South East Asia Military News, Reports, Data, etc.
- Thread starter paintgun
- Start date
It is in this context that I think China's Type 056s are under-armed, though they may be considered armed-just-right for deterrence to neither be threats nor be pushovers for today's needs.
Though many of the regional navies like Vietnam are already undergoing a generational upgrade or can reasonably be expected to do so in the near future and the Type 056 will be rendered semi-obsolete very quickly. China will then need to replace or bolster the Type 056s with something similar in size but faster, maybe stealthier, and more heavily armed both in air defense and anti-surface/sub warfare.
joshuatree
Captain
Why would you compare 056s to the entire Vietnamese naval fleet? The 056 is very similar to the Sigma class but Vietnam will only have four (for now) and they are intended to replace the five Petya class. So with 20+ and counting 056s, how are they under-armed? Also, how much is a Sigma class for Vietnam and how much is a 056 for China?
I guess we will have to see how many Type 056s end up being launched but realistically if Vietnamese forces attack Chinese forces there is a high likelihood that others will join in on attacking China otherwise it's tantamount to suicide for Vietnam. In such a scenario it is reasonable to expect any patrolling assets such as Type 056s to come under surprise attack by top tier hostile forces with ammo to spare. I doubt the Type 056 will be able to survive such an onslaught due to its minimal armament. To be survivable in such a situation the 056 needs at least an ASROC type weapon as defense against torpedoes and a larger number of HQ-10s. Ideally it would be capable of hitting back with a good chance of success at opponents who are decently defended so a larger number of anti-ship/sub missiles would come in handy even as the 056 immediately retreats after a parting salvo of say 3 or 4 missiles per target.
Underarmed? Obsolete?
Say what?
The Type 056 is a modern 1,400 ton corvette with a 76mm DP main gun, two 30mm auto cannons, four long range, superb surface to surface missiles, an eight cell, very decent anti-aircraft missile system, defensive torpedo tubes, and a helo deck for landing and refueling ASW helos. It's also got a very good sensor suite.
The Type 056 is a very capable multi-role corvette for its tonnage, and it is modern and not about to be rendered obsolete by anything Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, or other local nations are building now, or the foreseeable future. That's just the truth.
And the Chinese have already launched 23 of them. Hear that? Twenty three already launched with 16 in commission and more building. Probably a lot more.
The Vietnamese have the new Sigma class that correspond, and those are indeed good vessels, but they are only going to have four of them.
The Gephardts are very good frigates too, but again, very few in number, while the Chinese have built 22 Type 054As and will end up with a couple of dozen modern DDGs as well.
No, the Type 056s corvettes are not under armed at all, and they are not at all about to be obsolete in any near term future.
Now, as I said earlier, Vietnam is building up a credible fleet of surface combatants and SSKs, and they will be effective in either deterring local armed conflict or responding to it. But those will serve well for relatively small local disagreements.
They are no comparison to the PLAN overall...and the PLAN itself is building a MUCH larger, more capable all around fleet ranging from fast missile boats, to corvettes, to guided- missile frigates, to guided-missile destroyers, and when the Type 055 comes out, to cruiser sized vessels. Not to mention there much larger SSK fleet and their carrier, amphibious, and nuclear submarine capabilities.
Also, Pan, lets not even go to a war time China vs. Vietnam scenario or discussion. The rules forbid it. Going there it will only lead to arguments, high emotion, and then someone like me having to swing a big moderator stick.
Jura The idiot
General
joshuatree
Captain
A lone 056 patrolling is in essence, a show of flag. If there is no heightened operational situation, the likelihood of it being ambushed by a coordinated force is very unlikely. Now if there is a heightened situation and a decision is made to still send a lone 056 to patrol a hot zone, the chance of it being attacked by a coordinated force would be a calculated decision. Maybe the fact that a 056 being sunk by an opposition force is what military planners exactly wanted to initiate the retaliatory strike, acting in defence if you will.
Winning a battle by sinking a lone 056 doesn't mean you win the war. Otherwise, a coordinated force can sink something as formidable as an Arleigh Burke that is alone so this comparison is on the extreme end to call the 056 obsolete under such a scenario.
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Jura The idiot
General
entering service with the Indonesian Navy (the older developments are summarized in ) and I found this recent article:
(it contains mostly pictures -- I don't know any Indonesian at all
EDIT
This:
describes the small-caliber gun installed, its fire-control
(it contains mostly pictures -- I don't know any Indonesian at all
EDIT
This:
describes the small-caliber gun installed, its fire-control
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