055 Large Destroyer Thread II

[Moonscape]

It's interesting that China seems to have run out of unused Tier 1 and Tier 2 city names for destroyers, which is resulting in China's largest and most advanced destroyers being named after decidedly third and fourth tier cities like Anshan and Zunyi.

Perhaps it's time to retire the four Sovremenny class ships to free up a new names.

 

[Nill]

It's interesting that China seems to have run out of unused Tier 1 and Tier 2 city names for destroyers, which is resulting in China's largest and most advanced destroyers being named after decidedly third and fourth tier cities like Anshan and Zunyi.

Perhaps it's time to retire the four Sovremenny class ships to free up a new names.

Anshan has historical significance to the PLAN as the first destroyer PLAN destroyer

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[Untoldpain]

It's interesting that China seems to have run out of unused Tier 1 and Tier 2 city names for destroyers, which is resulting in China's largest and most advanced destroyers being named after decidedly third and fourth tier cities like Anshan and Zunyi.

Perhaps it's time to retire the four Sovremenny class ships to free up a new names.

Adding to Nill's comment. The city of Zunyi is of high political significance in PRC history.

It is at the Zunyi conference in 1935 that Mao ZeDong first gained leadership position withing the CCP, widely seen as a turning point in the Long March and the CCP at large.

Two other Type 055 Destroyers are named after historically significant city for the CCP, 106 Ya'an and 101 Nanchang respectively.

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

It's interesting that China seems to have run out of unused Tier 1 and Tier 2 city names for destroyers, which is resulting in China's largest and most advanced destroyers being named after decidedly third and fourth tier cities like Anshan and Zunyi.

Perhaps it's time to retire the four Sovremenny class ships to free up a new names.

China has 4 Tier 1 cities, 15 new Tier 1 cities and 30 Tier 2 cities, totalling 49 Chinese cities. The names of those cities is definitely going to be used up, since there are now 50 destroyers already in service + about to enter service with the PLAN.

Therefore, if the PLAN intends to operate 80-90-ish destroyers (which is what the USN is aiming to operate towards the late 2020s and 2030s), then the higher ups in the PLAN definitely have to eat into the list of Tier 3 Chinese cities (71 in total) to get more names for upcoming PLAN destroyers, which would grant China a grand total of 120 destroyers at any one time.

If there are concerns about eating into name allocations for PLAN frigates - According to Yichai Global, there are 338 cities in China. So with 120 being used for PLAN destroyers, that would leave 218 slots left for PLAN frigates, which I think is more than enough if the PLAN has no intention on stationing forces across the globe.

 

[Stryker]

China has 4 Tier 1 cities, 15 new Tier 1 cities and 30 Tier 2 cities, totalling 49 Chinese cities. The names of those cities is definitely going to be used up, since there are now 50 destroyers already in service + about to enter service with the PLAN.

Therefore, if the PLAN intends to operate 80-90-ish destroyers (which is what the USN is aiming to operate towards the late 2020s and 2030s), then the higher ups in the PLAN definitely have to eat into the list of Tier 3 Chinese cities (71 in total) to get more names for upcoming PLAN destroyers, which would grant China a grand total of 120 destroyers at any one time.

If there are concerns about eating into name allocations for PLAN frigates - According to Yichai Global, there are 338 cities in China. So with 120 being used for PLAN destroyers, that would leave 218 slots left for PLAN frigates, which I think is more than enough if the PLAN has no intention on stationing forces across the globe.

Would love for PLAN to start using names of Taiwan Province's cities. Type 055 Taipei & Type 055 Kaohsiung

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

Would love for PLAN to start using names of Taiwan Province's cities. Type 055 Taipei & Type 055 Kaohsiung

Would be nice, but maybe naming PLAN warships after Taiwanese cities after reunification is completed would be better IMO.

One worthy note is that the official name pronunciation of the Taiwanese cities and places should be switched from Taiwanese/Minannese pronunciation to Mandarin (Putonghua) pronunciation - And apply the same pronunciations on Chinese warships as well.

Examples as below:
Taipei -> Taibei (台北)
Taichung -> Taizhong (台中)
Chiayi -> Jiayi (嘉义)
Hsinchu -> Xinzhu (新竹)
Keelung -> Jilong (基隆)
Hualien -> Hualian (花莲)
Pingtung -> Pingdong (屏东)
Taitung -> Taidong (台东)
Kaoshiung -> Gaoxiong (高雄)
Kinmen -> Jinmen (金门)
Lienchiang -> Lianjiang (连江)
etc etc.

