056 class FFL/corvette

joshuatree said:

A squadron of 056s, nice shot. Hope to see one of them sailing in formation soon. So it appears 580, 582, 584, 585, and 596. Is 585's pic from elsewhere?

My bad, overlooked the description at Zhoushan earlier. But still wondering if the 585 pic is at the same base?

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580, 582, 584, 585 (yes, also at Dinghai) and 596 are not a squadron, but the newly coimmissioned 056’s from all squadrons going through a training course at Dinghai.

In July, three were seen at Dinghai, 582, 583 and 597.

The only one that was present on both occasions is 582 BENGBU. This ship was the first to commission (in February) and is the resident unit at Zhoushan. It probably acts as ”teacher” for the newcomers. The YJ-83 missile in post # 1793 is the one fired by the BENGBU.

franco-russe said:

580, 582, 584, 585 (yes, also at Dinghai) and 596 are not a squadron, but the newly coimmissioned 056’s from all squadrons going through a training course at Dinghai.

In July, three were seen at Dinghai, 582, 583 and 597.

The only one that was present on both occasions is 582 BENGBU. This ship was the first to commission (in February) and is the resident unit at Zhoushan. It probably acts as ”teacher” for the newcomers. The YJ-83 missile in post # 1793 is the one fired by the BENGBU.

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Thanks for the details. As for squadron, I was only referring to the unit count, like a flock of geese, not so much of which particular fleet they are assigned to.

MwRYum said:

At less than 2000t displacement and that size of a hull, there's no space to put a hanger, in fact it'd have difficulty to operate helicopter that exceeds Z-15 size for that matter.

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Well, the could most certainly have designed a hanger into that hull if they had desired. There is a deck below the helo landing deck and by putting the helo landing deck there, they would have had enough room for the hanger. I have shown depictions of it in the past here on SD.


The displacement would go up only marginally if at all, but more importantly, the PLAN would give up other things that currently occupy those spaces

My comment was simply an observation, not an endictment of the current design.

Clearly, the PLAN (I am sure) considered everything and decided not to have a seperate hanger, and as I said, that is fine. The vessel is still a very good platform and fit for its mission

Jeff Head said:

Well, the could most certainly have designed a hanger into that hull if they had desired. There is a deck below the helo landing deck and by putting the helo landing deck there, they would have had enough room for the hanger. I have shown depictions of it in the past here on SD.

PLAN Type 056 as is with Z-9 helo on deck

PLAN Type 056 with hanger for Z-9
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The displacement would go up only marginally if at all, but more importantly, the PLAN would give up other things that currently occupy those spaces

My comment was simply an observation, not an endictment of the current design.

Clearly, the PLAN (I am sure) considered everything and decided not to have a seperate hanger, and as I said, that is fine. The vessel is still a very good platform and fit for its mission

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Then the 2 triple anti sub torpedo will be gone. That will make 056 less potent.

Lion said:

Then the 2 triple anti sub torpedo will be gone. That will make 056 less potent.

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Jeff Head's depiction shows a hull of same length. So without the lower deck as he suggested, I think not only would the two triple torpedo tube launchers be gone, but the TAS as well as the bay for the RHIB and RHIB.

Now if the hull was lengthened slightly and the rear top deck was increased in height to accommodate the helo, then the other features need not be sacrificed. However, I think the central smokestack would need to be split to reduce the amount of exhaust hitting the higher top deck/hangar. This would resemble more like the Sigma class's larger version. Ultimately, the 056's priority is clearly SCS and lower build cost to replace 037 in numbers so the hangar is a lower priority given the proximity to Chinese ports and bases.

Lion said:

Then the 2 triple anti sub torpedo will be gone. That will make 056 less potent.

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ASW helicopters in 056 hangers are more dangerous to subs than triple torp tubes.

Lion said:

Then the 2 triple anti sub torpedo will be gone. That will make 056 less potent.

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Actually, not necessarily less potent.

A dedicated ASW helicopter would be far more dangerous as an offensive weapon against subs than those torpedo tubes. The torpedo tubes are defensive and would be used most probably as a last resort. If a SSK or SSN gets close enough for you to use those tubes, then he is already far too close.

Unless he is trying to get past you to bigger prey (and since these vessels are not built to serve in an escort role, that is highly unlikely IMHO), then they would have already launched and you would fire those tripe mounts either down the azimuth or at the target if you have fixed it.

An ASW helo on the other hand would be out hunting SSKs and SSNs well out from your location.

But all of this is moot. As I said, the PLAN had already made its decision, and they have a very good all around platform without the hanger.

joshuatree said:

Now if the hull was lengthened slightly and the rear top deck was increased in height to accommodate the helo, then the other features need not be sacrificed. Ultimately, the 056's priority is clearly SCS and lower build cost to replace 037 in numbers so the hangar is a lower priority given the proximity to Chinese ports and bases.

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My depiction was indeed without a lengthening of the hull, which could also occur. But now we are talking about a more major revision and I was simply making the point that the PLAN could have added a hanger.

They choose not to, and their reasons are their own but I am sure in complete keeping with the mission and role of these vessels. As I said a few posts ago...the Type 056 OPV is a very, very good vessel for the role of OPV and littoral combatant, particularly along the coast of China or around the islands in the South China Sea.

Again, the design that started 056. Thailand's Pattani class had a hanger.



PLAN probably decided that Jiangwei is essentially 056 with a hanger (especially if HHQ-10 replaces HQ-61 or HQ-7 in refit), probably will play that role in coastal patrol with helo. Since it's secondary role anyways, hanger is not needed. When 056 class is no longer replacing Type 037 patrol boats, but something like Jianghu or Jiangwei. (once they retire, it will leave a gap for a cheap ~2000 ton ship that can patrol the coast water and pack a punch when needed) Then we'll see that capability. However, I would expect something that's in the 2,000 ton - 2,500 ton range similar to MILGEM class of Turkey.

luhai said:

Again, the design that started 056. Thailand's Pattani class had a hanger.

PLAN probably decided that Jiangwei is essentially 056 with a hanger (especially if HHQ-10 replaces HQ-61 or HQ-7 in refit), probably will play that role in coastal patrol with helo. Since it's secondary role anyways, hanger is not needed. When 056 class is no longer replacing Type 037 patrol boats, but something like Jianghu or Jiangwei. (once they retire, it will leave a gap for a cheap ~2000 ton ship that can patrol the coast water and pack a punch when needed) Then we'll see that capability. However, I would expect something that's in the 2,000 ton - 2,500 ton range similar to MILGEM class of Turkey.

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Considering there are still 10 relatively young 053H3s, even more reason CN won't spec out a 056 with hangar anytime soon. If you have a 056 sail with a 053H3, they complement as latter can house the helo. A cheap upgrade to the 053H3s would simply be swapping out the main gun and AA guns with the same gear as the 056.

I think that at a relatively low sea state and wind speed, compared with larger ships, a 056 will not be able to launch and recover a helicopter. That helicopter will be useless stored safely in a hangar so should then be sent to a land base, or perhaps at some time in the future to a helicopter carrier, from were it can still support the 056. So why should a 056 have a hangar.