056 class FFL/corvette

Jeff Head · Feb 4, 2012

hmmwv said:
Back to topic, looking at the 056 construction picture it appears to be a lot smaller than it should be, I understand that it's in an earlier stage of construction but it shouldn't be THAT small.

And yet it is.

Here is a to scale comparison between the two. The bridge windows on the 056 come just up to the to the level of the main deck...just like in the picture above.

hmmwv · Feb 5, 2012

tphuang said:
that's the one really surprising part -> how small it really is. If that really is 056 as we think it is, I guess that really points it to just replacing 037. And that also makes sense it has not hangar. For something that small, having a AK-76M, HQ-10 and 4 YJ-83 with helipad about the right armament.

I believe 056 is indeed designed to replace 037, since "modern" frigates (053H2G and up) are already well on their way to replace Jianghus at a 1:1 ratio, yet 037 Hainan and Hongxing series badly need replacement. There are somewhat 60 037s in PLAN service, and not because their near zero suriviability in modern combat, their 78 men crew is a huge waste for PLAN's talent pool.

MwRYum · Feb 5, 2012

hmmwv said:
Back to topic, looking at the 056 construction picture it appears to be a lot smaller than it should be, I understand that it's in an earlier stage of construction but it shouldn't be THAT small.

Here is a picture comparing the two Thai OPVs again 054, 054 is moored farther back and we can tell it's larger than the OPVs, but not out of proportionally larger like what we see at Huangpu. Note the OPV has a 1440t full displacement, so my guess is that 056 in actuality is smaller than people have anticipated, probably around 900t standard and 1200t full, or even smaller.

View attachment 6106

They might have built corvettes for others but by what can be read the Thai's reception of MIC ships is mixed at best, though to be fair that was more than 10 years ago. Still, 056 will be the first true corvettes in PLAN service, thus undoubtedly they'd put 2 lead-ships up for tests first, let the operations side figure its real niche, iron out the bugs in the design and then proceed into full production, slowly and gradually phase out all those obsolete gunboats.

hmmwv · Feb 6, 2012

MwRYum said:
They might have built corvettes for others but by what can be read the Thai's reception of MIC ships is mixed at best, though to be fair that was more than 10 years ago. Still, 056 will be the first true corvettes in PLAN service, thus undoubtedly they'd put 2 lead-ships up for tests first, let the operations side figure its real niche, iron out the bugs in the design and then proceed into full production, slowly and gradually phase out all those obsolete gunboats.

If you are referring to Naresuan class it was laid down exactly 20 years ago, so Thai navy's comment about 25T is probably irrelevant nowadays. At that time China's sorry a** shipbuilding industry can only pump out Jiangwei, and was still building Jianghus. The whole industry has advanced and matured so far and so fast that I'd be hugely disappointed if they can't even manage a project as straight forward as the 056. Having said that, I agree that China will take the same cautious approach towards the 056 program because it's in their culture. HD and HP will build the lead ship, put through extensive trials, and then build the first serial production batch while perfecting manufacturing techniques and train workers from other yards. Then the orders will cascade down to smaller ship yards for follow up ships. If those yard struggle with deadline either HD or HP or even JN will pick up the slack to fulfill orders. If they are indeed intended to replace 037 2 to 1 then the 35-40 ships order can probably be filled by 2020.

joshuatree · Feb 6, 2012

hmmwv said:
If you are referring to Naresuan class it was laid down exactly 20 years ago, so Thai navy's comment about 25T is probably irrelevant nowadays. At that time China's sorry a** shipbuilding industry can only pump out Jiangwei, and was still building Jianghus. The whole industry has advanced and matured so far and so fast that I'd be hugely disappointed if they can't even manage a project as straight forward as the 056. Having said that, I agree that China will take the same cautious approach towards the 056 program because it's in their culture. HD and HP will build the lead ship, put through extensive trials, and then build the first serial production batch while perfecting manufacturing techniques and train workers from other yards. Then the orders will cascade down to smaller ship yards for follow up ships. If those yard struggle with deadline either HD or HP or even JN will pick up the slack to fulfill orders. If they are indeed intended to replace 037 2 to 1 then the 35-40 ships order can probably be filled by 2020.

