052C/052D Class Destroyers

Blitzo

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I had not seen either of these. Is there a link or can you provide a pic?

I have heard that the 1st Dalian Type 052D has started...but have not even seen a pic of that yet.

So, I am inclined to wait before I say that the 9th and 10th Type 052Ds have started.

I have no doubts that they will, mind you. I expect the very minimum we will see is twelve altogether...and expect it really to be more like eighteen or more.

?
We've had pictures of DL's first 052D for months now...

https://www.sinodefenceforum.com/plan-type-052c-052d-class-destroyers.t6881/page-73#post-334263
https://www.sinodefenceforum.com/plan-type-052c-052d-class-destroyers.t6881/page-70#post-330281


Although we have yet to see modules for JN's 9th 052D or DL's 2nd 052D.

I think the summary for 052D goes like this:
JN: hull 1 in service, hulls 2, 3, 4, 5 in sea trial, hull 6 fitting out, hull 7 under construction in building hall/likely near launch, hull 8 modules seen
DL: hull 1 under construction (visible and a little behind JN hull 7 in terms of launch date), hull 2 modules are expected but yet to be identified

I'm not sure if we'll see a hull 9 out of JN, and as far as I know modules have not been fully confirmed
 

Jeff Head

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Thanks...and my bad.

I remember those two pics now. And they are clearly the 052D.


I think the summary for 052D goes like this:

JN:
hull 1 in service,
hulls 2, 3, 4, 5 in sea trial,
hull 6 fitting out,
hull 7 under construction in building hall/likely near launch,
hull 8 modules seen

DL:
hull 1 under construction (visible and a little behind JN hull 7 in terms of launch date),
hull 2 modules are expected but yet to be identified

I'm not sure if we'll see a hull 9 out of JN, and as far as I know modules have not been fully confirmed
Great.

I agree with that.

We have seen active parts of nine units now.

No double digits yet...but certainly expected soon either at JN or DL.[/QUOTE]
 

Blitzo

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Thanks...and my bad.

I remember those two pics now. And they are clearly the 052D.


Great.

I agree with that.

We have seen active parts of nine units now.

No double digits yet...but certainly expected soon either at JN or DL.


Yeah, we have positively ID'd 8, likely 9 052Ds either produced, being constructed or awaiting construction between JN and DL together so far... If JN doesn't build more than 8 052Ds chances are we will see DL pump out 052Ds one by one, possibly a bit slower. In other words DL's hull 2 will probably 052D hull 10 overall.

Of course if JN really doesn't build any more 052Ds after hull 8 that means we should have 055 to look forward to.
 

no_name

Colonel
Latest google earth update of Yulin naval base at feb this year. 2 054As, 1 052C, 2 052Ds

Would make a nice solid core of a CSG escort detachment

Also note the similar size of the 054As compared to 052C/Ds. That may make active radar or even long range EO/visual ID and confirmation of the ships difficult for an opfor, which is no small mistake given the sheer difference in capability between the FFGs and DDGs.

054A's bow also looks like it has the bow area for a 32 cell common VLS.

C59g02w.jpg

Could be the same ships as those shown here; also 1 052C, 2 052D and 2 052A, but parked slightly differently. Maybe they belong to the same fleet. I think Liaoning may have been to South China sea a while ago so those ships may have formed the beginning of a carrier group for exercise? (edit: actually the photos showed 3 054A not 2).

https://www.sinodefenceforum.com/plan-type-052c-052d-class-destroyers.t6881/page-77#post-338132

054A has a more deeply slanted side at the bow so it may not have the necessary depth for the common VLS but maybe they will like to consider it for it's successor class.

Also note that it is quite hard to make out the common VLS (for a pic of this resolution anyway) once it has been painted the same as rest of the deck, whereas I remember when they were trialing the first 052D it has a white VLS.
 

Blitzo

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Well yeah this is at yulin, hainan, so SSF.

the first four 052Ds are expected for the 9th destroyer flotilla of SSF, homeported at yulin base at yalong bay.

