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China's People's Liberation Army Navy's (PLAN's) 25th Type 056 Jiangdao-class corvette Tongren, pictured here at its commissioning on 20 February. Source: Chinese internet via haijun360.com
China's People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) commissioned its 25th Type 056 Jiangdao-class corvette on 20 February. Tongren (pennant number 507) entered service with the South Sea Fleet, and will join the 24th Light Frigate Squadron based in Shantou, Guangdong province, about 275 km north-east of Hong Kong.
Although production only commenced in 2012, the Type 056 is already one of the most numerous PLAN ships, with more in build. The 31st hull was launched on 25 December 2015 and there are indications of more in the construction pipeline. In its 2015 assessment of the PLAN's capabilities, the US Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) forecast that between 30 and 60 of these ships will be built.
The ONI also assessed that the Type 056 will replace a number of coastal patrol boats and some of the ageing Type 053H Jianghu I-class frigates. Equipped with four 65 n mile-range YJ-83 anti-ship missiles, a 76 mm gun, HQ-10 short-range air-defence missiles, and two triple launchers for lightweight torpedoes, the Type 056 is potentially a more effective, modern platform that will enhance the PLAN's capabilities in littoral waters.
Tongren is the seventh of the class equipped with towed and variable depth sonars, indicating a primary role of anti-submarine warfare (ASW). Three of these are allocated to the South Sea Fleet, the previous commissioning having taken place on 25 January.
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PLAN commissions 25th Type 056 corvette | IHS Jane's 360