054B/new generation frigate
- Thread starter Blitzo
- Start date
I think the primary use of a refueling ability would be to refuel the frigates own USV escorts.
For example, a Type 054B could have 4 USV escorts, which could accompany the frigate on long voyages. This would have previously been impossible because those USVs would run out of fuel and there is no way to carry them.
The many replenishment ships China already has would be used as designed, for manned vessels. They would replenish the 054Bs, and the 054Bs would replenish their own USVs.
Well, one may say this is a general trend of warship development.
Some unmanned vesseles deploy from shore, others don't need to.
isn't 054B 50% bigger than 054A ? i have hard time to understand why bother with way bigger ship if missile number stay the same , specially when HHQ-16 basic version ~ ESSM , but ESSM can be quad pack into a single mk41 VLS
for example : jap mogami class 16 mk41 if quad pack with essm block 2 = 64 missile total twice number 054b carry
and mogami weight ~ 054A
Current Mogami has no VLS
The PLAN is neither the Israeli Navy nor the Russian Navy - They don't need to jam-pack every available deck space on their FFGs with weaponry. This is besides all the other multitude of factors that are at play when designing and building any warships.
The HHQ-16's warhead is almost twice as large as the ESSM (70+kg for the HHQ-16 versus ~39kg for the ESSM). This means a bigger missile volume (thus missile size) is required to carry more propellent.
Meanwhile, the newer HHQ-16 variants (HHQ-16B/C, which will be fielded on newer 054AGs and 054Bs, if not already - And hopefully for the older 054As in the near future as well) is expected to have ranges surpassing 100 kilometers.
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This isn't directed against you but people are often so hung up on quad-pack ESSMs that they forget ESSM is a small and low-energy missile designed for capital ship self-defense.
People also often seem to forget that the HQ-16 is an SM-2-sized missile that weighs more than twice that of an ESSM. The size is part of why they can push HQ-16F to a crazy 160km intercept range and even further ballistic range.
It's not like the Japanese are that fond of ESSM, either. The SAM often mentioned during 30FFM's development was what is now known as 23 SAM developed from 03 Chu SAM Kai. With the booster, 23 SAM probably is double the weight of ESSM too.
