054/A FFG Thread II

Tam

Brigadier
Registered Member
There could be many reasons for the longer lead time. Just off the top of my head:

-the 052D is a much larger, more complex and capable ship, so it could take correspondingly longer for PLAN testers to check and pass all systems before the navy would formally accept them.

-those are the first 052Ds Dailian has built it I’m not mistaken. The longer layover could be because the PLAN wants to inspect them more thoroughly to make sure they are up to standard.

-If different 052D blks are continuously improved, it could be that more time is needed if the crews are testing out brand new systems and equipment that have not previously been used on 052Ds before. So they are pretty much writing the book as they go, which will again take longer than just following established processes.


They just do more trials if they want to be assured of reliability, and other docks in the shipyard are more convenient for that function. And for continuous testing, that should be better done in the fitting docks. The dock the two 052Ds seems like a dock to moor finished ships awaiting delivery and their paper work. In fact, I think the Type 055 near that building was moved later to a dry dock, because that place near the building isn't conducive for fitting either, and being moored there was planned to be temporary all along. The other Type 055 and the Type 052D in the right continued to remain in those positions as these are the proper fitting areas.

As for the batches, the first two from Dalian, which are the two ships on the left, docked near the building, are from the earlier batch --- booms on the Type 346A radar, Type 730 CIWS, are the giveaways.

The Type 052D on the right on the other hand on the fitting docks, is the new batch, featuring radars without the booms (the wiper like things underneath the array), the Type 1130 CIWS, and a revised ESM on top of the bridge.

Its possible the Dalian first batch 052Ds had delays, as they were in this situation when Jiangnan's second batch (Type 1130, wiperless arrays) were already being commissioned.
 

Tam

Brigadier
Registered Member
Frigate 536 and LPD 998 set to leave as the next and 31st escort task force to Somalia and the Gulf of Aden. There is a tanker there with the group and that's one you see pictured with the bow of DDG 161 Hohhot on the 052D thread. However 161 is not included with the mission.

Pics by LKJ86 at the PDF.

Official link to the announcement.

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Tam

Brigadier
Registered Member
And these photos were most probably not taken in Sanya but St Petersburg perhaps?

Could be but not sure, because of the photographer's watermark, who usually takes photos of warships in Chinese ports, unless he flew to Russia for that event. Another is the high number of cranes in the background.
 
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