052C/052D Class Destroyers

plawolf said:

I am more interested in the internal layout. If it's just one narrow, self-contained section, what's the opposite side used for?

The 730 and VLS effectively bisect the rear superstructure, but the 730 shouldn't need deck penetration all the way down to the flight deck, so it should be possible to position the flight control room in the centreline, under the 730, thereby freeing up the right hand side, to allow a second hanger there.

I should have said the rear superstructure. But I am just curious what they have behind the control room that they feel is more useful than a second hanger.

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It is a single section, and about the size of other hangers for one helo.

The other side (as mentioned above) is used fro controlling the landings and monitoring it...a flight control center towards the aft portion of the structure (and you can see the viewing station there). My guess is that they use the rest for equipment of various sorts.

There are clearly either storage or equipment access rooms directly below the CIWS. You can see three hatches there under it.

well considering that 051C don't even have a hangar and the size of PLAN helicopter force, it seems like having 1 helo hangar is not too surprising.

I knew that one of our members had toured the Type 052C and gotten a good shot of the hanger.

It was jzsn and here is the link to his photos:

https://www.sinodefenceforum.com/plan-type-052c-052d-class-destroyers.t6881/page-38#post-299988

These three pictures show you pretty well what the interior spaces look like:

It will be interesting to see the inside of 052D's hanger. The opening is both higher and wider than 052C's. I wonder if has similar space inside to Type 45's which looks like a single hanger from outside, but can accommodate two Z9 size helicopters or one future Z20.

Great photo, only wish it was showing the other wall, lol.

Come to think of it, I don't think I have ever seen the inside of a PLAN helicopter control room (there have been videos looking out of it onto the flight deck, but I cannot recall any showing the internal layout of one). However, I cannot imagine such a flight control room would occupy the entire length of the rear superstructure.

In fact, I don't really see it needing to be larger than a 3m by 3m box, enough for two operators to sit side by side comfortably and allow space for someone to stick his head out the protruding viewing box when needed.

You should be able to fit that in the middle, under the 730, without too much difficulty.

So, I guess the more pertinent question should be, what's behind the control room on the 052C?

A guess would be changing and ready rooms, and staging area for the deck crew to wait when they need to keep the flight deck clear but be ready to instantly move out to help secure the helicopter once it lands.

They will probably be storing a lot of the fire fighting and maybe even some of the maintenance tools/equipment and weapons for the helicopter there since the hanger is such a tight squeeze.

If that is true, then while it would be technically possible to fit a second hanger by moving all those facilities elsewhere, and putting the control room in the middle, you are going to be sacrificing a fair amount of response time for the deck crew, and probably create a lot of unnecessary complexity for yourself in the process.

Jeff Head said:

I knew that one of our members had toured the Type 052C and gotten a good shot of the hanger.

It was jzsn and here is the link to his photos:

https://www.sinodefenceforum.com/plan-type-052c-052d-class-destroyers.t6881/page-38#post-299988

These three pictures show you pretty well what the interior spaces look like:

View attachment 25072 View attachment 25073 View attachment 25074

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Hanger looks cramped to my untrained eye. Anyone with experience care to comment on the maintenance space?

kickars said:

The opening is both higher and wider than 052C's. I wonder if has similar space inside to Type 45's which looks like a single hanger from outside, but can accommodate two Z9 size helicopters or one future Z20.

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Actually, I think they are very close to the same size...which would make perfect sense logistically.


They do not have extensions to either side, when you see pictures of them from the sides. They will only hold a single helo.





I have modeled both in 1/350 scale and I can tell you they are very close to the same size. For all intents and purposes they are:



...and yes, they are cramped. You will find that pretty much all helo hangers on DDGs and FFGs are cramped. Space is at a premium. Even US Burke DDGs with two hangers, both are cramped and just wide enough for the helos they service. Most of them have two levels of access decks within the hanger to facilitate getting to the engines and rotors.

Four 052Ds...

(1711 x 378)

Good catch again.

Mr 175, Yinchuan come for finish her last Sea trial and to be commissionned.

Normaly 2 for this year including this one, 3 for 2017.

by78 said:

Four 052Ds...

(1711 x 378)

Click to expand...

So 5-6 052Ds in service with the PLAN by the >>> Removed political statement <<<< ...next American administration.