052/052B Class Destroyers

re: PLAN Type 052 Class Destroyer

I think there is a central "pillar" with pairs of poles for every single tube.

It's definitely an interesting way to go about it -- as opposed to having a scaffolding type support ala Mk 41, (and probably the new CCL VLS), the fixed revolver VLS sort of "hangs" each tube around the central pillar.

re: PLAN Type 052 Class Destroyer

tphuang said:

What's with all that poles in the middle? Is that to help install the missile?

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Looks more like conduit to me...for electrical controls/wiring running down to the access for each canister, probably at the bottom..

re: PLAN Type 052 Class Destroyer

tphuang said:

View attachment 8197

I don't know who took this photo, but definitely the first one I've seen of this. What's with all that poles in the middle? Is that to help install the missile?

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How does this cold launched system specifically work? Is there some sort of pressurized gas pumped into the missile canister that launches the missile into the air before its own engine fires up? So those pipes feed the gas? Or perhaps those are simply guide rails for the missile canisters when being loaded/unloaded?

re: PLAN Type 052 Class Destroyer

joshuatree said:

How does this cold launched system specifically work? Is there some sort of pressurized gas pumped into the missile canister that launches the missile into the air before its own engine fires up? So those pipes feed the gas? Or perhaps those are simply guide rails for the missile canisters when being loaded/unloaded?

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The HQ9, like the S300, has a self contained pressurised gas ejection system integrated into each individual missle canister.

The rails are there mainly to act as guide rails for the missile canisters when they are being loaded. They may offer some stability support, but I believe the primary load baring support structures are going to be at the bottom.

It is possible the rails also contain wires and interface ports for the missile, but that seems unlikely IMO because of how inaccessible those ports would be if contained in the rails. Far better to integrate them into the support structure at the bottom where they would be easily accessible for testing and regular maintaince.

re: PLAN Type 052 Class Destroyer

plawolf said:

It is possible the rails also contain wires and interface ports for the missile, but that seems unlikely IMO because of how inaccessible those ports would be if contained in the rails. Far better to integrate them into the support structure at the bottom where they would be easily accessible for testing and regular maintainence.

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Well, my initial thought was that they (if we are talking about the several, thin metal members running down and surrounding the center there) were not rails at all, but rather, conduits that run the control wiring down to the bottom of each canister where there is some sort of interface to the control circuitry for that respective canister.

But, upon blowing the thing up, I am inclined to say that they very well may be guides for the canisters. Two for each canister, as they are lowered into place.

But that is just my opinion.

re: PLAN Type 052 Class Destroyer

plawolf said:

The HQ9, like the S300, has a self contained pressurised gas ejection system integrated into each individual missle canister.

It is possible the rails also contain wires and interface ports for the missile, but that seems unlikely IMO because of how inaccessible those ports would be if contained in the rails. Far better to integrate them into the support structure at the bottom where they would be easily accessible for testing and regular maintaince.

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Is it likely that the rails contain wires and interface ports as a redundant, backup variant?

re: PLAN Type 052 Class Destroyer

Seems D1 went for sea trial

D2&3



D5



D4&C6



C5

re: PLAN Type 052 Class Destroyer

escobar said:

Seems D1 went for sea trial.

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If she did, that's pretty exciting.

That should mean that we have pictures of her out at sea soon. They are moving along rapidly with D2 and D3 outfitting now.

I see D4 in the hall now I believe...but where was D5? Modules?

re: PLAN Type 052 Class Destroyer

The speed of 052D constructions is truly impressive. Kudos, China!

re: PLAN Type 052 Class Destroyer

Blackstone said:

The speed of 052D constructions is truly impressive. Kudos, China!

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Well, they launched the first two Type 052Cs in 2003.

It was not until 2010 that they launched the 3rd Type 052C. Since that time, here is what they have done in terms of launching new destroyers:

Type 052C - 3 11/2010
Type 052C - 4 07/2011
Type 052C - 5 12/2011
Type 052C - 6 06/2012
Type 052D - 1 08/2012
Type 052D - 2 12/2012
Type 052D - 3 07/2013
Type 052C - 4 Building
Type 052D - 5 Staging

After the November 2011 launch, they launched six new destroyers in 2 years and 8 months...and that is phenominal. Averaging one launch about every five months!