On the sideline, perhaps China should name Chinese warships after contested regions along the China-India border to rile up over-nationalistic and ultra-nationalistic Indians too. Akesaiqin (阿克赛钦, Aksai Chin) and Nanzhang (南藏, South Tibet/Arunachal Pradesh) would be two of the good name choices.

 

[stannislas]

Would be nice, but maybe naming PLAN warships after Taiwanese cities after reunification is completed would be better IMO.

One worthy note is that the official name pronunciation of the Taiwanese cities and places should be switched from Taiwanese/Minannese pronunciation to Mandarin (Putonghua) pronunciation - And apply the same pronunciations on Chinese warships as well.

Examples as below:
Taipei -> Taibei (台北)
Taichung -> Taizhong (台中)
Chiayi -> Jiayi (嘉义)
Hsinchu -> Xinzhu (新竹)
Keelung -> Jilong (基隆)
Hualien -> Hualian (花莲)
Pingtung -> Pingdong (屏东)
Taitung -> Taidong (台东)
Kaoshiung -> Gaoxiong (高雄)
Kinmen -> Jinmen (金门)
Lienchiang -> Lianjiang (连江)
etc etc.

On the sideline, perhaps China should name Chinese warships after contested regions along the China-India border to rile up over-nationalistic and ultra-nationalistic Indians too. Akesaiqin (阿克赛钦, Aksai Chin) and Nanzhang (南藏, South Tibet/Arunachal Pradesh) would be two of the good name choices.

Well, I'm not an expert, but my understanding is that those name are not Taiwanese/Minannese pronunciation, it's mandarin, but in Wade–Giles spelling, which is another romanization system beside of Hanyupinyi

In fact, the only one name that was sort of ‘colonial’ should be 高雄 Kaoshiung, as it was actually Japanese Kanji of Hakka pronunciation of the place. The original name of Kaoshiung 高雄 was 'Takao' 打狗, when Japanese occupied the place, they thought the 打狗 was not delight enough, which is true..., so replace the 打狗 with 高雄 in the same pronunciation in Japanese.

Honest speaking, I don't think people will bother to change the name, it's a costly process with no actual meaning. Plus, 高雄 is actually a very nice name with good meaning.

 

[charles18]

Would love for PLAN to start using names of Taiwan Province's cities. Type 055 Taipei & Type 055 Kaohsiung

According to PLAN naming convention, aircraft carriers are named after provinces.
Maybe there will be a nuclear carrier called the "Type 004 - Taiwan"

 

[charles18]

China has 4 Tier 1 cities, 15 new Tier 1 cities and 30 Tier 2 cities, totalling 49 Chinese cities. The names of those cities is definitely going to be used up, since there are now 50 destroyers already in service + about to enter service with the PLAN.

Therefore, if the PLAN intends to operate 80-90-ish destroyers ....

The PLA-navy is building an average of 6 destroyers per year ( 2 Type 055 and 4 Type 052D ).
At this rate within 12 years 6 x 12 = 72
Add this to the 50 China currently have 50 + 72 = 122 destroyers by year 2035
Let's just say 120 destroyers.
Let's also assume that 120 is good enough.

This may seem like a high number of destroyers considering the US-navy is aiming for 90. Measured in terms of procurement budget for ships, this is what the the US-navy spent its money on starting from most to least:
1. aircraft carriers
2. submarines
3. surface combatants
4. amphibious
5. logistics / everything else

Let's assume by 2040 the PLA-navy has completely modernized. I believe the order is going to look like this
1. surface combatants
2. submarines
3. aircraft carriers
.....
Disagree with me if you wish, but aircraft carriers and surface combatants are basically going to switch places.

 

[AndrewS]

The PLA-navy is building an average of 6 destroyers per year ( 2 Type 055 and 4 Type 052D ).
At this rate within 12 years 6 x 12 = 72
Add this to the 50 China currently have 50 + 72 = 122 destroyers by year 2035
Let's just say 120 destroyers.
Let's also assume that 120 is good enough.

This may seem like a high number of destroyers considering the US-navy is aiming for 90. Measured in terms of procurement budget for ships, this is what the the US-navy spent its money on starting from most to least:
1. aircraft carriers
2. submarines
3. surface combatants
4. amphibious
5. logistics / everything else

Let's assume by 2040 the PLA-navy has completely modernized. I believe the order is going to look like this
1. surface combatants
2. submarines
3. aircraft carriers
.....
Disagree with me if you wish, but aircraft carriers and surface combatants are basically going to switch places.

The indications are that 20 Destroyers and 20 Frigates have been ordered for the 2021-2025 plan.
So personally I would go with an average of 4 Destroyers and 4 Frigates per year

After 2030, I would expect shipbuilding to shift towards aircraft carriers and less towards destroyers/frigates