054/A FFG Thread II

[Tam]

Some updates from Hudong shipyard.

Pakistan's 054A/P:

Type-54 525's upgrade progress:

Progress on 529's overhaul:

If that is 529 then, what is the ship is to the left of the picture below? Ignore the refitted 136 for a moment. The ship on the left has the skirts below the main radar and has the uncut sweep along its bow typical of the first four 054A. This can mean that another early 054A has acquired this skirt like 'upgrade'.

 

[ansy1968]

someone just liked my post from 7 years ago

cant believe I wrote it in 2013

especially the part where I say " let's say they build 6 more LPD and 3 LHD from the period 2015-2020" and thats exactly what they did

sometimes amazing looking back at old posts in 2013 we already knew the Type 055 was on its way

those were good times but today is better, now I have 3 beautiful kids and I didnt think in 2020 I would be looking back and reflecting like this

Thanks Imran for the "like" it made me check my post

Hi asif iqbal,

those were good times but today is better, now I have 3 beautiful kids and I didnt think in 2020 I would be looking back and reflecting like this

The joy of being a PLA watcher and China never disappoint.

 

[asif iqbal]

Now to look back and see when you first complained about PLAN's lack of helicopters or hovercraft.

yes there was 7 then and there is still 7 now

 

[gelgoog]

Just like @asif iqbal has said many times we have never seen any pictures of the Chinese using their hovercraft with mechanized forces. The pictures usually show either empty hovercraft, or at best now, we have a picture of one carrying infantry.
This with the added fact most of them were at the shipyard for years suggest some kind of issue and I suspect it is the turbine engines lacking power or endurance or both. It is fairly well know the Type 726 LCAC had some sort of issue but it was never made open. Supposedly this should have been fixed in the Type 726A LCAC but AFAIK they still don't have enough to equip all the Type 071 LPDs.

Same deal with PLA helicopters most are smaller types and most don't have ASW capability. Only now with the Z-20 variants entering the scene should this change for the destroyers, for the frigates they'll need to produce more light helicopters with ASW capability, but it could still take years for them to produce enough ASW capable helicopters to equip all the frigates.

Also the frigates have lower top speed than other modern frigates which have at least one turbine engine so they can reach 30 knots and only recently have they introduced variable depth sonar and towed sonar with Type 054A+.

Now this doesn't mean the ships are incapable, they are useful for a lot of mission profiles including sealane patrol and they have shown they can operate at long distances all over the world ,so the Type 054A frigate is a quite capable ship. But I think it was a compromise design given Chinese technical capabilities of the time and next gen frigates need to be a lot more capable.

 

[Tam]

Just like @asif iqbal has said many times we have never seen any pictures of the Chinese using their hovercraft with mechanized forces. The pictures usually show either empty hovercraft, or at best now, we have a picture of one carrying infantry.
This with the added fact most of them were at the shipyard for years suggest some kind of issue and I suspect it is the turbine engines lacking power or endurance or both. It is fairly well know the Type 726 LCAC had some sort of issue but it was never made open. Supposedly this should have been fixed in the Type 726A LCAC but AFAIK they still don't have enough to equip all the Type 071 LPDs.

Same deal with PLA helicopters most are smaller types and most don't have ASW capability. Only now with the Z-20 variants entering the scene should this change for the destroyers, for the frigates they'll need to produce more light helicopters with ASW capability, but it could still take years for them to produce enough ASW capable helicopters to equip all the frigates.

Naval Z-9s can carry two torpedos.

Also the frigates have lower top speed than other modern frigates which have at least one turbine engine so they can reach 30 knots and only recently have they introduced variable depth sonar and towed sonar with Type 054A+.

The first 16 ships have Type 206 or H/SJG-206 towed array sonar, all passive, while the rest of the ships have Type 311 or H/SJG-311 towed active and passive sonar.

Iver Huitfeldt class of frigate is considered to be one of the top battle frigates in the world, and is all diesel powered. Its platform is the basis for the Royal Navy's new Type 31 frigate class.

 

[Tam]

If that is 529 then, what is the ship is to the left of the picture below? Ignore the refitted 136 for a moment. The ship on the left has the skirts below the main radar and has the uncut sweep along its bow typical of the first four 054A. This can mean that another early 054A has acquired this skirt like 'upgrade'.


View attachment 64010

Tracking the 054A ship besides Destroyer 136, and that should be pennant 530 Xuzhou, which is the second Type 054A ever made and is another oldie like 529. Both 529 and 530 are assigned with the 3rd Destroyer Division.

 

[by78]

529's overhaul looks to be almost finished.

 

[Kich]

What it this mystery missile? Do you have a link or a source?

Equivalent to US ESSM RIM-missile

 

[Tam]

Beautiful shots. The lights on 529 isn't just for pretty, it helps boats and ships in the river spot her and so they don't get colliding into her at night.

 

[by78]

529 being taken out for a spin.