antiterror13
Brigadier
These 6 babies still better than most ships of SEA navies ...
F-22P and 053 series
- Thread starter mehdi
- Start date
joshuatree
Captain
But that's just it, with a lack in air defence capability and more often, far more sophisticated navies such as the USN plying those waters with greater frequency, I don't see the 053H1Gs being as effective for patrol in those waters anymore. If the patrols are meant to keep an eye on fishermen, the CG fleet has grown to a point where I believe those duties should belong to the CG and not the navy. The 053H1G CIC is well kept and looks efficient but comparing to the 056's CIC, there's definitely more capability given the vessels are in the same tonnage category. (I'm gonna skip the superficial comparisons such as the chairs.
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The 056 needs half the size of 053H1G's crew, which would be a great reallocation of resources. One 053H1G crew can roughly man two incoming new 056s. Granted, the 053H1Gs can be refitted again at 20 years but I don't see the fiscal sense given even the 053H2s were passed over and as far as I know, they have even more capacity than the 053H1Gs.
lcloo
Captain
But that's just it, with a lack in air defence capability and more often, far more sophisticated navies such as the USN plying those waters with greater frequency, I don't see the 053H1Gs being as effective for patrol in those waters anymore. If the patrols are meant to keep an eye on fishermen, the CG fleet has grown to a point where I believe those duties should belong to the CG and not the navy. The 053H1G CIC is well kept and looks efficient but comparing to the 056's CIC, there's definitely more capability given the vessels are in the same tonnage category. (I'm gonna skip the superficial comparisons such as the chairs.
The 056 needs half the size of 053H1G's crew, which would be a great reallocation of resources. One 053H1G crew can roughly man two incoming new 056s. Granted, the 053H1Gs can be refitted again at 20 years but I don't see the fiscal sense given even the 053H2s were passed over and as far as I know, they have even more capacity than the 053H1Gs.
I do agree with what you wrote, but in real life, no country will dispose of their navy ships if they are still good to use. The patrol in South China Sea is mainly to uphold China's claims on the islands more than anything else. PLAN ships are not going after foreign fishing boats or the likes, this is the job for Fishery dept. ships and coast guard ships. And Fishery and CCG ships do carry out regular patrol in SCS.
Even if the tension in SCS get hotter than present I do not foresee any firefights between China and her two neighbours. There may be show of force, yes.... but no body is going to fire any missiles at somebody.
056 and 053H1G will compliment each other and the available of both will increase the frequency of patrol.
053H1G may be disposed only if there is ready buyer. Currently buyers like Pakistan, Bangladesh and Algeria preferred new ships.
antiterror13
Brigadier
Totally agree, resources is limited and precious, even for China or the USA
The later 053 frigates are still quite functional and have sufficient firepower to take on most local adversaries in the SCS and defend themselves in lower intensity situations, and with peer vessels.
They are an excellent way of showing the flag out there to this day.
I expect they will slowly be replaced after the earlier vessels which are still in inventory are addressed. After all, the oldest 053H3 FFG is only 17 years old, the youngest of those ten is only ten years old. If you step back to the four 053H2G FFGs, the oldest is 23 years old and the youngest is 21 years old.
All 14 if those are still active and I expect the H2G still have around 8-10 years left in them if the PLAN desires, and the H3s have a good 12-20 years left in them. if the PLAN desires. I expect they will upgrade them marginally through that time and continue to use them for patrol and low intensity vulnerabilities to free up the more modern units.
joshuatree
Captain
For now, I agree the 056 and 053H1G compliment each other. But I think it is exactly the reason of finite resources that the 053H1Gs should be phased out when more 056s come online. Right now, I see the biggest resource constraint would be qualified skilled crews to man the numerous new vessels coming online. I'm not just talking about training more crew and getting them on deck, but seasoned crews that have actual experience, not textbook or simulations to fall back on. The other factors mentioned such as better defense, better sensors, more automation, better efficiency such as fuel consumption, etc only further augment the financial argument of retiring the 053H1Gs sooner rather than later.
The mention of 053H3s also add to the equation. Those have plenty of life left in them still. If there's any refit, they are better suited because they possess the desirable features of hangar and pad. Only one, maybe two, ever departed on a true blue water operation. So we know they will mostly be confined to littoral duty. Reducing the model roster by removing the 053H1Gs simplifies logistics a little more.
For a moment, I figure maybe the 053H1Gs should be kept to present a less "aggressive" patrol posture but they are not strictly gunboats so that train of thought doesn't hold water.
True, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Algeria have moved up the food chain now to preferring new ship procurement. But think of all the possible African relations that can be recipients of some soft power transactions. Maybe even some island states.
