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The Chinese Type 056 class corvettes are mainly intended to operate in coastal waters
Country of origin China
Entered service 2013
Crew 60 men
Sea endurance ?
Dimensions and displacement
Length 89 m
Beam 11.5 m
Draught 4.4 m
Displacement, standard ~ 1 300 tons
Displacement, full load 1 500 tons
Propulsion and speed
Speed 28 knots
Range 6 500 km at 16 knots
Propulsion 2 x SEMT diesel engines, generating 6 900 hp each
Airwing
Helicopters 1 x Z-9C
Armament
Artillery 1 x 76-mm gun, 2 x 30-mm CIWS
Missiles 4 x JY-83 anti-ship missiles, 1 x FL-3000N launcher with 8 HQ-10 SAM missiles
Torpedoes 2 x 324 mm torpedo tubes
The Type 056 (Western reporting name: Jiangdao) is a mass-produced corvette class intended for operations both close to and far away from the shore. These corvettes can be used for a number of different missions.
The first Type 056 corvette was adopted by the Chinese Navy in 2013 for the Chinese Navy. It is currently replacing a number of older patrol craft, corvettes and frigates in Chinese service. In addition, the Type 056 has been exported to Nigeria and Bangladesh.
The Type 056 is suitable for “green-water” operations. Basically, its design (and particularly its draught) is small enough for shallow coastal service, but seaworthy and large enough for open sea patrols. Nevertheless, it is still not a true open sea ship.
The Type 056 is fitted with a number of stealth features, although it is certainly not a stealth ship. These features include sloped surfaces and a compact superstructure.
The Type 056 augments the Type 022 missile boats in coastal patrols and the Type 054A class frigates in open sea operations.
The Type 056 incorporates a high level of automation, reducing crew size.
Despite its small size, the Type 056 packs a sizeable punch. It is a competent Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) vessel with two 324 mm torpedo tubes and landing pad, but not a hanger, for a single Z-9C helicopter. This helicopter can use radar, sonar, and anti-submarine torpedoes. Also, according to some sources, the Type 056 warship has Type 87 anti-submarine rockets. The equipping of the newer variants with towed and variable depth sonars indicates that a major role, perhaps the main role, of the Type 056 Class is anti-submarine warfare.
When engaging ships, the Type 056 uses two twin-cell launchers for supersonic sea-skimming YJ-83 anti-ship cruise missiles that have a range of around 200 kilometers. For close range this corvette has a single AK-176 76 mm gun. It fires 12 kg shells at a rate of 30-120 rounds per minute to a maximum range of 15 kilometers. This gun has 152 rounds ready to fire at all times. It can be used against a wide variety of targets: ships, aircraft, coastal positions, and even missiles!
The Type 056’s air defense system is for short-range use only. The single FL-3000N launcher is loaded with eight HQ-10 short-range Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs). These missiles are of fire-and-forget type and have a range of 3-9 kilometers. As stated before, the AK-176 is a capable weapon against many targets including aircraft and missiles up to a maximum range of 15 kilometers. In addition, the Type 056’s two 30 mm cannons, which can be operated manually or automatically, are reasonably effective close-range “last-ditch” weapons.
Other equipment of the Type 056 class includes one inflatable boat, four inflatable life rafts, two jammers, decoy launchers, Type 347G fire-control radar, and bow-mounted sonar.
The Type 056 has been produced at a prodigious rate—production only started in 2012 and already, on February 20, 2016, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has commissioned its 25th vessel of the class. In comparison, production of a contemporary US class, the Freedom class, has been tremendously slow—production began in 2005, and only 3 ships have been commissioned as of 2016.
The Type 056 class is built with a deep V-shape. This shape improves speed and seaworthiness, possibly making this corvette class safe in Sea State 8.
Although it possesses some significant armament, the Type 056 is designed primarily for coastal patrol missions and other low-intensity tasks.
The PLAN may commission as many as 60 ships of the class, although a smaller number like 30 is more probable.
Variants
Type 056A: a designation used to describe the newer and improved ships of the Type 056 class that have been equipped with towed and variable depth sonar. Production of these began late in 2013.
Coast Guard variant: a version of the Type 056 with some superstructure changes and lacking all armament.
P18: export model of the Type 056 with somewhat larger dimensions. Armament, however, appears to be essentially the same. The P18 itself has two different sub variants, the C13B and P18N, depending on the country. So far, four P18’s have already been exported—two to Bangladesh and two to Nigeria. Another is in production for Nigeria as well. In addition, Kazakhstan and Argentina have considered buying P18’s. The P18 has an estimated cost of $50 million.
C13B: a sub variant of the P18 for use by the Bangladesh Navy. It carries the same equipment as the Type 056, except that it lacks the sonar and torpedo tubes. So, clearly, it is to be a simple patrol vessel with short-range anti-air capability, but with no ASW equipment. Bangladesh already operates two of this class, and another two are under construction. Unlike the P18N, the 13B is about the same size as the standard Type 056.
P18N: termed an offshore patrol vessel (OPV), the P18N is Nigeria’s variant of the P18. It is a good deal larger at 1800 tons and 95 meters in length. Armament is almost entirely for surface-to-surface warfare. It carries a single 76 mm gun, two 30 mm guns, and two 20 mm guns. It also has both a hangar and landing pad. So far, two are in service and it is unlikely that any others will be.
Chinese Navy
Name Laid down Launched Commissioned Status
Xinyang (501) ? ? 2015
active, in service
Huangshi (502) ? ? 2015
active, in service
(503) ? ? ?
?
Quinhuangdao (505) ? 2014 2015
active, in service
Datong (580) ? 2012 2013
active, in service
Yingkou (581) ? 2012 2013
active, in service
Bengbu (582) ? 2012 2013
active, in service
Shangrao (583) ? 2012 2013
active, in service
Meizhou (584) ? 2012 2013
active, in service
Baise (585) ? 2012 2013
active, in service
Ji'an (586) ? 2013 2014
active, in service
Jieyang (587) ? 2013 2014
active, in service
Quanzhou (588) ? ? 2014
active, in service
Quingyuan (589) ? ? 2014
active, in service
Weihai (590) ? ? ?
active, in service
? ? ? ?
?
Luzhou (592) ? 2013 2014
active, in service
Sanmenxia (593) ? 2013 2014
active, in service
Zhu Zhou (594) ? ? 2014
active, in service
(595) ? ? ?
?
Huizhou (596) ? 2012 2013
active, in service
Qinzhou (597) ? 2012 2013
active, in service
? ? ? ?
active, in service
? ? ? ?
active, in service
? ? ? ?
active, in service
? ? ? ?
active, in service
? ? ? ?
active, in service
? ? ? 2016
active, in service
? ? ? ?
?
Bangladesh Navy
Name Laid down Launched Commissioned Status
Shadhinota (F111) ? 2014 2015
active, in service
Prottoy (F112) ? ? 2015
active, in service
Nigerian Navy
Name Laid down Launched Commissioned Status
Centenary (F91) ? 2014 2015
active, in service
Unity (F92) ? ? ?
active, in service
? ? ? ?
under construction
Type 056 Class
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