Nanchang (101) is a Type 055 destroyer of the People’s Liberation Army Navy. She was commissioned on 12 January 2020.
Development and design
Chinese Type 055 destroyer Nanchang
The People’s Liberation Army Navy was interested in a large destroyer from as early as the late-1960s. A development program, code-named “055”, initiated in 1976 was cancelled in 1983 after encountering insurmountable technical obstacles from industrial underdevelopment; for example, the required gas turbine power plants could neither be produced domestically, nor imported at acceptable prices. In April 2014, an image emerged of a full-scale mock-up of the Type 055 superstructure – with enclosed integrated mast for radar and other electronics at the Chinese naval electronic testing range in Wuhan.
The Type 055 is expected to undertake expeditionary missions and form the primary escort for Chinese aircraft carriers. The United States classifies these ships as cruisers. The United States Navy defines a cruiser as a large multi-mission surface combatant with flagship capabilities; this suggests the U.S. expects the Type 055 to fulfill a similar role as the Ticonderoga-class cruiser.
Construction and career
Nanchang is the lead ship of the class and laid down in December 2014 at the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai. She made her first public appearance preceding commissioning was during the PLAN’s 70th anniversary parade on 23 April 2019. When launched, Nanchang was among the largest post-Second World War warships launched in East Asia. She was commissioned on 12 January 2020.
On 5 April 2021, Nanchang became the first destroyer of her class take part in an aircraft carrier group in which was the aircraft carrier Liaoning, Chengdu, Taiyuan, Huanggang and Hulunhu while they were spotted between Okinawa and Miyako Island.
| History | |
|---|---|
| China | |
| Name | Nanchang |
| Namesake |
|
| Builder | Jiangnan Shipyard, Shanghai |
| Laid down | December 2014 |
| Launched | 28 June 2017 |
| Commissioned | 12 January 2020 |
| Identification | Pennant number: 101 |
| Status | Active |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Type 055 destroyer |
| Displacement | 12-13,000 tonnes (full load) |
| Length | 180 m (590 ft 7 in) |
| Beam | 20 m (65 ft 7 in) |
| Draught | 6.6 m (21 ft 8 in) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) |
| Range | 5,000 nmi (9,300 km) |
| Complement | 300+ |
| Sensors and processing systems |
|
| Electronic warfare & decoys |
Electronic warfare system |
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried |
|
| Aviation facilities |
|
References
- ^ “Summary of Historic facts （Part 3, Reviews of Large Size Destroyer Research）”. Historical Data of Destroyers. Historical Data of Chinese Shipbuilding Industry (in Simplified Chinese). China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, Department of Equipment and Technology of People’s Liberation Army Navy. pp. 10–11.
- ^ Caldwell et al.: page 4
- ^ Lin, Jeffrey; Singer, P.W. (9 April 2014). “The next new major Chinese warship arrives, on land”. Popular Science. Archived from the original on 30 April 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
- ^ Rogoway, Tyler. “China’s Type 055 Super Destroyer Is A Reality Check For The US And Its Allies”. The Drive. Archived from the original on 22 August 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
- ^ Holmes, James R. (15 February 2018). “Fleet Design with Chinese Characteristics” (PDF). The Drive. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 July 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
- ^ United States Department of Defense (May 2017). Annual Report To Congress: Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 2017 (PDF) (Report). p. 25. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
- ^ “United States Navy Fact File: Cruisers – CG”. 9 January 2017. Archived from the original on 6 July 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
- ^ Tate, Andrew (24 April 2019). “Chinese navy puts newest platforms on display”. Jane’s 360. Archived from the original on 24 April 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
- ^ Chen, Zhuo, ed. (26 April 2019). “China to commission first Type 055 guided missile destroyer”. Xinhua. Archived from the original on 28 April 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
- ^ Mizokami, Kyle (29 June 2017). “China launches Asia’s biggest post-WWII warship”. Popular Science. Archived from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
- ^ Lin, Jeffrey (28 June 2017). “China Launches Asia’s Largest Surface Warship”. Popular Mechanics. Archived from the original on 15 August 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
- ^ Rahmat, Ridzwan (29 June 2017). “China launches largest surface combatant to date”. Janes. Archived from the original on 1 July 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
- ^ Tate, Andrew (13 January 2020). “Chinese navy’s first Type 055-class destroyer enters service”. Jane’s. Archived from the original on 13 January 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
- ^ “Chinese Type 055 destroyer joins aircraft carrier group for first time”. South China Morning Post. 2021-04-06. Retrieved 2021-04-07.