054 Series Frigate Thread 2

[plawolf]

In the hot launched system the booster rocket is used to push and accelerate the missile out of the ship before the first stage ignites. So there may well be a safety mechanism for first stage ignition in case something went wrong with booster stage and the missile is not ejected from the ship.

Are you sure all hot launched VLS SAMs have a booster rocket? I do not remember seeing anyone on many SM1 launches I have seen. Some of the later blocks and SM2 can have a range extension rocket added, but that is just another rocket engine instead of a booster rocket, which itself is only really typical for long range turbo-jet/fan powered cruise missiles.

For the same extra weight and length, it would be more range efficient to just make the SAM longer to start with I believe.

I am also unsure just how much extra safety measure such a booster rocket will add. If it fails to ignite, there is still always the risk it might light off at any second, and you don't really want to fire up the missile's main engines as that is very likely to cook off the booster rocket.

[no_name]

I only searched for SM-2. Also was thinking more of the booster rocket malfunctioning in a way so that it ignites but fails to push the missile out of the container, in which case you might want to not let the main motor start after the booster burned out.

[plawolf]

I only searched for SM-2. Also was thinking more of the booster rocket malfunctioning in a way so that it ignites but fails to push the missile out of the container, in which case you might want to not let the main motor start after the booster burned out.

Fair enough, but I am struggling to think of any likely causes for the 'booster' motor to start but fail to lift the missile off.

But if that did happened, it would probably be the worst kind of malfunction possible, as the massive heat build up, even with all the vents, from the rocket motor running inside the VLS would almost certainly cause the missile itself to detonate. Chances are the walls of the VLS cell would have been greatly weakened from the prolonged intense heat, so when the SAM does go off, it might be enough to breach the walls and set off nearby missiles in neighbouring cells.

[tphuang]

pictures from HP shipyard for the 6th and 7th 054A there. There are some modules of possibly the 8th 054A, but nothing conclusive is seen.

[A.Man]

The 6th 054A of Hudong Showing Up!

[sealordlawrence]

Remind me, how many 054A are we on now?

[no_name]

From post #1129 and 1130 there are 7 from HP and 6 from HD confirmed. So 13 at least.

[tphuang]

yep, 6 launched in HP and 6 launched in HD. The 7th HP 054A looks ready to be launched soon. It's interesting that they were so anxious to put the 6th HD 054A in water before the 7th HP 054A that they didn't even finish painting the ship, lol

All the pictures from this series.

[franco-russe]

We saw the mainmast being installed on HD 5 about 1 February 2011, i.e. about three months before it was launched 27 April 2011 (but HD 5 was painted all grey by that time, which is evidently not the case of HD 6). So the masts now in place on HD 6 might indicate launch about 1 January 2012, which is a lot earlier than I expected.

It looks as if they have speeded up construction at Hudong of both 054A and 071 (I expected Hull 3 to launch October/November).

[Lion]

We saw the mainmast being installed on HD 5 about 1 February 2011, i.e. about three months before it was launched 27 April 2011 (but HD 5 was painted all grey by that time, which is evidently not the case of HD 6). So the masts now in place on HD 6 might indicate launch about 1 January 2012, which is a lot earlier than I expected.

It looks as if they have speeded up construction at Hudong of both 054A and 071 (I expected Hull 3 to launch October/November).

Good, good... That shall be the way and speed. PLAN badly need to replace all the Jiangwei(very outdated frigates)quickly. But I am worried are they able to quick enough to train up competent operator for those advance 054A frigates in 1 or 2 years time?

[franco-russe]

Oh, we are not talking about replacing the JIANGWEI’s (Types 053H2G/053H3)any time soon , that will be in 10-15 years time. The 054A now being built are replacing the JIANGHU I’s (Type 053H), which are really outdated.

There is probably no reason to worry about crews, the PLAN will manage, I am sure.

I would be very surprised if HD 6 is really “launched” in its current state. I would guess that it has been floated out of the flooded dry dock to facilitate the exit of 071 Hull 3, but that it will be towed back for further work in the dock.

HD 1 and 071 Hull 1 were launched jointly 21 December 2006, but that 054A looked quite ready, very different from HD 6 now.

[tphuang]

hard to say, I guess we will find out in a few days whether it gets towed back in the docks or not. It certainly looks very incomplete to be launched, but we will see. The one at HP shipyard is not that far away.

[franco-russe]

Hudong may also be running out of quay space for fitting out.

071 Hull 2 has not been officially commissioned and may be returning from trials for final corrections, taking its place beside Hull 3, and 054A HD 5 YANCHENG will probably not be commissioned until March 2012.

[antiterror13]

wowwww so quick and in big rush ! ... wondering whether modern QA/QC been implemented properly

I just feel something wrong going on there ... I know competition is good, but it seems a little bit too much

[plawolf]

If the quality isn't up to scratch, the PLAN will make the shipyard fix the problems after the initial shake down cruise. That is one of the main reasons to have a shake down cruise in the first place.

It will also be another black eye if HD had a quality issue as well as falling so far behind their rival, so it would be stupid for them to try and cut corners like that.

What you feel is the pace that is possible if workers just put their heads down and worked instead of abusing the union system to get ridiculous concessions from employers and/or went on strike over the most tinniest of things.