Chinese destroyer Zhengzhou (151)

Zhengzhou on 26 May 2014
History
China
Name	Zhengzhou
Namesake	Zhengzhou (郑州)
Builder	Jiangnan Shipyard, Shanghai
Laid down	16 December 2008
Launched	25 June 2011
Commissioned	26 December 2013
Homeport	Zhoushan
Identification	Pennant number: 151
Status	Active
General characteristics
Class and type	Type 052C destroyer
Displacement	7,000 tons
Length	155 m (508 ft 6 in)
Beam	17 m (55 ft 9 in)
Draught	6 m (19 ft 8 in)
Propulsion	Combined diesel or gas 2 x DA80 gas turbines (35.7 MW each) 2 x MTU 20V 956TB92 diesels (6 MW each)
Speed	29 knots (54 km/h; 33 mph)
Range	4,500 nautical miles (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) at 15 knots
Complement	280
Sensors and processing systems	Type 346 radar (air search, fire control) Type 517 radar (air search) Type 364 radar (air and surface search) Type 344 radar (main gun fire control) Type 347G(2) radar (Type 730 fire control) Type 366 radar (YJ-62 fire control) Bow mounted sonar
Electronic warfare & decoys	NRJ-6A
Armament	48 HHQ-9 surface-to-air missiles 8 YJ-62 anti-ship cruise missiles 1 × 100 mm PJ-87 gun 2 × 30mm Type 730 close-in weapons systems 6 x torpedo tubes 4 x multiple rocket launchers (possibly multirole)
Aircraft carried	1 helicopter: Kamov Ka-28 or Harbin Z-9
Aviation facilities	Hangar and helipad

Zhangzhou (151) is a Type 052C destroyer of the People's Liberation Army Navy. She was commissioned on 26 December 2013.

Development and design

Main article: Type 052C destroyer

The Type 052C appears to share the same basic hull design as the Type 052B destroyer, which in turn is based on the Type 051B destroyer. Stealth features are incorporated. ^[1] They uses predominantly Chinese systems derived from earlier foreign technology; the preceding Type 052 and Type 052B destroyers used a mixture of Russian and Chinese systems. ^[2]

The Type 052C propulsion is in the combined diesel or gas (CODOG) arrangement, with two Ukrainian DA80 gas turbines and two MTU 20V 956TB92 diesel engines. ^[3] The DA80s had blade problems and may have contributed to the last two Type 052Cs sitting pierside at the shipyard for two years without being accepted by the PLAN.

A Kamov Ka-28 or Harbin Z-9 helicopter may operate from the rear hangar and flight deck. ^[4] The Ka-28 is equipped with a search radar and dipping sonar and can also employ sonobuoys, torpedoes, depth charges, or mines. ^[5] The Z-9 is a variant of the Airbus Helicopters AS365 Dauphin. The naval variant of the Z-9, the Z-9C, is equipped with the KLC-1 search radar, dipping sonar, and is typically armed with a single, lightweight torpedo. ^[6] Either helicopter significantly improves the anti-submarine capabilities of the Type 052C.

The main gun is a 100 mm (4 in) PJ-87. The gun suffered from jamming and may have influenced the decision to adopt a different weapon for the Type 052D destroyer. ^[7] The weapon has a rate of fire of 25 rounds per minute. ^[8] Close-in defence is provided by two seven-barrel 30 mm (1.2 in) Type 730 CIWS, one mounted forward of the bridge and one atop the hangar. Each gun has a maximum rate of fire of 4200 rounds per minute. ^[8]

Construction and career

Zhangzhou was launched on 25 June 2011 at the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai. Commissioned on 26 December 2013. ^[9]

