056 class FFL/corvette

asif iqbal said:

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

Click to expand...

The more inland shipyards were responsible for the massive build up of 022s after the initial production by larger shipyards. The smaller inland shipyards could handle 022 because it was a relatively small ship. It's believed they can handle something along the lines of 056 by now.

Someone suggested that only the first two are built by these two large yards to make sure that they can be built alright, that next the two vessels will be tried out, quite reasonably and that the design with the modifications found necessary will be turned over to a considerable number of small ship yards. They should be commissioned when? End of this year or beginning of the next? The mass production of 20 or 80 or whatever vessels can then be undertaken from say 2015. Wasn't that how the 037's were built?

delft said:

Someone suggested that only the first two are built by these two large yards to make sure that they can be built alright, that next the two vessels will be tried out, quite reasonably and that the design with the modifications found necessary will be turned over to a considerable number of small ship yards. They should be commissioned when? End of this year or beginning of the next? The mass production of 20 or 80 or whatever vessels can then be undertaken from say 2015. Wasn't that how the 037's were built?

Click to expand...

hmmm that would make more sense, 2 trial models and then into mass production to other shipyards seems logical that way

however i dont think its a capacity issue, HD was making Type 54As and Type 071 LPDs in addition to many others, but still managed to squeeze in 3 F22P frigates for Pakistan (4th being built at Karachi) in no time, it will all come down to how fast China wants to work and what its working on at the time they probably could slip in Type 056

The three F22P ZULFIQAR class frigates were, like all major export warships from China, built by Zhonghua, which represents the spare capacity of the Hudong-Zhonghua shipbuilding group.

franco-russe said:

The three F22P ZULFIQAR class frigates were, like all major export warships from China, built by Zhonghua, which represents the spare capacity of the Hudong-Zhonghua shipbuilding group.

Click to expand...

correct, Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard built the F22Ps for Pakistan, i did not know it was spare capacity for HD

Even if there is spare or available capacity (those two are usually not the same thing) at the larger yards, that does not necessarily mean that they will get the bulk of the 056 contracts.

Remember that PLAN contracts are a form of government spending, and as such, will have other considerations such as job creation/maintenance etc on top of the need to get good ships for the navy.

By splitting the order up and distributing it amongst many of the smaller yards, China will help to ensure that they not only weather the current economic down turn, but are also best prepared for when the recovery and new orders comes.

It could be that some or many of the smaller yards do not have the equipment or facilities to build something as big and complex as an 056, but that is another reason to give them the contract - because those yards will now have the confidence and means to invest to improve and expand their capabilities and facilities to build larger ships.

Once developed, these yards would be able to use those same facilities to build bigger and better civilian ships.

Smaller yard doesn't necessarily mean weak or poorly equipped yards, many of those smaller yards are the most technologically advanced ones in the world, for example, the specialty ship designed to carry major A380 components for Airbus was built by Jinling Shipyard in Nanjing. Of course they will have limited military vessel construction experience, but 056 is hardly a complex design, once the fully package (manufacturing procedures, CAD files, trained technicians, etc) is perfected by HD and HP it'll be transferred to those smaller yards as a turnkey solution. This was how it was done to the 022, and I firmly believe it'll be the same for 056. Having said that, I do not see a rapid build up of 056 in such short time span, simply because PLAN can't train enough people to man them. The 037 is a relic of WWII and anybody out of basic training will have no problem operate it, 056 is an entirely new beast it'll take many months of theory and hands on training.

hmmwv said:

... Having said that, I do not see a rapid build up of 056 in such short time span, simply because PLAN can't train enough people to man them. The 037 is a relic of WWII and anybody out of basic training will have no problem operate it, 056 is an entirely new beast it'll take many months of theory and hands on training.

Click to expand...

I don't think the 056 is anything cutting edge. Aren't all the weapons systems already in use for some time by PLAN? As for personnel, I think the 056 opens up room for 022 and 037 crews to move up; inducting new recruits to the 022s. Eventually, this should help train and provide experience to create a steady human resource pool capable of manning the larger ships coming out.

You should note that it's not that easy for PLAN to recruit college graduates and train them to use modern ships. The new ships are advanced machinery. As we move forward, PLAN will be moving toward more of a professional force. The skill requirement for 056 should be a lot higher than that of 037s. It's not an easy process. It's also not an easy process to keep people in the navy, which is what you need to have a professional force.

Back in the days, people join the army for a couple of years, so they can have better job opportunities later. You can't do that with a modern navy. You need people to come in, settle with their families and have a career as a sailor.

joshuatree said:

I don't think the 056 is anything cutting edge. Aren't all the weapons systems already in use for some time by PLAN? As for personnel, I think the 056 opens up room for 022 and 037 crews to move up; inducting new recruits to the 022s. Eventually, this should help train and provide experience to create a steady human resource pool capable of manning the larger ships coming out.

Click to expand...

The 056 is not as advanced as 054A but it still uses 21st century equipment and it's a revolutionary leap from 037, having boarded one in Dinghai in the early 2000s I can say that the basic Hainan class is so simple that even the Qing Dynasty navy can effectively operate it, the Hongxing class is more advanced but still using 1970s tech.