056 class FFL/corvette

steve_rolfe said:

Photo of the latest 056A, that was launched at the Wuchang shipyard.
This is the 34th vessel of the 056 class..so far!

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They ar really popping those babies out.

And as we have said many times, with the length and complexity of their coastline, and with the numerous older vessels they have to replace, it is understandable.

I was thinking that a good similar corvette/light frigate to compare them to would be the German K130 Braunschweig:

That's an interesting comparison.

The K-130 doesn't have a bow sonar, nor VDS nor torpedo tubes.

But it has a lot more RAM CIWS missiles and a hanger for 2 UAVs.

Plus isn't the Type-56 the standard to compare against now, as no one else has many corvettes in service or under construction

AndrewS said:

That's an interesting comparison.

The K-130 doesn't have a bow sonar, nor VDS nor torpedo tubes.

But it has a lot more RAM CIWS missiles and a hanger for 2 UAVs.

Plus isn't the Type-56 the standard to compare against now, as no one else has many corvettes in service or under construction

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Yes, the Type 056 is clearly going to be the most numerous corvette operated by any navy.

The German K-130 Braunschweig class is clearly more oriented to ant-surface warfare. It'ss current RBS 15 Mk3 missiles have a range of 250 km, but it has already ordered the RBS 15 Mk 4 with a range of 400 km.

It also has a very decent AAW capability to defend itself with two RAM launchers wth 21 missiles each (42 missiles total).

They are set up to layt mines, but its ASW capability is very limited to whatever ASW UAVs they might carry.

Jeff Head said:

Yes, the Type 056 is clearly going to be the most numerous corvette operated by any navy.

The German K-130 Braunschweig class is clearly more oriented to ant-surface warfare. It'ss current RBS 15 Mk3 missiles have a range of 250 km, but it has already ordered the RBS 15 Mk 4 with a range of 400 km.

It also has a very decent AAW capability to defend itself with two RAM launchers wth 21 missiles each (42 missiles total).

They are set up to layt mines, but its ASW capability is very limited to whatever ASW UAVs they might carry.

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I wouldn't necessarily say the K-130 is "more oriented" to anti surface warfare; the RBS-15 Mk3 is broadly speaking a similar weapon to the YJ-83J variant that is fielded on 056 class, which has been stated officially to have a range "in excess of 200km" (in classic deliberately vague Chinese military fashion), which is the same ">200km" that Saab describes on their own official website for RBS-15 Mk3 ()
More importantly, the weight of YJ-83 vs RBS-15 are broadly similar -- it isn't like comparing Harpoon with say, Moskit. The two also have other common key characteristics including flight profile and speed especially, as well as size, seeker/guidance.

And of course both 056 and K-130 carry only four AShMs, so there's no major quantitative difference either.



I'd say the biggest difference between 056 and K-130, apart from the difference in CIWS/SAM armament (of which K-130 is obviously greater), is the difference in displacement and endurance, where the K-130 displaces some 300 more tons than 056, and that likely translates to additional endurance/range for the K-130. The K-130 also has a better general radar in the TRS-3D than the 056, which uses the competent but not exceptional-for-its-size Type 364.

Bltizo said:

I wouldn't necessarily say the K-130 is "more oriented" to anti surface warfare; the RBS-15 Mk3 is broadly speaking a similar weapon to the YJ-83J variant that is fielded on 056 class, which has been stated officially to have a range "in excess of 200km" (in classic deliberately vague Chinese military fashion), which is the same ">200km" that Saab describes on their own official website for RBS-15 Mk3

More importantly, the weight of YJ-83 vs RBS-15 are broadly similar.

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My reference to the K-130 being outfitted for ASuW really was meant to her own mission profiles and not comparing her in that regard to the 056.

Both have four missiles. But those four missiles are the principle punch of the K-130s.

The Type 056 also has a much stronger AW capability and therefore is a much more multi-role/mission vessel.

That was my intended meaning.

Jeff Head said:

My reference to the K-130 being outfitted for ASuW really was meant to her own mission profiles and not comparing her in that regard to the 056.

Both have four missiles. But those four missiles are the principle punch of the K-130s.

The Type 056 also has a much stronger AW capability and therefore is a much more multi-role/mission vessel.

That was my intended meaning.

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Oh okay I see, I think in that case it would've been clearer to describe K-130 as being less oriented for ASW than 056, but both being equally oriented for general ASuW.

I understand what you mean now.

Jeff Head said:

They ar really popping those babies out.

And as we have said many times, with the length and complexity of their coastline, and with the numerous older vessels they have to replace, it is understandable.

I was thinking that a good similar corvette/light frigate to compare them to would be the German K130 Braunschweig:

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Jeff, what about Sigma Class? I think that Type 056 has more similarity to the Sigma Class rather han the Braunschweig. I mean in the armament department.

Brainsuker said:

Jeff, what about Sigma Class? I think that Type 056 has more similarity to the Sigma Class rather han the Braunschweig. I mean in the armament department.

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You are probably right, depending on the particular variant of Sigma Class you choose.

I mean they have the 5910 at 560 tons all the way up to the 10514 all the way up to about 2,400 tons.

So far I believe arund 10 have been launched for various nations, with seven of those commissioned and in service. I believe Vietnam is going to build at least two, if not four of one of the larger varities.

They are good vessels.

The French DCNS Gowind are another class of similar vessels. Egypt is building 4-6 of those, and Malaysia is building six too. They have a 1000 on version and a 2.500 ton version (which is really closer to a Frigate).

The Meko 200 class is another, but they are really, IMHO, frigates. The Anzac frigates are an example. 25 of them have been built so for, with others planned to a total of 33 vessels. Pretty successful I would say, but they really do not compare to the Type 056, which I believe is bty far the most succesfful Littoral type Corvette or Combat Ship to date.

Here's who the Meko 200s have been/are being built for:

: 8 MEKO 200 (Anzac class)
: 8 MEKO 200TN (4 x Yavuz class, 4 x Barbaros class)
: 4 MEKO 200HN (Hydra class)
: 4 MEKO A-200SAN (Valour class)
: 3 MEKO 200PN (Vasco da Gama class)
: 2 MEKO 200 (Anzac class)
: 2+2 MEKO A-200 AN

Is the K-130 really 300 million USD?

You could buy a Type-54 frigate for the same money.

I also suspect the Type-56 is less than $100million

Between Vietnam's naval buildup and comparing the 056 to all these other "corvette"s, there is plenty of evidence to bolster my earlier criticism of the 056 being underarmed.