Type 052 (Luhu Class)

looks very nice indeed, theres a frenzy over Type 071, Type 052 and Type 054

PLAN bases must be extremely excited to recieve brand new ships of these classes, its exciting times for PLAN

The Third 052C Is Likely Going To China East Sea Fleet

Very interesting that 052C Hull 3 has already joined East Sea Fleet. That the first two would belong to that fleet has long been known, as well as the pennant numbers 140 and 141.

You may recall that in post # 920 you reported a very interesting rumour that all four would now go to ESF (whereas earlier Hulls 3 and 4 were scheduled to go to SSF as pt.no. 172 and 173).
And further the extremely valuable news that “Also: the East China Sea Fleet will also supplemented two 054A, 054 Series up to eight, the remaining two 053H2G a further transferred Wusong, 4 053H3 is transferred to Ningde,
Zhoushan, East China Sea Fleet base in the next year will form 4 ships of 052C, 4 Sovremenniy, 8 054 and 054A, 4 051's, a destoryer detachment will have two 052C, 2 Sovremenniy , 4 054 Series.”
The SOVREMENNYY I and the LUYANG II are probably moored at Dinghai-Yadanshan (30 00 34 N 122 03 55 E), which is where 6 Destroyer Flotilla with LUDA 131-134 is based (3 Destroyer Flotilla with SOVREMNNYY I/II 136-139 is based further west, at Dinghai-Yancang). This suggests that 6 Flotilla is reorganising along the lines indicated in your post.

This is the 5th type 052C (?):







I think this is the fourth one.



Seems that they are building this ship even faster than the type 054A, on a per shipyard basis.

Seems that you are right about Hull 5 - and what is more, they are launching it, as shown by flags and the red "ball" at the bow.

It would be surprising if Hull 4 has already left the fitting-out basin at Jiangnan, but it is obvious that construction of this class has picked up speed!

The last picture is taken at Dinghai-Yadangshan. The characteristic tower behind the destroyer is located at 30 00 48.80 N 122 04 06.07 E.

The ship is accordingly Hull 3. I suppose it will only pick up its pennant number (140) after arrival in the future homeport, as was the case with YUZHAO Hull 2 (999) at Zhanjiang.

It is noteworthy that Hull 3 was delivered to the Navy exactly one year after launch (28 Nov. 2010) and that Hull 5 is launched exactly one year after Hull 3. Makes predictions easier!

Originally Posted by franco-russe

The last picture is taken at Dinghai-Yadangshan. The characteristic tower behind the destroyer is located at 30 00 48.80 N 122 04 06.07 E.

The ship is accordingly Hull 3. I suppose it will only pick up its pennant number (140) after arrival in the future homeport, as was the case with YUZHAO Hull 2 (999) at Zhanjiang.

It is noteworthy that Hull 3 was delivered to the Navy exactly one year after launch (28 Nov. 2010) and that Hull 5 is launched exactly one year after Hull 3. Makes predictions easier!

Wait, so does that mean the one under roofs is Hull 4 or 5? (I'd say it would be pretty impressive if it was no 5, as the third one has barely gotten through fitting out...)

I like how the 2000s were considered a major milestone for the PLAN, with so many new, modern classes introduced...well that boom is being completely overshadowed with the mass production we're now seeing of said classes in the 2010s

As I said (correctly): The ship in the hall (Hall 1, Building Way 2) about to be launched is Hull 5. Hull 6 was seen outside the building halls in October, but has probably moved into the hall now.

There is no reason to be overwhelmed by what the Chinese are doing. They are right now building a destroyer a year, to get a series of 4 by 2013. With a short interval, there will probably be a second series of 4 in 2014-16.

No reason to overstate frigate construction, they are building two a year, one from each yard.

And the Type 071 programme will IMO comprise 4 units, finishing in mid-2013.

But yes, it is the second biggest building programme in the world, and well ahead of what say Japan is doing.

Originally Posted by franco-russe

As I said (correctly): The ship in the hall (Hall 1, Building Way 2) about to be launched is Hull 5. Hull 6 was seen outside the building halls in October, but has probably moved into the hall now.

There is no reason to be overwhelmed by what the Chinese are doing. They are right now building a destroyer a year, to get a series of 4 by 2013. With a short interval, there will probably be a second series of 4 in 2014-16.

No reason to overstate frigate construction, they are building two a year, one from each yard.

And the Type 071 programme will IMO comprise 4 units, finishing in mid-2013.

But yes, it is the second biggest building programme in the world, and well ahead of what say Japan is doing.

It would definately make sense to keep up such a tempo considering how they've had so much time to absorb the new capabilities the 052C brings, as well as having in general a backward destroyer fleet. But at some point I missed the intermediate developments. The last I remember picking up is two destroyers under construction (with one launched) and another one rumored. It takes time to transition from two in operation for ten years to another four under rapid construction under less than five years for a poor PLAN enthusiast

I hope you can get used to the idea that there will/may be 10 052C's by 2016...

Originally Posted by franco-russe

As I said (correctly): The ship in the hall (Hall 1, Building Way 2) about to be launched is Hull 5. Hull 6 was seen outside the building halls in October, but has probably moved into the hall now.

There is no reason to be overwhelmed by what the Chinese are doing. They are right now building a destroyer a year, to get a series of 4 by 2013. With a short interval, there will probably be a second series of 4 in 2014-16.

No reason to overstate frigate construction, they are building two a year, one from each yard.

And the Type 071 programme will IMO comprise 4 units, finishing in mid-2013.

But yes, it is the second biggest building programme in the world, and well ahead of what say Japan is doing.

definately, second only to the likes of Bath Iron Works and Ingalls Shipbuilding which are a true testimont to American industrial capacity over a prolonged period of time

btw why do you think Type 071 will comprise only 4 units?

Originally Posted by franco-russe

As I said (correctly): The ship in the hall (Hall 1, Building Way 2) about to be launched is Hull 5. Hull 6 was seen outside the building halls in October, but has probably moved into the hall now.

There is no reason to be overwhelmed by what the Chinese are doing. They are right now building a destroyer a year, to get a series of 4 by 2013. With a short interval, there will probably be a second series of 4 in 2014-16.

No reason to overstate frigate construction, they are building two a year, one from each yard.

And the Type 071 programme will IMO comprise 4 units, finishing in mid-2013.

But yes, it is the second biggest building programme in the world, and well ahead of what say Japan is doing.

The Type 052D will probably be built following the 7th Luyang.

There is no doubt this decade will see the PLAN maturing quickly into a true blue water navy with a fleet comprising of modern destroyers and frigates and various support ships ending with maybe a couple of CATOBAR carriers by the end of the decade.
The next 10 years in the Pacific basin will be very interesting indeed with many countries upgrading and expanding their navies to state of the art vessels with unprecedented capabilities. There is little doubt the decade of the 2020's will see Asian countries and Australia having more powerful and superior navies to European ones.

Originally Posted by no_name

This is the 5th type 052C (?):







I think this is the fourth one.



Seems that they are building this ship even faster than the type 054A, on a per shipyard basis.

that last picture is definitely the third one before it was about to join service. The 4th one still got quite a bit to go.