052/052B Class Destroyers

re: PLAN Type 052 Class Destroyer

Hyperwarp said:

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Looking at this picture, I wonder, whether it's possible to stretch the ship a little bit (3 to 4 meters) and add another

row of 16 VLS to the aft VLS block.

With 80 VLS launchers (32 + 48) it would has a formidable layout for a destroyer.

re: PLAN Type 052 Class Destroyer

Jeff Head said:

Thanks! Best images yet of the completed Type 052D.

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Not quiet complete.

The radome atop the bridge is missing, and the secondary mast has nothing on top. I wonder if they will do away with the old anti-stealth radar and mount the new compact PAR set seen fitting to the test ship.

The CGI also depicted 056 style side mounted 30mm turrets, although I'm not sure if those are part of the design or just something the CGI artist thought would be cool to have.

I am really surprised they handed her to the navy with so many key systems clearly missing, but I guess they are likely waiting on subcontractors to deliver the components. But she would need to head back to the yards to finish fitting out once those new equipment has been delivered. Guess the navy just couldn't wait to get their hands on these new babies.

re: PLAN Type 052 Class Destroyer

duncanidaho said:

Looking at this picture, I wonder, whether it's possible to stretch the ship a little bit (3 to 4 meters) and add another

row of 16 VLS to the aft VLS block.

With 80 VLS launchers (32 + 48) it would has a formidable layout for a destroyer.

Click to expand...

Probably start seeing some performance penalties at that point as this class still only sports two gas turbines as its core powerplant vs four on other classes that field higher number of VLS cells.

re: PLAN Type 052 Class Destroyer

Jeff Head said:

Thanks! Best images yet of the completed Type 052D.

Click to expand...

The decks are still in primer.

re: PLAN Type 052 Class Destroyer

joshuatree said:

Probably start seeing some performance penalties at that point as this class still only sports two gas turbines as its core powerplant vs four on other classes that field higher number of VLS cells.

Click to expand...

The question is; will it really has that much impact to add just few meters in the lenght and one or two hundred tons in

weight (for comparison: a 4-cell MK-57 unit weighs 16,8 tons a 16-cell ~ 70 tons without misseles)?

For comparison the Type 45-class destroyer has a displacement of 8000 tons, but it has also two gas turbines á 21.5 MW

and two diesel engines á 2 MW.

re: PLAN Type 052 Class Destroyer

duncanidaho said:

The question is; will it really has that much impact to add just few meters in the lenght and one or two hundred tons in

weight (for comparison: a 4-cell MK-57 unit weighs 16,8 tons a 16-cell ~ 70 tons without misseles)?

For comparison the Type 45-class destroyer has a displacement of 8000 tons, but it has also two gas turbines á 21.5 MW

and two diesel engines á 2 MW.

Click to expand...

I believe the Type 45 only has a 48 cell VLS and the Type 052D is already at 64. I'm sure there are also multiple variables that come into play, efficiency of the turbine, transmission loss, load requirements of other equipment on board (ie AESA), etc, etc. I'm not saying it can't happen but just believe the next step on a type 052D evolution or a completely new class with more VLS cells would most likely see a quad turbine setup.

re: PLAN Type 052 Class Destroyer

Nice pictures and 052D is quite a good looker. As handsome as the latest Japanese and Korean Aegis destoryers.

re: PLAN Type 052 Class Destroyer

plawolf said:

Not quiet complete.

The radome atop the bridge is missing, and the secondary mast has nothing on top. I wonder if they will do away with the old anti-stealth radar and mount the new compact PAR set seen fitting to the test ship.

The CGI also depicted 056 style side mounted 30mm turrets, although I'm not sure if those are part of the design or just something the CGI artist thought would be cool to have.

I am really surprised they handed her to the navy with so many key systems clearly missing, but I guess they are likely waiting on subcontractors to deliver the components. But she would need to head back to the yards to finish fitting out once those new equipment has been delivered. Guess the navy just couldn't wait to get their hands on these new babies.

Click to expand...

I was under the impression that initial sea trials are usually conducted by the shipyard? There should be some PLAN overseers onboard of course, and the fact they're willing to go to sea with a couple key systems missing means there is probably a schedule to keep to, and the lack of the OTH and Yagi antennae is tough luck

re: PLAN Type 052 Class Destroyer

joshuatree said:

I believe the Type 45 only has a 48 cell VLS and the Type 052D is already at 64. I'm sure there are also multiple variables that come into play, efficiency of the turbine, transmission loss, load requirements of other equipment on board (ie AESA), etc, etc. I'm not saying it can't happen but just believe the next step on a type 052D evolution or a completely new class with more VLS cells would most likely see a quad turbine setup.

Click to expand...

The type 45 is said to have been designed for 64 cells VLS, but fitted with 48:

duncanidaho said:

The question is; will it really has that much impact to add just few meters in the lenght and one or two hundred tons in weight (for comparison: a 4-cell MK-57 unit weighs 16,8 tons a 16-cell ~ 70 tons without misseles)?
For comparison the Type 45-class destroyer has a displacement of 8000 tons, but it has also two gas turbines á 21.5 MW
and two diesel engines á 2 MW.

Click to expand...

When the 056 hit the internet, there were lengthy debates on the 8 cell HQ-10 launcher too. If the Chinese Navy wanted more VLS cells on the ship, I think they could have done it without enlarging the ship. For example, if they used 052C helicopter hanger structure layout, it may have been possible to install additional VLS cells there.

As armchair admirals we can speculate all kinds of upgrades to a ship, but in real life I think the Chinese Navy is very disciplined with building a ship to its requirements.

re: PLAN Type 052 Class Destroyer

duncanidaho said:

Looking at this picture, I wonder, whether it's possible to stretch the ship a little bit (3 to 4 meters) and add another

row of 16 VLS to the aft VLS block.

With 80 VLS launchers (32 + 48) it would has a formidable layout for a destroyer.

Click to expand...

I think having more cells in the VLS block would be of limited utility. Frankly I think most modern DDGs are unlikely to expand their full load of missiles in a single campaign. Even with 64 cells they would likely have either already won or have been sunk long before they fired off their last few missiles. Having more cells would be useful only in very limited number of very particular scenarios.

Having fewer missiles per hull and larger numbers of hulls, provided surveillance and fire control capability of each hull remains the same, is IMHO the way to go.