PLAN Sovremenny DDG 136, 137, 138 & 139 Thread

[joshuatree]

Classification of modern ships by weight is almost a work in futility nowadays.

Not necessarily. One would have to compare ships from the same era and weight factor will come into play. Comparing Sovs to 052Cs & Ds would be two different eras. A refitted Sov still has to work with the original design limitations. If we compare an 052D to an 056, weight (size) does become a factor impacting their respective capability.

 

[antiterror13]

Not likely to happen. The Shtils have a 10 year life, and by now, those originally on the DDG 136 and 137 would have expired by now. The ones for DDG 138 and 139 will also be expiring soon. The ones for DDG 168 and 169 (Type 052B) would already be expired or close to expiration by now.

Without refits, those ships are all fated to inactivity.

where did you get the info that SHTILS only have 10 years life ... sound very short to me

 

[Tam]

where did you get the info that SHTILS only have 10 years life ... sound very short to me

 

[Iron Man]

I am not optimistic about whatever they are replacing on the rear deck gun. I don't even think there might be replacements at all.

The second set of Project 956EM that went to China never had any rear deck guns in the first place. They also lost four AK-630s for two Kashtans CIWS forward of the helicopter deck, which is also where they are likely to put Type 1130s on the DDG 136/137 refits. There is also a bulb on the rear, can't say if its radar or satcom. I suppose the rear gun was removed in the design stage to compensate for the two Kashtan CIWS and the bulb.

In the refit, there is also an added Type 364 radar in the form of a bulb, installed on the tall rear mast, so that has its own weight budget.

When it comes time to refit DDG 138 and 139, it would be interesting if they keep or remove the two Kashtans. Replacing them with Type 1130 is more of a sidegrade, likely to yield no combat benefits, other than logistical advantages.

They will probably just put the original gun back in. It's certainly the least expensive option. These are probably what the 136/137 and 138/139 are going to look like after their refits IMO:




Now if they had gotten rid of the step structure just forward of the bridge like they should have, here is what they could have had:


As for the CIWS, the 136/137 may just retain the 630s (or place 1130s somewhere else), since placing 1130s by the hangar is dangerous for landing helicopters:


630s at that hangar location are no problem because they are low to the ground, but a tall 1130 will pose a serious hazard to helicopter rotors. If the helo drifts slightly off the landing pad during operations it will result in disaster.

As for the Kashtans, I read somewhere years ago that the PLAN was dissatisfied with their performance for some unspecified reason, so changing them out for 1130s would possibly be an upgrade.

 

[timepass]

View attachment 44779

IMHO.... above will be the best possible upgrade....

 

[Iron Man]

IMHO.... above will be the best possible upgrade....

Of course this is all just my own speculation. I think it is distinctly possible that even the 137/138 with the extra room at the rear will still have only 32 VL cells total. We'll just have to see.

 

[Iron Man]

Actually, here is another possible VLS configuration for a post-refit 138/139:

 

[Tam]

If clearing for the rotor blades an issue for the height of the CIWS, why not just Type 1130 or 730 variant without the small Type 347 radar and EO unit? Like here and here.

 

[Iron Man]

If clearing for the rotor blades an issue for the height of the CIWS, why not just Type 1130 or 730 variant without the small Type 347 radar and EO unit? Like here and here.

It depends on how much safety margin the PLAN feels comfortable with.

 

[Hendrik_2000]

A delegation from Fuzhou City visits the crew of the Destroyer 137 Fuzhou Class Project 956E Sarych. This may suggest that the start of the ship's modernization can begin after the Chinese New Year to bring it up to the current level of the current vessels.