PLAN invited to participate in RIMPAC for first the time (2014)

113 torpedo launchers



054A's helipad and hangar



052's helipad and hangar


Good trigger discipline


Nice view of Auckland harbour. Don't be deceived. It was quite chilly, with strong gusts


And 881 AOR, to finish off

At least you board the 113 and the 054A is docking side by side. You can enjoy seeing it at pretty close distance. I get jealous of you.

thank you for the photos Bltizo. How clean was the ship?

I only saw the outside, but she seemed pretty spotless, just like the pictures we all see show.

But keep in mind all three ships haven't exactly been at sea for that long (they departed China only a month or so ago).

shen said:

thank you for the photos Bltizo. How clean was the ship?

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not speaking for Bltizo but from the pictures he took, they look pretty damn clean! Those swabbies definitely got their ship squared away for the civvies!
I've seen some very dirty vessels from other countries before but I shall not mention them as to not cause unnecessary ruckus here!
As a general observation though, sailors do keep their ships clean even those from 'poor' or small 3rd world navies. Every sailor is proud of their ship regardless if it's a 100,000 ton CVN or a 100 ton patrol boat.
They usually only get dirty after the jarheads track their dirty boondockers on them!

Bltizo said:

I only saw the outside, but she seemed pretty spotless, just like the pictures we all see show.

But keep in mind all three ships haven't exactly been at sea for that long (they departed China only a month or so ago).

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Hi Bltizo .... what is your impression of the quality of the ships ? ... do you think 054A has a better quality than 052 ?

I couldn't quite get close enough to tell, and the only let the outside of the ship to public, so no comparing internal corridors, bridge, etc. My perception was really not all that different to what any PLAN watcher would surmise.

However, 054A's hull welding seemed noticeably smoother than 052s.

Bltizo said:

I couldn't quite get close enough to tell, and the only let the outside of the ship to public, so no comparing internal corridors, bridge, etc. My perception was really not all that different to what any PLAN watcher would surmise.

However, 054A's hull welding seemed noticeably smoother than 052s.

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If you consider how many years separate the 052 - the first real attempt by PLAN to modernize - and the 054A - the showcase of more than 20 years in modernization - that's hardly surprising, and even between the 052C (ok, the lead ship of the class) and 054A you can already tell the difference in workmanship.

It's such finer details that most people ignore, something only we military enthusiast take notice.

Bltizo said:

I couldn't quite get close enough to tell, and the only let the outside of the ship to public, so no comparing internal corridors, bridge, etc. My perception was really not all that different to what any PLAN watcher would surmise.

However, 054A's hull welding seemed noticeably smoother than 052s.

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that's very telling. Smooth welding usually means the shipbuilders have also made much improvement as well in their shipbuilding techniques between the different generation of ships to improve the seaworthiness of each new class of vessels.

kwaigonegin said:

that's very telling. Smooth welding usually means the shipbuilders have also made much improvement as well in their shipbuilding techniques between the different generation of ships to improve the seaworthiness of each new class of vessels.

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Provided both ships are structurally sound, smoothness of weld and ship building technique will make little difference to seaworthiness. Displacement, freeboard, windage, righting moment in pitch and row have a lot more to do with it. I would expect 052 to be more seaworthy than 054A just because the older ship is bigger. That's more important than the 12 or so years which separates them.