054B/new generation frigate

Andy1974

Senior Member
Registered Member
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.
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.
 

Gloire_bb

Major
Registered Member
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.
 

votran

Junior Member
Registered Member
all the empty space in skull seems waste ? enough atleast to know there may not be enough space belowdecks
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
 

totenchan

Junior Member
Registered Member
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
 

ACuriousPLAFan

Brigadier
Registered Member
View attachment 147833
all the empty space both side VLS launcher seem waste ? enough for atleast 16 more VLS
isn't 054B 50% bigger than 054A ?

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.

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

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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Cloud_Nine_

Junior Member
Registered Member
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.

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.20241228111316.png title-1694237198113.jpeg
 
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