054/A FFG Thread II

[tphuang]

The first real test of the validity of the information will be whether Huangpu Hull 5 puts on pennant no. 538, because that will be such an obvious break with previous numbering patterns.

They seem to be unconcerned by the fact that pt.no. 538 has been used before (like 546), no doubt due to the fact that these JIANGHU’s were more or less immediately handed over to the Egyptian Navy.

Not really, they are just speculating which one will go to which fleet. The online Chinese posters are just putting these things out there based on their estimations. We've known about 548, 549 as the numbers for the 4th pair of 054A for months now. 538 and 550 could very well be the next pair, but we will have to wait and see. I've seen enough Chinese bbs posting to know to not get too far ahead of myself.

btw, thus far, they have not seen a 6th 054A hiding in the back at HP shipyard, so it doesn't support that claim of 6th pair as 546 and 547 will come out with this batch of engines. In fact, the 12 set of engines also include the original 2 054s, so it would make more sense for this batch of engines lasting until 5th pair is finished.

 

[franco-russe]

In that case, the two Type 054 being included in the order for 12 (6+6) sets of SEMT-Pielstick diesels for new construction frigates, then the choice of pennant number of Huangpu Hull 5 certainly becomes very interesting.

If only ten Type 054A are built, it would make no sense to build two (538, 550) for the North Sea Fleet, only to form a full frigate squadron of the last four (546-549) for the East Sea Fleet.

I don’t recall months ago having seen anything on pt.nos. 548 and 549 on this thread.

 

[tphuang]

The one that just got commissioned got painted with the number 548 several month ago. It was pretty easy to deduce 549 for the hd one.

 

[franco-russe]

Well, not really if you look at the pattern so far:

No. 1 launched HP 30.09.06 530 XUZHOU
No. 2 “ HD 21.12.06 529 ZHOUSHAN
No. 3 “ HP 18.03.07 570 HUANGSHAN
No. 4 “ HD 22.05.07 568 CHAOHU
No. 5 “ HP 09.02.09 571 YUNCHENG
No. 6 “ HD 28.04.09 569 YULIN
No. 7 “ HP 15.11.09 548 YIYANG
No. 8 “ HD 20.05.10 5?? CHANGZHOU
No. 9 “ HP 25.08.09 5?? ???

The units built at Hudong have consistently had lower pt.nos. than those from Huangpu. However, the order was the reverse for the two 054:

No. 1 launched HD 11.09.03 525 MAANSHAN
No. 2 “ HP 30.11.03 526 WENZHOU

My guess is that Hudong was also meant to be the lead yard for 054A, but for whatever reason (probably other work, such as 071) fell behind production at Huangpu when they switched from 054.

 

[sealordlawrence]

»Ø¸´: 054 Series Frigate Thread 2

So what number will the 10th one that is currently under construction get?

 

[franco-russe]

As tphuang says, you can never know until it is painted on the side. However, tphuang and I seem both to think that it will be 549.

 

[tphuang]

Well, not really if you look at the pattern so far:

No. 1 launched HP 30.09.06 530 XUZHOU
No. 2 “ HD 21.12.06 529 ZHOUSHAN
No. 3 “ HP 18.03.07 570 HUANGSHAN
No. 4 “ HD 22.05.07 568 CHAOHU
No. 5 “ HP 09.02.09 571 YUNCHENG
No. 6 “ HD 28.04.09 569 YULIN
No. 7 “ HP 15.11.09 548 YIYANG
No. 8 “ HD 20.05.10 5?? CHANGZHOU
No. 9 “ HP 25.08.09 5?? ???

The units built at Hudong have consistently had lower pt.nos. than those from Huangpu. However, the order was the reverse for the two 054:

No. 1 launched HD 11.09.03 525 MAANSHAN
No. 2 “ HP 30.11.03 526 WENZHOU

My guess is that Hudong was also meant to be the lead yard for 054A, but for whatever reason (probably other work, such as 071) fell behind production at Huangpu when they switched from 054.

I think they figure out number based on what the ships in those flotilla currently use. Now, I should actually look up the orbat for PLAN, so I actually see which ships get assigned where exactly. We do see that the 054s normally get formed in flotilla of 4 ships. We've had 525, 526, 529 and 530 as such in ESF. We then had 568 to 571 in SSF. So, it is possible that we will see 4 054As joining ESF with numbers around 548. Still waiting to see what those numbers are and how they do it (like building 2 for ESF, then 2 for SSF and then 2 more for ESF or just building 4 straight for ESF). Just need to wait and see.

 

[tphuang]

Here is the 5th 054A under construction in HP shipyard. The 4th one has joined service, so we don't see it in there anymore. As you can see, it's still not numbered, so I'm wondering what it will be.

From all the photos, it does not appear like a 6th 054A is under construction in HP shipyard. Now, that does not mean they don't have plans for it, but just that it's not happening right now. I'm still waiting to see if they are building more 054As or they will move to a B design after 10 054As.

The other interesting bit is that supposedly they have started a 056 project, which will be a class of vessel in the 1000 to 1500 ton range that will occupy that gap between 022 and 054 series. And that this class will start going on the docks soon at HP shipyard and be mass produced like the 022 and 054A class. Considering how fast they are pumping out those 1290 ton Haijian cutters, I'm excited to see if these rumours of 056 class will turn out to be true. I think most of us PLAN watchers have been waiting for this class of ship to come out for a while now.

 

[Blitzo]

^ Assuming that 1000-1500 ton class is for the navy, it looks like the PLAN will finally be getting some much needed, modern corvettes...

 

[A.Man]

It is waste time and money to produce 1000-1500 tonnes frigates. The 054 is a good ship overall. Although 054 is a good replacement for the old 051 class destroyers, it will be too slow and too small for carriers' escort. Jiangwei class frigates are not able to do anything away from China. It is a good candidate for coastal guards' ship if refitted for those proposed 056's. China needs to design a downsized 052C, about 5000 tonnes, with turbofan and diesel engined frigate to replace Jianghu class ships. China needs to stop building 052C Destroyers after current run. An all turbofan engined destroyer, about 9000 tonnes, should be the ultimate replacement for the 051's.