056 class FFL/corvette

hmmwv said:

Both bow and stack change are last minute mods done after the first two hulls were launched at HD and HP, now all ships will be modified to the new design. Cutting and welding a new bow is easy and mostly cosmetic, but the stack is a lot more complicated, besides adding a section to shield the exhaust pipes, the exhaust angle was changed to direct the gas upward to clear the now taller stack walls.

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any idea why these changes were put in? Seems kind of strange that they discovered these design flaws after the ship launched but before they went on sea trials.

tphuang said:

any idea why these changes were put in? Seems kind of strange that they discovered these design flaws after the ship launched but before they went on sea trials.

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My guess is that the mods were decided upon after the production and assembly process had been agreed upon and started. It will have been easier and more cost effective to put the first few units together with unmodified components and then add the mods later, rather than hold up the entire production and assembly line waiting for new mod sections to be finished and delivered.

tphuang said:

any idea why these changes were put in? Seems kind of strange that they discovered these design flaws after the ship launched but before they went on sea trials.

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I was speculating earlier that the exhaust stack mod was done to improve RCS (the same thing was done to the Flight IIA AB's), and the bow mod was done to improve clearance of bow waves to the sides and thus help decrease the amount of seaspray washing over the main deck. The bow mod certainly seems to be RCS-neutral compared to the original mod, so it's doubtful this would be the reason.

SampanViking said:

My guess is that the mods were decided upon after the production and assembly process had been agreed upon and started. It will have been easier and more cost effective to put the first few units together with unmodified components and then add the mods later, rather than hold up the entire production and assembly line waiting for new mod sections to be finished and delivered.

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Wonder if WC and LN has already modded their launched vessels?

Mysterre said:

I was speculating earlier that the exhaust stack mod was done to improve RCS (the same thing was done to the Flight IIA AB's), and the bow mod was done to improve clearance of bow waves to the sides and thus help decrease the amount of seaspray washing over the main deck. The bow mod certainly seems to be RCS-neutral compared to the original mod, so it's doubtful this would be the reason.

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Seems like the bow mod also allows a plank to be placed right in front of the bridge. The earlier bow did not appear to enable this.

tphuang said:

any idea why these changes were put in? Seems kind of strange that they discovered these design flaws after the ship launched but before they went on sea trials.

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From what I've heard, mind you this is completely unproven, is that during a visit by PLAN senior officers at 596's launch, they saw 596 parked side by side with 054A and immediately pointed out the bow and the stack. They cited that 054A+'s bow change compare to the standard 054A and asked why 056's bow looked retarded. They also questioned the design of the stack as there are four shiny exhaust pipes sticking out. Designers were ordered to address those obvious issues and updated dwg files were sent to all shipyards. All ships under construction will be built using the new blueprint and ships originally built to the current standard will have their changes later so launch schedules are not affected.

Short version of this is that PLAN officers actually monitor Chinese military forums constantly and listen to fan's opinions.

joshuatree said:

Wonder if WC and LN has already modded their launched vessels?

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Yes WC already cut off the old bow and is welding the new one as we speak, probably already done. LN hasn't started yet.

Ok so the launches are?? I've lost count

2 x HD
2 x HP
1 x WC
1 x LN

6 launches in almost 4 months, before this year is out we could see 6 more, seriously 12 launches alone in 2012!! At the start of year that would be considered a no way thought

Here's some nice pics.

asif iqbal said:

Ok so the launches are?? I've lost count

2 x HD
2 x HP
1 x WC
1 x LN

6 launches in almost 4 months, before this year is out we could see 6 more, seriously 12 launches alone in 2012!! At the start of year that would be considered a no way thought

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Very possible, think there's already 2 more being in various stages of construction at HP and HD. Don't know as much on WC and LN, guessing maybe 1 each so yes, another half dozen in the works. The interesting part will be the 6 afloat, will they all get commissioned around the same time? After commissioning, will they start patrols in the SCS immediately?

joshuatree said:

Very possible, think there's already 2 more being in various stages of construction at HP and HD. Don't know as much on WC and LN, guessing many 1 each so yes, another half dozen in the works. The interesting part will be the 6 afloat, will they all get commissioned around the same time? After commissioning, will they start patrols in the SCS immediately?

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They will be send to hong kong immediately to replace 6 type 037.

SCS will leave it to china maritime surveillance ship.

hmmwv said:

Short version of this is that PLAN officers actually monitor Chinese military forums constantly and listen to fan's opinions.

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From what I hear, they actually are quite active on the net. Suffice to say I'm sure they want to launch something Chinese netizens are openly proud of, and not say "oh my god, that vessel is so ugly I want to puke...how could PLAN come up with something so horrible"

...not that I imagine a weird smokestack would do that, but anyway