Ideal PLAN Frigate

adeptitus said:

Hi Tphuang,

I attached a couple of pics with specs on the VLS system. It looks like the missile weight with container is 1040 kg each, and they come in 2x6 arrangement. It occured to me that on the 054A model, the VLS system in the front appears to have 2 sets of 2x6 VLS cels. Perhaps the model maker was emulating the Russian VLS system.

With 24 missiles, that's about 25 metric tons?

Click to expand...

I'm not experienced enough analyzing ship structures and such, but I would think sticking 25 metric tons in the area where 054A has the VLS right now will be a lot. Anyways, I'm saying that you can put 32 HH-16 and 16 HH-7 (or 24 and 8 if you only want 32 cells) in the same location that would give better protection and might not even take as much space.
with 16 HH-7, that's probably equivalent to the mass of 2 or 3 shtil missile and the length of HH-7 is about half of shtil.

Thinking back to 052C vs 051C, 051C is probably slightly larger, but 052C has the same number of VLS cells, heavier AShM, more advanced sensor and a hangar.

How's about this?



I've ditched the main gun as a sad concession to size/weight and to allow a large quantity of anti-ship/anti-sub missiles in the form of a 25 cell SS-N-27 Klub VLS (any combo of missiles).

Further forward is a 30 cell SA-N-12 SAM VLS - I chose this because it is already in PLAN service.

Two Type-730 CIWS's complete the weapons fit (plus lightweight torpedos?).

Ahead of the bridge the chaff/flare dispensers are made stealthy.

A single helicopter (Helix?) is housed in a conventional hanger with aft helipad. A towed sonar is fitted.


I suppose if you really wanted to fit a main gun, you could reduce the qquantity of SS-N-27 cells, allowing the SA-N-12 to be relocated onto the raised foredeck just in front of the SS-N-27 complex. This would allow a 100mm gun to be mounted where the SA-N-12 previously was:

Nice...

But they seems to be bit too small...If you are about to do a "dream frigates", why to pinch on the size? Bigger hull, more internal volume, better race and "growth capability".

Ideal PLAN frigate

thats nice, drew it yourself

or was this mídle of Novik and 22830???

I think the best Frigate in East Asia is Singapore's Fomidable class:

With Aster-15 and low RCS these rock. I'd put the Type-054a as a possible second place, although if Japan or South Korea built frigates like they build destroyers, it'd still be a little bit behind.

first westenr build ship that is so ugly that it turns actually looking rather appealing...

Ok, just to give everyone plenty of stuff to think about, here are a few of the latest generation Frigates from around the world:

De Zeven Provincien Class, Netherlands. 2 in service. At over 6,000t this ought to be called a destroyer, but for political reasons (?) is called a Frigate.


Alvaro Class, Spain. 4 in service. With Aegis and at over 5000t this is another destroyer in Frigate's clothing.


Nansen class, Norway:


Al Riyadh class, Saudi Arabia:

planeman said:

I think the best Frigate in East Asia is Singapore's Fomidable class:
[qimg]http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/4319/formidableclassjs7.jpg[/qimg]
With Aster-15 and low RCS these rock. I'd put the Type-054a as a possible second place, although if Japan or South Korea built frigates like they build destroyers, it'd still be a little bit behind.

Click to expand...

the thing is that PLA expects something with better air defense than this. If you look at 054A, it has the longer ranged HH-16 and 2 type 730 CIWS. And it doesn't have top plate/sea eagle type of air search radar like 054A.

And also, probably more ASuW firepower is expected.

Interesting comparision between the Aster-15 and the SA-N-12. You are right that the SA-N-12 is normally credited with a greater range and altitude, and both are generally considered to be extremely good, though Aster is probably the more highly regarded - in part because of the natural bias many military observers have to the prestige of the Royal Navy(?). Difficult to say which is the better choice.

Of course, if range is the primary factor then we coulfd edge the Taiwanese Standard armed Perry's ahead in the frigate race but I wouldn't - SA-N-12 is way more modern than the SM-1MR.

Back to the Formidable class, I'd rate its level of stealth as probably much higher than the Type-054a's. Other aspects I'd expect the Formidible to be ahead in are ASW sensors, crew automation and damage control. Probably powerplant also.

But there's no doubt about it, the Type-054a is a very credible frigate which if employed to maximise its strengths, and with proffessionalism, is a very serious threat whoever the opponent is.