Looking at the comparison pictures several posts above, I think we can conclude that the hole at the bow is for a VLS and not for a main gun.1. The bow opening is for the main gun, and there is no bow VLS.
Because he was asked for a source. "His own reasoning" does not provide for specific information like 6500 ton displacement or 8.2 MW Diesel engines.What makes you think that he had a source to begin with?
He literally explained his own reasoning in the post and didn't claim to have a "source".
So why wait?
Thinking in radical terms at the moment, what if the ship doesn't have a front VLS at all, and instead, only a mid-aft VLS.
You mean like Iver Huitfeldt and Type 31?
Yeah.
View attachment 106008View attachment 106009View attachment 106010
The ship is over 6,500 tons and is powered by four diesel engines. Each of these diesel engines are more powerful than the 054A's at 8.2 MW each compared to the 054A's 5MW something, but they are still diesel, so it keeps its 054 designation. PLAN loves their diesels and it keeps the costs down.
The difference is that for the 054B, the engines and the funnels are ahead of the VLS, the VLS being the last set of holes to the left, followed by two engine funnels to the right of it. Towards the bow, the hole is there is only for the main gun.
View attachment 106011
The size of the alleged VLS to the rear and left looks bigger than the 054A, and given the displacement, a high certainty this might be a U-VLS. I could just imagine what is behind the VLS is a small mast for the secondary radar, and the mast is integrated to the hanger in structure. Its not in contradiction to the image in the coin.
View attachment 106013
If you look at it, there may not be a VLS between the main bow gun and the platform with the CIWS. But there is a deep valley between the two radar masts, which may have the two funnels that are partly obscured, and then a deeper valley which maybe where the main VLS is, before rising to the secondary radar.
Where is this information coming from?
Because he was asked for a source. "His own reasoning" does not provide for specific information like 6500 ton displacement or 8.2 MW Diesel engines.
Possibly.
Each of these diesel engines are more powerful than the 054A's at 8.2 MW each compared to the 054A's 5MW something, but they are still diesel, so it keeps its 054 designation. PLAN loves their diesels and it keeps the costs down.
Doesn't sound to me that he is still talking about Huitfeldt, but ok. Let it be.
Another CGI-illustrated model of what the 054B could look like. By the famous 3D Chinese military equipment modeller @西葛西造舰 on Youtube.
View attachment 106087
This time, instead of slanted launchers amidships like those found on previous Chinese frigates, it will be VLS. 32 fore + 16 middle = 48 VLS cells.
Personally, I prefer this all-VLS design over those slanted launchers.