PLAN Sovremenny DDG 136, 137, 138 & 139 Thread

[Totoro]

I'd say there's 2 modules of 8 cell vls systems up front. Two modules seem to take around 6 meters in width (as measured on 054a) and so 3 modules should take some 8.5 meters. The whole raised front structure on Sovs is some 8 meters wide. and we can see from this image there's some 0.5 to 1 meter from each side, to walk around the VLS well.

So 32 missiles instead of sovremenny's 48. Fire rate is, of course bigger. But radar illuminators still seem present, so I'd venture guessing whatever variant of HQ16 is going to be there - it will still need outside terminal guidance.

And with 33% less antiair missiles, i'd also guess sovremenny is not going to be an ASW platform, it won't be carrying any asw missiles in those silos.

 

[Iron Man]

I'd say there's 2 modules of 8 cell vls systems up front. Two modules seem to take around 6 meters in width (as measured on 054a) and so 3 modules should take some 8.5 meters. The whole raised front structure on Sovs is some 8 meters wide. and we can see from this image there's some 0.5 to 1 meter from each side, to walk around the VLS well.

So 32 missiles instead of sovremenny's 48. Fire rate is, of course bigger. But radar illuminators still seem present, so I'd venture guessing whatever variant of HQ16 is going to be there - it will still need outside terminal guidance.

And with 33% less antiair missiles, i'd also guess sovremenny is not going to be an ASW platform, it won't be carrying any asw missiles in those silos.

We know that 054As carry ASW missiles with a total VL cell count of 32, so it's possible the Sov will as well. It's got a decent helicopter which is the more important ASW weapon anyway. The Sov as a relic of the past is clearly not a good air defense asset, so as part of a blue water fleet its role may be limited to just ASW and local air defense, which is about the same mission as a 054A. I think the 052B and the 051B, and maybe even the 051C after its refit, will all end up the same way.

 

[jobjed]

Fore VLS pics:

Bonus pop3 commentary:

Summary:
Difficulty of refitting a ship is far greater than building a new one, likely leading to the delay of DDG 136's refit. Original plan called for refit completion by end of last year. VLS is the H/AJK-16 used on the 054A, compatible with HQ-16C when the missile enters service. SSM is YJ-12, not YJ-18. Combat potential post-refit far outstrips original design.

 

[Hyperwarp]

Fore VLS pics:

***

Summary:
Difficulty of refitting a ship is far greater than building a new one, likely leading to the delay of DDG 136's refit. Original plan called for refit completion by end of last year. VLS is the H/AJK-16 used on the 054A, compatible with HQ-16C when the missile enters service. SSM is YJ-12, not YJ-18. Combat potential post-refit far outstrips original design.

So only HQ-16 and ASROC compatible VLS and not a combination of H/AJK-16 and U-VLS?

 

[Iron Man]

So only HQ-16 and ASROC compatible VLS and not a combination of H/AJK-16 and U-VLS?

It's not completely ruled out, but this satcom is sitting right next to where the UVLS would be, and does not seem to be in an ideal location immediately adjacent to an alleged VLS module:

 

[Hendrik_2000]

From Henri K blog. I guess they try to upgrade all the pre Type 52 ships
The destroyer 136 Hanzhou Class Project 956E Sarych has left the dry dock, the long transformation MLU is coming to an end. It is the turn of his sistership 137 Fuzhou who would have started the same work. The Chinese navy seems not to want to create a capacity hole ...

 

[Jeff Head]

From Henri K blog. I guess they try to upgrade all the pre Type 52 ships
The destroyer 136 Hanzhou Class Project 956E Sarych has left the dry dock, the long transformation MLU is coming to an end. It is the turn of his sistership 137 Fuzhou who would have started the same work. The Chinese navy seems not to want to create a capacity hole ...

Great.

I figured they would do this...they may have wanted to see how the first one went...but now if they are starting the second, I believe they ultimately will do all four.

It will be interesting to see if they have anything similar in mind for the two Type 52B destroyers 168 and 169?

 

[FORBIN]

Great.

I figured they would do this...they may have wanted to see how the first one went...but now if they are starting the second, I believe they ultimately will do all four.

It will be interesting to see if they have anything similar in mind for the two Type 52B destroyers 168 and 169?

But upgraded remains expensive and they build many new ships ...considering the budget is ofc decent but not illimited ( about 220 billions $ big but not also big in fact ) no sure they can do all.
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[Jeff Head]

But upgraded remains expensive and they build many new ships ...considering the budget is ofc decent but not illimited ( about 220 billions $ big but not also big in fact ) no sure they can do all.
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I guess we shall see, eh?

I do believe if they do both the older ones, that in a few years they will do the other two as well.

I really am wondering whether then they will redo/upgrade 168 and 169 too?

 

[Iron Man]

I would bet real money they plan to upgrade 168 and 169. The only real question is how many VLS modules they install. They could do 32 cells forward and 16 cells aft, or they could forgo the 16 cells aft and instead put in a second hangar. And then use 8 or even 16 of the 16 slant launchers to house that new long range ASW cruise missile. 8-16 long range ASW missiles, VLS for possibly additional ASW missiles, VDS/TAS, and 2 helos would make the 168 and 169 the most potent ASW platforms in the PLAN inventory.