China and Japan by the beginning of 1976. As a result, the first unit of Type 992II class was reassigned to civilian use for Ministry of Postal and Telecom, with further major modifications. The first ship of Type 991II class cable layer was laid down in 1975 and entered service in the same year. In June, 1977, the first Type 991II class cable layer for Chinese navy entered service and when program completed in 1983, a total of 6 completed. The ship received NATO reporting name as Youdian class (邮电, meaning postal and telecom in Chinese). Specification: [2]
All ships of Type 991 series cable layer are still active in the early 2010s after numerous upgrades, the latest which enables them to handle fiber optic cables (though their pennant numbers have changed due to the change of Chinese naval ships naming convention).
| Type | Pennant # | Builder | Launched | Commissioned | Status | Fleet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 991I | B230 | Guangzhou Shipyard International Co., Ltd | Jun 7, 1969 | Jan 1, 1971 | Active | South Sea Fleet |
| 991II | B233 | Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Co., Ltd | 1975 | 1975 | Active | East Sea Fleet |
| 991II | B234 | Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Co., Ltd | ― | ― | Active | East Sea Fleet |
| 991II | B764 | Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Co., Ltd | ― | ― | Active | North Sea Fleet |
| 991II | B765 | Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Co., Ltd | ― | ― | Active | North Sea Fleet |
| 991II | B873 | Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Co., Ltd | ― | ― | Active | East Sea Fleet |
| 991II | B874 | Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Co., Ltd | ― | 1983 | Active | East Sea Fleet |
The Type 073 landing ship is a family of landing ships developed and operated by the People's Liberation Army Navy, it consists of several models. This article details the development of this class that begun in the 1960s. The most recent and modern model of the class is the Type 073A, which were built and commissioned in the 2000s.
The Yuch'in class landing craft, mechanized entered the People's Liberation Army Navy service from 1962–1972 and consists of two types, the Type 068 and Type 069, one of steel construction, the other of aluminum. Type 068 / 069 landing craft comes from a long series of landing craft originated in the mid-1950s.
The Polnocny -class ships are amphibious warfare vessels. They were designed in Poland, in cooperation with the Soviet Navy and were built in Poland between 1967 and 2002. They now serve in several different navies, and some have been converted to civilian use. The name comes from the Stocznia Północna shipyard at Gdańsk, where they were built. 107 were built by 1986. In 2002, one ship of a modernised design NS-722 was built in Gdynia for Yemen.
The Type 722 II class LCAC with NATO reporting name Jinsha II class LCAC is a medium size air-cushioned landing craft (hovercraft) operated by the People's Liberation Army Navy of China. It is frequently but erroneously referred by many as Dagu class, its predecessor, due to misspelling and lack of information in the 1970s, when these projects first appeared. There are also other names for this class, mostly resulting from different transliterations.
Type 890 cable layer is a Chinese cable layer in service with People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), and it has NATO reporting name Youzheng class. Constructecd by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Co., Ltd, Type 890 is powered by a pair of 8300ZC diesel engine, each with 1100 hp. The variable pitch screw is the product of SMMC Marine Drive Systems (Suzhou) Co.,Ltd. (苏州船用动力系统股份有限公司). Construction begun in May 1981 and the ship entered service on May 25, 1982. Specification:
Type 912 degaussing/deperming ship is a class of degaussing/deperming ship of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) with many derivatives. Type 912 is also the most numerous degaussing/deperming ship in PLAN.
Chinese oceanographic research ship Xiangyanghong 5 in service with the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). In addition to performing oceanographic research duties, the most important mission of Xiangyanghong 5 is acting as a command ship for Chinese intercontinental ballistic missile trials in 1980.
Type 904 dive tender is a class of Chinese dive tender in service with the People's Liberation Army Navy. Type 904 shares the same hull of Type 991II Youdian class cable layer, but the original design encountered difficulty when the development of domestic Chinese saturation diving support system stalled. Decision was made to import such system from abroad, with French system eventually selected. Consequently, the original Type 904 never went into production because the design had to be modified to accommodate the foreign saturation diving support system, and the modified design is designated as Type 904I.
Type 645 oceanographic research ship is an oceanographic ship developed by China for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and other Chinese civilian establishments. A total of three were completed, with one in PLAN and the rest in civilian service.
Type 614 research vessel is a type of Chinese research vessel in service with the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). The ship has two derivatives, one is in weather ship configuration, and the other in oceanographic research ship configuration.
Type 922 rescue and salvage ship is a series of rescue and salvage ships developed by China for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), and after decades of service they still remain active in other Chinese governmental establishments.
The Type 946 930 submarine rescue ship is a type of coastal submarine rescue ship developed by China for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). A development designated as Type 946A is also in service with PLAN.
Type 988 hydrographic survey ship is a type of Chinese survey vessel that is in service with both the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and Chinese civilian establishments.
Type 917 torpedo retriever is a type of Chinese torpedo retriever in service with the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). The program is one of the longest in PLAN, lasting from 1982 to 2007.
The Type 648 repair ship is a Chinese submarine repair ship currently in service with the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). It was one of the two units consisting the proposed mobile repair flotilla, but the floating dry dock with lifting capacity of 2000 tons was never built, and Type 648 repair ship was the one only completed. Type 648 has received with NATO reporting name Dadao class.
Type 625 oceanographic research ship is a series of oceanographic research ship developed by China for its People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). The series consisted of three models, A, B & C, but A & B are usually grouped together as one because C model differs from Models A & B on much greater scale.
Type 635 hydrographic survey ship is a series of hydrographic survey ships developed by China for its People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). Type 635 series in PLAN service are designated by a combination of two Chinese characters followed by three-digit number. The second Chinese character is Ce (测), meaning survey in Chinese, because these ships are classified as survey ship. The first Chinese character denotes which fleet the ship is service with, with East for East Sea Fleet, North for North Sea Fleet, and South for South Sea Fleet. However, pennant numbers may have changed due to the change of Chinese naval ships naming convention.
The Type 271 landing craft is a family landing craft of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). Most models in this class are landing craft utility (LCU)s, but the last model has been developed into a Landing ship medium (LSM).
Type 079 landing ship medium (LSM) is a series of amphibious warfare ship of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), and this series landing ship has received NATO reporting name Yulian class.