The 056 can also be a good money maker for China as well since the size and type suits the needs of many smaller navies. Maybe even sell some at a discount to the Thais for an updated eval on the quality of Chinese shipbuilding.

asif iqbal · Feb 6, 2012

joshuatree said:
The 056 can also be a good money maker for China as well since the size and type suits the needs of many smaller navies. Maybe even sell some at a discount to the Thais for an updated eval on the quality of Chinese shipbuilding.

I am hoping Pakistan can get a few of these, they would be great for PN since the Turkish deal hasn't gone through maybe PN already has its eyes on this ship and are waiting for its induction

It would be a great addition to the F22P frigate and the new fast attack boats we recently got, in addition to naval JF17, Z9 anti submarine helos and ZDK-03 AWACS it looks like PN is going for a all Chinese equipped naval force and has moved away from the traditional US/UK suppliers

antiterror13 · Feb 7, 2012

hmmwv said:
If you are referring to Naresuan class it was laid down exactly 20 years ago, so Thai navy's comment about 25T is probably irrelevant nowadays. At that time China's sorry a** shipbuilding industry can only pump out Jiangwei, and was still building Jianghus. The whole industry has advanced and matured so far and so fast that I'd be hugely disappointed if they can't even manage a project as straight forward as the 056. Having said that, I agree that China will take the same cautious approach towards the 056 program because it's in their culture. HD and HP will build the lead ship, put through extensive trials, and then build the first serial production batch while perfecting manufacturing techniques and train workers from other yards. Then the orders will cascade down to smaller ship yards for follow up ships. If those yard struggle with deadline either HD or HP or even JN will pick up the slack to fulfill orders. If they are indeed intended to replace 037 2 to 1 then the 35-40 ships order can probably be filled by 2020.

If China want to, 40 056s can be built in 5 years or even less, no doubt about that

asif iqbal · Feb 8, 2012

antiterror13 said:
If China want to, 40 056s can be built in 5 years or even less, no doubt about that

thats 8 ships per year, it will depend on what the shipyards have on and how many export orders they also get

right now we can say 1 destroyer, 2 frigates per year average rate, maybe 4-6 corvettes 8 might be pushing it

Hendrik_2000 · Feb 8, 2012

asif iqbal said:
thats 8 ships per year, it will depend on what the shipyards have on and how many export orders they also get

right now we can say 1 destroyer, 2 frigates per year average rate, maybe 4-6 corvettes 8 might be pushing it

that is because you are counting only the big shipyard like HP and Hudong, Jiangnan. But China has a lot of smaller shipyards, all along the Yangtze and further inland , up and down the east coast.Just ask FrancoRusse

Now that all the shipyard are needing works because of low demand for freighter etc . Yes they can build it with no problem

asif iqbal · Feb 8, 2012

Hendrik_2000 said:
that is because you are counting only the big shipyard like HP and Hudong, Jiangnan. But China has a lot of smaller shipyards, all along the Yangtze and further inland , up and down the east coast.Just ask FrancoRusse

Now that all the shipyard are needing works because of low demand for freighter etc . Yes they can build it with no problem

just because there is low demand does not mean automatically they will get naval order, have these shipyards made naval ships in the past>? do they have the expertise and infrastructure to construct these corvettes

if HP and HD make the Type 056, its hard to see a 3rd shipyard being set up for a construction of the same vessal, unless that is China really wants to up the tempo on these, which so far it hasnt done with neither Type 052C, Type 054A or Type 071

056 class FFL/corvette

Jeff Head

General

hmmwv

Junior Member

MwRYum

Major

hmmwv

Junior Member

joshuatree

Captain

asif iqbal

Lieutenant General

antiterror13

Brigadier

asif iqbal

Lieutenant General

Hendrik_2000

Lieutenant General

asif iqbal

Lieutenant General