You know I'm going to start shortening destroyer flotilla to DESFLT similar to how USN destroyer squadrons are shortened to DESRON. Much more convenient

The rest of the 8 052Ds are expected to be divided evenly between ESF and NSF, so all three fleets will have a DESFLT with destroyer division fully made up of four complete 052Ds.

By the end of this process ESF will likely have the most modern complete surface combatants, having both of their DESFLTs led by four complete aegis type ships: 6th DESFLT led by the four 052Cs+ and 3rd most likely led by the four 052Ds replacing its sovs. The question will then be what the 3rd will do with their current four sovs, as they're obviously still too early to retire... In which case my suggestion for expanding DESFLT combatant numbers comes into play or raising a new DESFLT for each fleet.

Also keep in mind the first 055s will likely go to SSF as well, meaning by the time all 12 052Ds are delivered the first 055 or two will probably be almost ready to hand over for SSF.
 
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joshuatree

Captain
Well yeah this is at yulin, hainan, so SSF.

the first four 052Ds are expected for the 9th destroyer flotilla of SSF, homeported at yulin base at yalong bay.

You know I'm going to start shortening destroyer flotilla to DESFLT similar to how USN destroyer squadrons are shortened to DESRON. Much more convenient

The rest of the 8 052Ds are expected to be divided evenly between ESF and NSF, so all three fleets will have a DESFLT with destroyer division fully made up of four complete 052Ds.

By the end of this process ESF will likely have the most modern complete surface combatants, having both of their DESFLTs led by four complete aegis type ships: 6th DESFLT led by the four 052Cs+ and 3rd most likely led by the four 052Ds replacing its sovs. The question will then be what the 3rd will do with their current four sovs, as they're obviously still too early to retire... In which case my suggestion for expanding DESFLT combatant numbers comes into play or raising a new DESFLT for each fleet.

Also keep in mind the first 055s will likely go to SSF as well, meaning by the time all 12 052Ds are delivered the first 055 or two will probably be almost ready to hand over for SSF.

Transfer the Sovs to NSF? Out of the three, NSF seems to be the least effective because its hemmed in but also can utilize more land based assets than the other two fleets.So that would seem to provide a fit for second tier ships.
 

Blitzo

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Transfer the Sovs to NSF? Out of the three, NSF seems to be the least effective because its hemmed in but also can utilize more land based assets than the other two fleets.So that would seem to provide a fit for second tier ships.

Maybe, but NSF also will end up with four 052Ds, in addition to two recently refitted 052s and two 051Cs. The 052s and 051Cs obviously aren't as capable as 052C or 052D but they're still recent vessels, meaning they're likely to serve for quite a decade or more yet... so the problem still arises: once all the old 051s in PLAN are replaced by 052Ds, what will happen to the ships commissioned between 1990s and mid 2000s (AKA pre 170) in terms of overall fleet status?

Because even the oldest of those ships are still quite young.
Either PLAN's DDG fleet grows in number or it remains steady at ~24. If it grows, then once the current remaining six or so 051s are replaced by 6 052Ds, from 052D hull onwards is when we'll start to see an increase in PLAN DDG number.
I doubt the 052s will be retired any earlier than 2025, so prior to 2025 we'll likely see serial production and commissioning of 055 to be well and underway. Along with the 12 052Ds expected, I think we may end up seeing some ~36 strong DDG fleet in PLAN by 2025. Current DDG strength is around 24, with six 051s to be replaced by six 052Ds, and six additional 052Ds meaning once 052D production is finished, total PLAN DDG strength will be ~30. But of course there's the 055 matter to contend with. By 2025 055 production should have been well underway at both JN and DL for a number of years assuming JN production of hull 1 has already started now as rumoured, so I project six 055s commissioned by 2025

OTOH, DDG fleet number could remain somewhat steady if PLAN retires ships like 052, 051B, and even 051Cs, 052Bs and Sovs early... but I very much doubt that will happen. They might convert some of them like 051B to a command ship or a non front line combatant (say a test ship of some sort) but that's the most of it imo.
 
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