On May 18, 2014, Zhengzhou, Yantai and Liuzhou, as the first surface ship formation command ship, participated in the Maritime Cooperation 2014 Sino-Russian maritime joint military exercise of the Varyag, Admiral Panteleev and Admiral Nevelsky and other Russian ships at Wusongkou in Shanghai. ^[10] From May 20th to 26th, the two sides conducted exercises such as ship anchorage defense, joint sea assault and joint anti-submarine. ^[11] On July 11, 2014, Shanghai held a Navigation Day theme publicity and commemorative event. Zhengzhou and rescue ship Donghai Jiu berthed at the Shanghai Port International Passenger Transport Center Wharf, open to the public to visit. ^[12] On September 14, 2014, a maritime formation consisting of Zhengzhou and combat support ships, local law enforcement ships, helicopters, and submarines set off for a certain sea area in the East China Sea to carry out the Poseidon 2014 maritime combat support exercise. The exercise supported nine actual combat subjects, including protection of maritime law enforcement forces' rights protection and law enforcement operations, joint military-land search and rescue, opening of maritime emergency channels, and rescue of disabled submarines. ^[13] On December 12, 2014, Zhengzhou, Taizhou, Zhoushan, Yiyang, Qiandaohu and a Type 815 spy ship. The ships crossed the Miyako Strait into the Western Pacific. ^[14]

On December 25, 2016, according to a report by the Japanese Integrated Staff and Supervision Department, the Liaoning carrier formation, which is undergoing open sea training, was composed of eight warships. In addition to the aircraft carrier Liaoning, it also includes Zhengzhou, Haikou, Changsha, and a Type 054A guided missile frigate. Yantai, Linyi, Type 054A guided missile frigate Zhuzhou and Type 903A integrated supply ship Gaoyouhu. ^[15]

On 22 May 2022, the Zhengzhou 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. ^[16]

Gallery

• 
  Zhengzhou and Varyag on 26 May 2014.
• 
  Zhengzhou underway on 12 December 2014.
• 
  Zhengzhou underway on 12 June 2015.
• 
  Zhengzhou underway on 25 December 2016.
• 
  Zhengzhou underway on 20 April 2018.

References

1. Saunders, Stephan, ed. (2009). Jane's Fighting Ships 2009–2010. Jane's Information Group. p. 137. ISBN   978-0710628886.
2. McDevitt: pages 59
3. Saunders, Stephan, ed. (2009). Jane's Fighting Ships 2009–2010. Jane's Information Group. p. 137. ISBN   978-0710628886.
4. McDevitt: pages 61
5. United States Navy Office of Naval Intelligence: The PLA Navy, pages 20–21
6. United States Navy Office of Naval Intelligence: The PLA Navy, pages 20
7. O'Rourke, Ronald (21 March 2013). CRS Report for CongressPrepared for Members and Committees of Congress China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities—Background and Issues for Congress (PDF). RL33153 (Report). Congressional Research Service. p. 28. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 August 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
8. Saunders, Stephan, ed. (2009). Jane's Fighting Ships 2009–2010. Jane's Information Group. p. 137. ISBN   978-0710628886.
9. United States Navy Office of Naval Intelligence (2018). PLA Navy Identification Guide (Report). Archived from the original on 30 April 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
10. "中俄"海上联合—2014"参演军舰"舰谱"_军事频道_中国广播网". mil.cnr.cn. Retrieved 2020-12-13.
11. "中俄两国海军将举行海上联合军事演习_军事频道_中国广播网". mil.cnr.cn. Retrieved 2020-12-13.
12. "中俄两国海军将举行海上联合军事演习_军事频道_中国广播网". mil.cnr.cn. Retrieved 2020-12-13.
13. "东海举行"海神-2014"海上作战支援实兵演练-中新网". www.chinanews.com. Retrieved 2020-12-13.
14. "中国海军舰队再次穿过宫古海峡 战机1周4次往返--军事--人民网". military.people.com.cn. Retrieved 2020-12-13.
15. "中国航母编队：牵动世界目光的航迹--河南频道--人民网". henan.people.cn. Archived from the original on 2017-11-06. Retrieved 2020-12-13.
16. "Chinese Carrier Strike Group Now Operating in East China Sea". 23 May 2022.