054B/next generation frigate
- Thread starter Blitzo
- Start date
Global Times said this is a far sea general purpose frigate, optimized for cost, reliability, endurance, crew comfort etc.
A previous article also said that IEPS will be standard in all new types, this means 054B is not a dedicated ASW frigate, because it’s key feature for that role (IEPS) will be widely deployed.
IMO, 054B is not a Type 26 equivalent, it is a Type 31 equivalent.
I am hoping this means that China is still yet to build her specialist ASW frigate/platform, without limiting themselves to manned helicopters in a single hanger.
Interesting claim. Do you have one of these side by side comprising ?
I was of the impression that the 052D merely ended up with a larger draft and thereby as a consequence a larger waterline beam. That’s why people tend to say that the 052D hull design is essentially maxed out.
The benefit of dual hangars is the ability to keep helos to perform ASW patrol for much longer or to rapidly prosecute a suspected contact in tandem. Anyone who has played a sub sim will know how deadly ASW helos can be as unlike a ship they give very little warning time for evasive maneuvers.
The fact that Type 054B, Type 054A and Type 052D all have a single hangar tells me that PLAN foresees a different naval platform to play the principal role in airborne ASW (Type 075?).
Last edited:
Type 31 type is definitely out of question, it's a basic peacetime Gulf-optimized 'colonial cruiser'. Not even a proper trade protection ship, as it poses literally zero problems to wartime commerce threats.
054B is far ahead in all sensors and its weapon suit.
For 31... imagine a half-commercial, 25kn/diesel hull with a sensor/weapon suite of 056(not 056A). Maybe UVLS for LACMs.
The 075 LHDs won't work, though.
This is because the 075 LHDs only have a top speed in the low-20s of knots, meaning that they are incapable of catching up with all other major surface combatants and carriers of the PLAN on the high seas. This case is actually true for all the LHDs and LHAs around the world today, i.e. America, Wasp, Mistral, Trieste, Anadolu etc.
Besides, the 075 LHDs are amphibious assault ships, first-and-foremost. They aren't designed to perform naval combat operations against enemy naval forces on the high seas.
(I had to change my initial mindsets on how I should view the incoming 076 LHDs too, as they were awfully incorrect.)
Furthermore, the PLAN is already very eager to supplement (and then succeed) the 054As with the 054Bs, mainly due to their lower top speed when compared to other major surface warships of the PLAN (052C/D, 055 and CVs). Hence, it is extremely doubtful that the PLAN would resort to an even lower-speed solution for aerial-based ASW operations in the Pacific.
With that settled, there are several solutions that the PLAN could go with in order to feasibly address the aerial ASW issues on the high seas, as follows:
#1 - Procure more 055 DDGs with dual heli hangars to carry two helis per ship; and/or
#2 - Introduce 052D-successor DDGs (in the 9-10 thousand-ton range) that should have enough size and displacement allowance to carry two helis per ship; and/or
#3 - Procure more proper large CVs (I don't think this require any further explanation); and/or
#4 - Introduce light/heli CVs which operate helis and UAVs exclusively (the Izumo and Hyuga "DDHs" of the JMSDF are perfect examples for this idea).
Last edited:
FriedRiceNSpice
Captain
#1 and #3 would be more than sufficient. Also should consider within the next decade PLAN would be augmented by a highly competitive underseas component both in far-seas and near-seas operations.
This is off-topic, but what you are saying for the Type 31 is not entirely true. The Type 31 was modified (from the IH) to adhere to Lloyd's Register Naval Ship Rules, DEFSTAN 02-900 and NATO ANEP-77. It has a speed of 28 knots. Type 31 has NS110 AESA, and 056 has a much smaller Type 360. The 056 has HQ 10 for AAW, meanwhile, the Type 31 will initially have 24 Sea Ceptor, 2 x Bofors 40mm mk4 and 1 x Bofors 57 mm mk3. There is also a programme to add Mk41 launchers to the Type 31 later in the decade.
It is a general purpose multirole frigate with one of its major roles being ASW.
However it is not a ship which emphasizes ASW at the expense of other roles in what would be expected for a ship of this size. So really there should be no expectation that there is a "requirement" for two hangars.
It's quite easy to understand what PLAN is doing with all their modern ships and procurement.
Z-20: "We finally have a decent chopper, but it's too big to fit on our current ships."
Type-052D: "We have a very decent capable ship that we can churn in numbers. And it has Aegis capabilities. But it's not long enough to handle the Z-20s. So let's stretched it out.....Type-052DL"
Type-054A: "We finally have a capable low-cost ship that can perform medium AAW and ASW functions. This is what we need for our coastal areas to help out the corvettes and allow the 052Ds to push forward and operate past 1st chain. They can tag along the 052D if needed. And these are also easy to build. They will be our backbone"
Type-054B: "The 054A is too small to operate the Z-20 and too slow to keep up with a squadron and a carrier group. So this will be the answer. Of course crew comfort nowadays is a must so it needs to be large for those long voyages. We are a Blue Navy of course. But should we throw in the UVLS for this one???????"
Type-055: "Now that we are in the Blue Navy Exclusive Club, we need a flagship class. Let's build the jack of all trades warship. This guy needs to be packing, better than 052D, larger radars, and also have large VLS to handle better AshM and even ballistic-AshM. Two hangers for 2 Z-20s if needed. This ship will be a symbol of our prestige."
Type-003: "Okay after so many years of building large ships for the world and thanks to the figure study of 001 and copying of 002, we can do this. It's just building a flattop, right? We need this one for the KJ-600 to properly secure the fleet past 1st chain."
Type-071: "Taiwan"
Type-075: "Taiwan and maybe sub hunting"
J-16--PLAAF: "Let's show the Russians how to make a proper flanker."
J-15--PLAN: "Oh when you do, can I burrow some?"
*The use of third-person POV is to illustrate PLA planners POV.
Z-20: "We finally have a decent chopper, but it's too big to fit on our current ships."
Type-052D: "We have a very decent capable ship that we can churn in numbers. And it has Aegis capabilities. But it's not long enough to handle the Z-20s. So let's stretched it out.....Type-052DL"
Type-054A: "We finally have a capable low-cost ship that can perform medium AAW and ASW functions. This is what we need for our coastal areas to help out the corvettes and allow the 052Ds to push forward and operate past 1st chain. They can tag along the 052D if needed. And these are also easy to build. They will be our backbone"
Type-054B: "The 054A is too small to operate the Z-20 and too slow to keep up with a squadron and a carrier group. So this will be the answer. Of course crew comfort nowadays is a must so it needs to be large for those long voyages. We are a Blue Navy of course. But should we throw in the UVLS for this one???????"
Type-055: "Now that we are in the Blue Navy Exclusive Club, we need a flagship class. Let's build the jack of all trades warship. This guy needs to be packing, better than 052D, larger radars, and also have large VLS to handle better AshM and even ballistic-AshM. Two hangers for 2 Z-20s if needed. This ship will be a symbol of our prestige."
Type-003: "Okay after so many years of building large ships for the world and thanks to the figure study of 001 and copying of 002, we can do this. It's just building a flattop, right? We need this one for the KJ-600 to properly secure the fleet past 1st chain."
Type-071: "Taiwan"
Type-075: "Taiwan and maybe sub hunting"
J-16--PLAAF: "Let's show the Russians how to make a proper flanker."
J-15--PLAN: "Oh when you do, can I burrow some?"
*The use of third-person POV is to illustrate PLA planners POV.
Last edited: