FFG 054/054A Thread

[joshuatree]

actually, those black marks on the side don't look like deep scratches at all, at least to me. I'd say they're all just smeared off rubber from the tyres. Nothing that can't be cleaned in a day's work.

No, they don't look like deep scratches at all and no doubt easily fixable. But I just wonder what is going on with the build process that would cause this problem already? To the best of my knowledge, this ship hasn't even gone out to sea. Maybe they should stop using tires and something a little more stain-free if that is the case.

If you find enough photoes of how ships are built at ALL stages, you will not be so surprised. Just search some old photoes of 052C and 052B. Quite a few people asked the same question during that time.

Like all products, before its final delivery, it will be polished up. Don't worry, even the first ship of LCS will be delivered like a goddess.

I'm not really buying that all ships being built in all stages will encounter this problem. You don't see a scratched up or stained car on the assembly line, you don't see a new Airbus or Boeing all scratched up or stained. Yes, you are right that it will/can be polished up for delivery. But as I mentioned above, considering that the ship has not even gone out to sea, I find the production process/procedure lacking in refinement if you're already scratching up/staining your new product being built. Regarding the old photos of 052C and 052B, were they also taken before the boats ever went out to sea? I understand if a ship has been out a few times, maybe during practices, exercises, those are all understandable. But if this is happening before the boats ever even stretch their legs, what is up with that?

 

[zyun8288]

I am not saying all ships have got exactly the same "problem". In fact I guess other shipyard's tug boats are cleaner than HD's so that new ships are not "sealed with kisses" so noticebaly.

What I wanted to say was, most, if not all manufacturers, don't always keep their product in a showroom level apearance during the whole construction period. A product may get dirty for millions of reasons. But before the final delivery, it will be polished up.

In 054's case, during the outfitting period, it will be pushed by tug boats multiple times, other special vessels will port alongside her to lift some equipments, etc...

If you check some old 052B 168's photoes, you will find it in a much miserable state at one stage. It just looked like a rusted second hand ship.

Not only that, even shit(real problem) happens. Just count how many ships caught fires during their constructions. But still, they all look great when joining services.

 

[tphuang]

I've been waiting for this for a while now, but it appears that 2nd 054A in HD is finally about to be launched, although SR-64 and top plate have yet to be installed.

 

[tphuang]

more from the guy that posted this. Here is a set of the first of pictures from the first 054A in HD.

 

[tphuang]

More photos of the 2nd 054A at HD and 891. Not much changed on 891 since we last saw it. I guess they are going to be testing it for a while now.

 

[tphuang]

photos from HD again of the first launched 054A. It appears that this 054A is about to go for sea trial.

 

[tphuang]

alright, still without sea eagle, but the second 054A at HD is finally launched, here are some of the pictures on it.

 

[bd popeye]

tphuang, Thanks for your pics and post about the type 054. Great info.

With your great insight of the PLAN new construction do you have any idea how many 054's the PLAN will produce? I know the PLAN does not make multi-copies of the same class..but..maybe this type 054 will be the start.

 

[guitarjeff]

alright, still without sea eagle, but the second 054A at HD is finally launched, here are some of the pictures on it.

Thanks for the pics.

It's just too bad the VLS at the B position is covered up. Oh well.

BTW, whatever happened to those frigates that Hudong was supposed to be building for the Pakistanis?

 

[tphuang]

tphuang, Thanks for your pics and post about the type 054. Great info.

With your great insight of the PLAN new construction do you have any idea how many 054's the PLAN will produce? I know the PLAN does not make multi-copies of the same class..but..maybe this type 054 will be the start.

Hey Bd,

I think you might see around 20 to 25 units of 054 series from what I gathered on Chinese forums to replace the old Jianghu. At max, you might get OHP number of units. Also, I think you will see minor variation as the time goes. The most visible changes are probably going to be seeing new sensors on the ship. I think for all the excitements over this class, there are some serious flaws (feel free to correct me):
1. It's using diesel engines - not exactly ideal if you want to make it larger to be able to equip more stuff. Also, the other problem is that it's simply not as quiet as gas turbines.
2. Weak ASW - while it's AAW and ASuW is more than sufficient at the moment, it should have more ASW equipment as a future escort. Outside of the noise issue, we haven't seen any VDS or TAS (although I have speculated conformal VDS before)
3. hull - while it is the most stealthy hull in PLAN, I think in probably 5 to 10 years when it's been mass produced, there will be far stealthier hulls out there. And on top of that, I'm not a shipbuilding expert, but I really question how much more armament you can fit on this hull (don't think it can be stretched much more).