055 Large Destroyer Thread II

[Wrought]

The context is that the next Type-055 variant will use a new 950mm VLS cell

Very much not confirmed at this point in time.

 

[Lethe]

Searching back on an unrelated matter, I stumbled upon this old discussion from January 2023:

If a new generation of propellants is allowing Sea Ceptor (a 100kg Sidewinder/RAM/HQ-10-class missile) to be advertised with 25km range, and for ESSM Block II and 5-5-5 missile to be firmly classed as medium-range missiles, those same developments can increasingly push HQ-16/Buk into the long-range category. What is imperiled here is not HQ-16, but HQ-9. There are considerable applications for extended-range munitions, ballistic missile defence, etc. but as smaller munitions improve, the need for an enormous 1300kg munition (with an Exocet-sized warhead...) as the standard long-range SAM becomes increasingly questionable, much as the giant >2000kg SAMs of the 1950s and 1960s were eventually deprecated [....] SM-6 is 1.5 tonnes but it coexists with SM-2MR at half the weight as the "standard" munition. That's the kind of relationship I am envisioning, if not with HQ-16 itself then with some new, smaller-than-HQ-9-sized missile that can be dual-packed in UVLS.

Fast forward to the present, and HHQ-9C be like...

 

[Kejora]

Searching back on an unrelated matter, I stumbled upon this old discussion from January 2023:



Fast forward to the present, and HHQ-9C be like...

This technically allow Type 052D to match or even surpass Arleigh Burke in firepower if the quad pack 5-5-5 missile also enter service.

 

[00CuriousObserver]

Thanks to foolsball for the photos. Dated Nov 22

Is this the 15th 055? Ships 9-14 have all been launched if I am not mistaken

 

[ismellcopium]

Thanks to foolsball for the photos. Dated Nov 22

Is this the 15th 055? Ships 9-14 have all been launched if I am not mistaken

..surely the 14th? No way 15th would be in such a state already.

 

[Akame]

Thanks to foolsball for the photos. Dated Nov 22

Is this the 15th 055? Ships 9-14 have all been launched if I am not mistaken

There were plans to build 16 ships, and I still don't understand why that number dropped to 14. I think it should have been at least closer to 20.

 

[Gloire_bb]

This technically allow Type 052D to match or even surpass Arleigh Burke in firepower if the quad pack 5-5-5 missile also enter service.

ESSM is already in service for a long time, so it's going to be difficult.

 

[subotai1]

There were plans to build 16 ships, and I still don't understand why that number dropped to 14. I think it should have been at least closer to 20.

Manually operated surface ships with large crews are an endangered species. Would not be surprised if China (like many others) is working on something that is largely autonomous and fulfills the same mission needs as the 055. So ending production early makes a lot of sense.

 

[THX 1138]

There were plans to build 16 ships, and I still don't understand why that number dropped to 14. I think it should have been at least closer to 20.

The number of Type 055 currently on order is probably best taken as an indication for how soon they're expecting its successor to be ready. The same can be said of the Type 052D, Type 054B, and Type 093B.

 

[BasilicaLew]

Manually operated surface ships with large crews are an endangered species. Would not be surprised if China (like many others) is working on something that is largely autonomous and fulfills the same mission needs as the 055. So ending production early makes a lot of sense.

China never wants to play catchup with the US ever again, hensewhy they probably want autonomous ships like the US. But China is already ahead in many regards in the most effective unmanned ship, which is the autonomous mine. And a better point is the Chinese navy already plans to meet the American one (with newer ships and better weapons, but could do with better SAM) while also producing these autonomous boats.