056 class FFL/corvette

While looking at the 056 photos on Wikipedia and the photos posted above I noticed that the missile locations seem to be slightly different:


I think the area between the mast and the funnel is the same across the two ships yet the missile canisters in the upper photo is in the middle of the area with space fore and aft while the missile canisters in the lower photo appear to be immediately against the funnel only with space fore.

Assuming these are the same types of missile canisters and there is nothing else in the space between the mast and the funnel 4 sets of missile canisters should be able to fit there giving the Type 056 a total of 8 SSM's if so equipped.

I have long felt that the 056 is under-armed for actual combat which does not make sense to me but if my hypothesis here turns out to be true then it makes sense that during peacetime the 056 is not fully armed which saves on cost and presents a less threatening posture but can be up-armed for wartime.

The same hypothesis applies to the FL-3000 launcher as the photo composite below appears to show models of the 8 round and 15 round launchers with very similarly sized bases. So perhaps during peacetime the 056 is equipped with the 8 round box which can be swapped out for the 15 round during wartime.


This makes a lot of sense to me because it would be a waste for dozens of 056's to either be sitting out a war or be active but vulnerable.

056s, during a high intensity situation operating in the open ocean, if left without support from true frigates or destroyers or air cover, would be immensely vulnerable regardless of if it had 4 or 8 AShMs or 8 or 15 HQ-10 rounds.

During a high intensity and wide spanning conflict I think the idea would be to leave them in the littorals or at most, into green water, for the ASW mission where they have support of a true air defence frigate assigned to each 056 "squadron," and/or with MPA support, and/or with land based air cover, and/or with AEW&C networking, supported possibly by 022 FACs, as well as small SSKs.
That way in the westpac, the main naval warfighting force of combined task forces of carriers, large DDGs, DDGs, and FFGs, with submarine escorts of SSNs and large SSKs, can deploy to meet the enemy further from the shore knowing their rear (naval bases, ports, supply ships, C4ISR centres) are guarded by large numbers of combined air, surface, and subsurface units.

So in a way, I think we should see 056s similar to the way air force would operate J-7s during a high intensity conflict... J-7s would not be forced to meet the enemy at long distances to contest air space, but rather act in the homeland air space defense and patrol role, as part of the overall larger IADS against cruise missiles, or opposing strikers that might slip through defences, etc.
In the same way, 056s will conduct ASW missions with their sonar suites in the littorals and coastal waters protecting bases, ports, in a combined air-naval network against submarine threats from getting too close but also in case any small opposing surface ships (like LCS) get close to the coast, or to interdict opposing SOF forces that may seek to infiltrate the defensive line.

So really, 8 AShMs and 15 HQ-10s probably aren't worth much given the kind of forces 056 is intended to confront, not to mention they may not be worth the extra time and manpower needed to refit them, depending on how quickly a conflict unfolds.


If an 056 ever has to face a Burke or has to face strike fighters unsupported, then something has gone terribly wrong and even a doubled weapons load won't be of much use.

PanAsian said:

I have long felt that the 056 is under-armed for actual combat which does not make sense to me but if my hypothesis here turns out to be true then it makes sense that during peacetime the 056 is not fully armed which saves on cost and presents a less threatening posture but can be up-armed for wartime.

Click to expand...

It wouldn't really save on cost if the ship needs to come back in to be refitted. How soon can you swap the entire fleet of 056s with uprated weapons suite during wartime which could be a very critical window? Does that also mean you happen to have 20+ and counting 15 tube FL-3000N launchers and another equal set of AShM box launchers stored somewhere in the event of an outbreak of war? What cost savings does that amount to?

I rather think it's the simple issue of too much top weight. If the issue was as you hypothesize on saving cost, then these 056s can be built with 15 tube FL-3000Ns and simply load 8 missiles. 8 AShM box lauchers but with only 4 AShMs loaded.

PanAsian said:

I think the area between the mast and the funnel is the same across the two ships yet the missile canisters in the upper photo is in the middle of the area with space fore and aft while the missile canisters in the lower photo appear to be immediately against the funnel only with space fore.

Click to expand...

I honestly think that is just the angle of the second photo.

I believe it is probably located in the same position, but the angle of the second just makes it appear to be closer to the smoke stack.

Jeff Head said:

PanAsian said:

I think the area between the mast and the funnel is the same across the two ships yet the missile canisters in the upper photo is in the middle of the area with space fore and aft while the missile canisters in the lower photo appear to be immediately against the funnel only with space fore.

Click to expand...

I honestly think that is just the angle of the second photo.

I believe it is probably located in the same position, but the angle of the second just makes it appear to be closer to the smoke stack.

Click to expand...

Looking at the photos again I think that is actually the case.

I wish we had higher resolution photos of 056's CIC and from better angles, but this will have to do:

This is the best one yet!

(1280 x 720)

good picture. what's interesting to me is that we can seem to see two rows of consoles in the CIC, one forward and one behind it. I wonder if this is standard set up in all 056s or if the CIC size changes somewhat with differing variants

I hope/expect that all 052Ds also use the "new" console. Of course this console type is a few years old by now, and I'd be surprised if it wasn't present on all current ships. I'd like to see 055 having a larger CIC with individual stations featuring the "triple screens" of some western surface combatants, though.

Bltizo said:

good picture. what's interesting to me is that we can seem to see two rows of consoles in the CIC, one forward and one behind it. I wonder if this is standard set up in all 056s or if the CIC size changes somewhat with differing variants

Click to expand...

On the left edge of the photo there appears to be at least one more console, if not another row of three, closer to or where the camera is.

PanAsian said:

On the left edge of the photo there appears to be at least one more console, if not another row of three, closer to or where the camera is.

Click to expand...

Yes, I noticed that as well, so we are looking at 2x 3x3 = 18 men operating CIC for 056 + 1 or 2 supervisors
A bit too many in my opinion. Would it be possible it is a 056 CIC simulator ?