That’s a relatively complete and higher end load out. There is no reason they cannot strip this down to just a datalink module, VLS modules and maybe a CIWS module for basic self defence for a min-max strategy of one high even merchant leading a pack of mobile VLS banks.
For defensive operations, you don’t need these armed merchants to keep up with the fleet, they can just perform effective picket duty to protect the coastline by having a vast number of min spec load outs that rely on friendly air, sea and land based assets and sensors and are just required to hold station and use their VLS modules as directed.
If we're talking about picket ships with VLS cells anchored offshore, I'd say it is better to have those containers mounted on trucks. It's cheaper and faster to do this, plus it's more survivable as a single incoming missile will only hit a single container.
For offensive operations against land based targets, its largely the same, only difference is they need to sail to a specific set of coordinates to spam all their VLS loads and then turn around and go home to do it all again. Note that they don’t need to be carrying naval VLS and firing cruise missiles for this. They can just as easily be packing a full deck of sino-Shaheds.
For offensive operations against targets in the 1IC, the containers might as well be launched from trucks in mainland China. In any case, there's already so many land-based aircraft and land-based missiles launcher options available.
For offensive operations against targets in the 2IC, I imagine you wouldn't want container ships to get closer than 1000km. If we're talking about high-performance missiles with this range, these will be expensive and in short supply. The constraint won't be the launch platforms (there are already ~4200 UVLS cells across the different destroyers and I think they'll add another 2000 UVLS cells in the next 5 years) but the actual number of missiles.
And if we're talking about low-cost Shaheed class cruise missiles (up to 2500km? 3000km? range), it just seems that land-based launchers would be a better option.
The only roles such converted ships would not be great at is traditional fleet engagements and ASW, where they lack of speed will be a real handicap. But that’s why the PLAN has a proper navy for.
Thing is, 054As are not particularly great at blue water ops. Yes they most certainly can do it, but they are not great at it, and will often be the limiting factor in a fleet with DDGs.
It's more that the Type-054A Frigate would struggle to keep up with an aircraft carrier, rather than the Destroyers.
If the aircraft carrier only reached 27 knots (rather than 32? knots), then I think the escorts would only be designed to this speed, as higher speeds really deplete fuel.
I think the plan isn’t to free up the 054s as much as it is to be able to add a frankly ludicrous number of VLS cells extremely quickly for defensive and offensive operations.
To be frank, I think the primary purpose of these ships would be to help rapidly spin up defensive screens against enemy cruise missile and drone spam attacks to avoid tying down the regular fleet with homeland defence to free them up to go on the offensive to destroy the attackers at range. With a secondary mission to act as extended magazines for the PLAN’s regular fleet, so those warships can maximise their time on station without needing to keep making trips back to port to rearm after intense combat operations.
I think they would supplement convoy escorts, but would also be deployed in large numbers in any Taiwan invasion scenario, rather than homeland defence.
We also see various offboard missile carrier designs with 32 VLS cells (such as the LUSV or Chinese semi-submersible). The semi-submersible looks high-speed, so it could actually operate with Destroyers and Frigates
