I think the primary use of a refueling ability would be to refuel the frigates own USV escorts.Giving type 054B a role to replenish smaller vessels may be possible but it is against basic design logic unless you are thinkng along with
1) The frigate is the largest warship in your navy, thus will need to be versatile to face all type of needs, and
2) Spaces on board the frigate is all designed for combat, as they said, every inch of space is not spared, why built in extra equipment to replenish other smaller ships/boats. Though I see the Philippines Coast Guard used their larger ships to re-supply those small tiny boats by hand out overboard, but Philippine CG is pushing the boundry for lack of suitable ships.
China has many replenishment ships of various displacements. And there are dozens of type 072, 073, 074. They don't need type 054B to act as a tanker.
China has the largest fleet in term of number of ships should keep type 054B as dedicated combat ship, its size is for endurance and to be able to escort for aircraft carrier and other flotilla without being a short leg.
Well, one may say this is a general trend of warship development.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.
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 VLSall the empty space in skull seems waste ? enough atleast to know there may not be enough space belowdecks
Current Mogami has no VLSisn'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
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all the empty space both side VLS launcher seem waste ? enough for atleast 16 more VLS
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
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.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