052C/052D Class Destroyers

Bhurki

Junior Member
Registered Member
That is interesting. Some say 052D/E series will continue, even displace or replace continuation of the 054A/B series. Others think 052D/E series will be replaced by 055 when the contract is finished, suggesting 054B will be the middle line vessel instead. There are arguments for and against both, but I may just wait and sea. In the meantime it may look like at least 30 of the Type 052D might be built, and this is probably what the contract called for.
Before the introduction of type 055, type 052 were the only leading capital ships in PLAN, type 055 broadend the horizon of what PLAN could achieve with new destroyer designs..
On the other hand, a middle weight frigate class is always necessary for specialized tasks like sub hunting, assistance to area denial, so frigate classes are not going to be replaced anytime soon... The destroyer class however will be upgraded once the cost restriction is lifted by ever raising budgets..
The replacement will be much alike AB class Flt 3.. that covers the operational conditions of both destroyer and cruiser classes which also reduces costs due to economies of scale..
 

Biscuits

Major
Registered Member
@Bhurki

In terms of equivalent, the 055 is more akin to the Burke as an autonomous ship that can sail in formation as well and form carrier groups.

The 052 series doesn’t really have an US equivalent, it is more analogous to the large European frigates/RN destroyers.

It can be specialized for anti air (like the type 45) and act as a decent carrier escort, but I believe it’s main job is similar to the FREMM frigates. To lead fleets of smaller frigates and provide destroyer quality air cover while providing a heavier ASW platform for others to coordinate with.

The 052s have a clear role, even if it doesn’t have an analogue in the US navy.

Most likely China designed them like that since they were on the fence whether to commit to spending more and having an USN level navy or “merely” a combined EU level one, both would be valid options given population and economy size.
 

antiterror13

Brigadier
That is interesting. Some say 052D/E series will continue, even displace or replace continuation of the 054A/B series. Others think 052D/E series will be replaced by 055 when the contract is finished, suggesting 054B will be the middle line vessel instead. There are arguments for and against both, but I may just wait and sea. In the meantime it may look like at least 30 of the Type 052D might be built, and this is probably what the contract called for.

If 052D series end up 30 units (which personally I believe would be more, like 36) ..... it would be one of the most successful modern DDG built (in term of number), perhaps only Burkes class would exceed it. It is very clear that PLAN is extremely happy with 052D, even it might not be as strong as Burkes or SeJong class
 

gelgoog

Brigadier
Registered Member
You can produce like twice as many 052Ds as 055s given the same drydock space and resources. The Type 055 uses twice as many large gas turbine engines for example.
IMHO they should continue producing both classes in a hi-lo combination to reduce costs and make it harder to take all their ships down. It would take a really long time to build a comparable fleet vs their competitors in terms of capabilities if they restrain themselves to only build 055s.
 

Blitzo

Lieutenant General
Staff member
Super Moderator
Registered Member
@Bhurki

In terms of equivalent, the 055 is more akin to the Burke as an autonomous ship that can sail in formation as well and form carrier groups.

The 052 series doesn’t really have an US equivalent, it is more analogous to the large European frigates/RN destroyers.

In terms of role in a task force or a navy's orbat, 052D, 052C, and the large Euro frigates (horizon) or the RN's Type 45 fit the same job description you described for Burkes. They are all capable of operating autonomously or operating as part of task forces or carrier groups.

The relative capability of those ships compared to Burkes, Ticos, and other ships like 055 all lie on a spectrum of course, but when looking at the respective roles and equivalents of various ships in different navies it is not only capability which is important but also overall naval structure.



It can be specialized for anti air (like the type 45) and act as a decent carrier escort, but I believe it’s main job is similar to the FREMM frigates. To lead fleets of smaller frigates and provide destroyer quality air cover while providing a heavier ASW platform for others to coordinate with.

The 052s have a clear role, even if it doesn’t have an analogue in the US navy.

Most likely China designed them like that since they were on the fence whether to commit to spending more and having an USN level navy or “merely” a combined EU level one, both would be valid options given population and economy size.

All ships are designed with their own overall naval orbat structure in mind.
Of the current US Navy and PLAN surface combatants in service recently or due to enter service in the next few years, there are actually few "equivalent" ships.

the PLAN has 1500 ton corvettes and 4000 ton multirole frigates produced in fairly large number, with 6000-7000 ton modern AAW destroyers being the next big category, now seen with the 12,000 ton large destroyer/cruiser.

The USN's main surface combatant categories in recent years and in the next year or so are a growing number of 3000 ton LCS, a handful of 4000 ton OHP frigates, and then a massive large number of 9000-10,000 ton Burke destroyers and about two dozen 10,000 ton Tico cruisers, and then the handful of three 15,000 ton Zumwalts.


So yes, the 052D of course is not an equal of a Burke, but the PLA Navy's orbat structure is very different to that of the USN, just like how 054As and 056s are very different to LCS, and how 055 is quite different to Ticos, Burkes or Zumwalts as well.
 

Biscuits

Major
Registered Member
You can produce like twice as many 052Ds as 055s given the same drydock space and resources. The Type 055 uses twice as many large gas turbine engines for example.
IMHO they should continue producing both classes in a hi-lo combination to reduce costs and make it harder to take all their ships down. It would take a really long time to build a comparable fleet vs their competitors in terms of capabilities if they restrain themselves to only build 055s.

Doesn’t really say anything. You can build more OHPs than Burkes too in the same dock. Doesn’t mean it’s worth it.

052s will still be built in proportion to 055s. Maybe an even more accurate equivalent would be the Japanese Akizuki destroyers, which are also considered destroyers but are smaller and have different roles compared to “normal” destroyers.

With the current budget, it’s almost impossible to match all competitors in open waters unless the economy would grow so large that even the small percentage China spends ends up being huge.

However, 055s and 052s have key advantages in missile range, missile power and radar power. As long as they do not let themselves get surrounded and overwhelmed, they can hit and run against numerically superior navies.
 

Mirabo

Junior Member
Registered Member
ZeQvTPj.jpg

PrZwUp8.jpg


Couple of super high-res photos showing 3x 052D and 1x 055 under construction.
 

asif iqbal

Lieutenant General
unbelievable rate of constriction

all 4 units to hit the water n 2019

6 x Type 055 identified, 4 launched 2 a piece at JNCX and DL, 1 at JNCX under construction and 1 at DL

15 x Type 052D/L launched with 2 x units at JNCX and 3 x units at DL

overall 20 x Type 052D/L identified

we could see 3 x Type 052D launches in 2019
 
unbelievable rate of constriction

all 4 units to hit the water n 2019

6 x Type 055 identified, 4 launched 2 a piece at JNCX and DL, 1 at JNCX under construction and 1 at DL

15 x Type 052D/L launched with 2 x units at JNCX and 3 x units at DL

overall 20 x Type 052D/L identified

we could see 3 x Type 052D launches in 2019

If there's a hot war they are going to need every single one of those in service just to contend the seas within the 1st island chain.
 
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