052C/052D Class Destroyers

Re: PLAN Type 052 Class Destroyer

kwaigonegin said:

that's why we use terms like port, starboard etc for those very reasons you mentioned because those are always seen from the perspective of the vessell not the observer..

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Oh...agreed.

That is how nautical personnel and those involved with the ships and industry view it for the very reasons you state.

But what the general puiblic does when looking at an intenet forum is something else again. In this case, since the reference was left and right, as opposed to port and starboard, My presumption was that of a civilain perspective when looking at on the photo.

As I said earlier, from the nautical perspective, that being a person onboard the vessel facing forward, it's clear what hall the tanker ship is in and which hall the TYpe 052D is being built in.

As to photos..we are getting a boatlaod of reaaly good new ones regardoing the Type 062D with the commissioning of the 172 and the sea trials of the 173. Great pics.

So, to add to that mix, here's my latest from the build of my Type 052D here in Idaho.

Re: PLAN Type 052 Class Destroyer

I think the most likely reason for why the PLAN chose to order those last batch of 052Cs was not because they just couldn't wait a few months for 052Ds, but rather that a significant breakthrough was made, which allowed the PLAN to start construction of the 052D a lot earlier than projected when the 052C order was placed and construction started.

Indeed, the 052Ds we are seeing now could have started off as more planned 052Cs, but the breakthrough happened early enough in the construction process that it was possible to change the production to 052Ds.

The fact that the first 052D went on sea trial with many major components uninstalled could be evidence of a vastly accelerated gestation period, whereby key planned components were not ready in time. Personally, I would have expected a SMART-L type long range anti-stealth radar for the 052D. Maybe that was what was planned and what we will see on later batches.

Re: PLAN Type 052 Class Destroyer

plawolf said:

I think the most likely reason for why the PLAN chose to order those last batch of 052Cs was not because they just couldn't wait a few months for 052Ds, but rather that a significant breakthrough was made, which allowed the PLAN to start construction of the 052D a lot earlier than projected when the 052C order was placed and construction started.

Indeed, the 052Ds we are seeing now could have started off as more planned 052Cs, but the breakthrough happened early enough in the construction process that it was possible to change the production to 052Ds.

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Hard to concieve them starting as 052Cs, wolf.

The structural changes to the vessels are just too great.

Not only in the physical appearance and orientation of the main deck house around the bridge (to accomodate the much larger APARS), but also in the internal structure below the main gun, below the VLS systems, and the entire area aft of the Type 571M yagi, The entire helo deck house is altered and the spaces below deck between the helo deck house and the Type 571M radar to accomodate that aft VLS. My guess is that the ballasting also changed to account for all of the varying weights associated with these systems.

I believe that the Type 052D builds was scheduled well in advance with these changes...they would have had to have had significant notice to allow for the logisitics to supply the various parts/pieces/joigs/etc. necessary to accomdate these differences over thr Tpe 052C.

Re: PLAN Type 052 Class Destroyer

Model looking good.

Re: PLAN Type 052 Class Destroyer

Goodboy Video: 052 D2 Sea Trial

[video]http://www.56.com/u58/v_MTEwMTA3Njcx.html/1030_zcwshw.html[/video]

Re: PLAN Type 052 Class Destroyer

duskylim said:

It is a mystery to me as to why the PLAN would choose to continue 052C production concurrent with the improved 052D production.

After all, the new destroyer and her components would have to be ready for such rapid production and commission to occur.

The only reasonable explanation I can see is that the radar sets for the 052C's were already ordered and produced, and the PLAN decided to to use them up by continuing with 052C production despite the fact that the 052D's were already ready-to-go.

That would also mean that very rapid progress was made during the testing of the 052D's new radars.

I think that even the PLAN was a little surprised by the progress made.

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My opinion is that they were hedging their bets. The intent is 052D but not fully confident of development and build lead times as well as no real world deployment logged yet. And given the overwhelming need to modernize the destroyer flotillas, a batch of 052Cs incorporating lessons learned from a near decade with the first pair would help provide a reliable platform and contribute to flotilla replacements. Possibly being cheaper per unit cost didn't hurt either.

But then the 052D probably developed faster than anticipated so the focus is to roll them out first so they can start logging some hours on them.

Re: PLAN Type 052 Class Destroyer

no_name said:

Is that some sort of winter uniform? Haven't seen those high collars before.

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That's the autumn/winter service uniform for NCOs.

The officers' uniforms of the 07 series are tailor-made. Enlists have no such luxury. They're still issued standard-sized uniforms. Given the poor fit we saw here I assume that doesn't come in great many varieties of size.

Re: PLAN Type 052 Class Destroyer

joshuatree said:

My opinion is that they were hedging their bets. The intent is 052D but not fully confident of development and build lead times as well as no real world deployment logged yet. And given the overwhelming need to modernize the destroyer flotillas, a batch of 052Cs incorporating lessons learned from a near decade with the first pair would help provide a reliable platform and contribute to flotilla replacements. Possibly being cheaper per unit cost didn't hurt either.

But then the 052D probably developed faster than anticipated so the focus is to roll them out first so they can start logging some hours on them.

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I agree.................plus the fact that the last 4 052C's were built at a later date, due to the relocation of the 'JN' shipyard, which meant Destroyer production was on hold for a few years in the second half of the last decade.
Anyway, this time period gave the Chinese time to develop their improved gas turbine engines, which were fitted to the latter 052C's, and then onto the 052D's!

Re: PLAN Type 052 Class Destroyer

Maybe the current batch is all the PLAN will build, 6 052Cs and 6 052Ds. If the new VLS and whatever other systems on the 052Ds work well then they will be used on an entirely new frigate or destroyer design, perhaps a trimaran like the LCS?

Re: PLAN Type 052 Class Destroyer

Err, no it is pretty well rumoured that we will see 8 052Ds with another 4 very likely to be ordered for 12 052Ds total.


Why do you suggest 6? It is a completely arbitrary number.