054/A FFG Thread II

steve_rolfe

Junior Member
Actually it doesn't surprise me, I thought would be 12 more (so 36 in total) ... and I am sure this time is 054A++

Thinking about this again...........suggests that if they continue to use 'HP' and 'HD' shipyards, only, for the build of the 054A, and staying on the same construction timeline, then it would suggest that the 054A class, will continue until the end of this decade, before we see the 054B!
 

antiterror13

Brigadier
Thinking about this again...........suggests that if they continue to use 'HP' and 'HD' shipyards, only, for the build of the 054A, and staying on the same construction timeline, then it would suggest that the 054A class, will continue until the end of this decade, before we see the 054B!

True ..... 054A and "++" already very good and advanced. I don't see PLAN rushing to move to 054B. And it is frigate anyway.

I believe PLAN should "rush" building 12 055, perhaps already started, who knows?
 

SinoSoldier

Colonel
Yes, Russia has some ship launched torpedoes which have an anti ship role such as the ss-n-16, where the actual missile is encased within a torpedo canister and launched from a typical shipboard torpedo tube, and once the torpedo canister enters the water the missile exits the tube and propels itself out of the water into a typical ashm flight profile

But such a weapon is an ASW missile, and the SS-N-16 is launched from a ship's torpedo tubes. 054A features it's torpedo tubes on its flanks rather than its bow, and as far as we know the Chinese navy doesn't have any ship launched torpedo-anti ship missiles...

At the very least I think we can be certain that:
-the missile in the photos (and the video taken from) is being launched from some kind of subsurface platform whether it be a submarine or propelling itself from a torpedo canister like SS-N-16
-because of the above, chances are it almost certainly was not launched from a VLS (why would a VLS launched weapon need to enter the water, and then allow a missile to launch from below the water? Why not just directly launch from the VLS instead into the air. It would be adding an illogical extra step)
-the Chinese navy as far as we know do not have torpedo-anti ship missiles like ss-n-16
-even if the Chinese navy did have such weapons, 054As torpedo tubes are on its flanks and the missile in the pictures are emerging from the water in front of the bow of 054A, meaning the torpedo canister would have had to travel to the bow of the ship first before launching the missile... With all the above, it seems unlikely.

So once we rule out all the impossibles we are left with the improbable, and the least improbable is that the missile we are seeing is a submarine launched cruise missile. Perhaps the 054A in question was close because they were there to observe the test during the exercise.

But at the very least I think we can be fairly certain that this is not an ASW missile launched from 054As VLS.

Well thought-out response. Perhaps I was a tad too quick with my assumption.

Anyways, as if on cue, here are (according to Henri K.) some actual photos showing the 054A firing Yu-8 ASROCs from its VLS:

vcyhoRp.jpg
wpuQHuD.jpg
zMBOJag.jpg
 

steve_rolfe

Junior Member
Well, in addition to my previous post, i found Henri.K's latest post on the subject of the 054A.

He states that there will be a total of 32 054A's built...........but what i found interesting was the fact that he mentioned the Chinese are already preparing to build the 054A's successor, and that modules should appear in 2016. the designation of this new class apparently has not been officially decided yet. Building 2 classes together......does anyone think that is right, or makes sense?

Another point is that the 19th and 20th 054A's havnt actually been commissioned yet, but will do so before the end of the year.
I knew the 'wiki' hacker had got it wrong, as they hadn't posted exact dates, and there has been no official confirmation form Chinese sources...........well i havn't seen any. Has anyone here?
 

delft

Brigadier
Yesterday 18:48
Après les 24 frégates de Type 054A, la marine chinoise rajoute une commande de 8 bâtiments, portant le nombre total à 32.

La préparation de la construction de la classe suivant, Type 054B ou Type 057 (référence officielle en attente de confirmation), est en cours. Les premiers modules devraient être visibles à partir du 2ème semestre 2016.

Henri K.
Henri says here that PLAN ordered, after 24 Type 054A's, another eight for a total of 32. The first modules of 054B/057 are to appear at the end of the second quarter of 2016.
 

steve_rolfe

Junior Member
Yesterday 18:48

Henri says here that PLAN ordered, after 24 Type 054A's, another eight for a total of 32. The first modules of 054B/057 are to appear at the end of the second quarter of 2016.

Yes, ive read his posts........BUT he doesnt say if the 8 are 054A's or 054B/057 class.............which brought me to my question, if they were 054A's then it would seem strange that as 054B/057 construction apparently starts next year.......this would mean the Chinese building 2 classes of Frigate at the same time.
 

delft

Brigadier
Yes, ive read his posts........BUT he doesnt say if the 8 are 054A's or 054B/057 class.............which brought me to my question, if they were 054A's then it would seem strange that as 054B/057 construction apparently starts next year.......this would mean the Chinese building 2 classes of Frigate at the same time.
He put in in two paragraphs, one about 054A, one about the next class for which no number is given. If the first modules of the next class appear in the middle of 2016 the first in class will appear in 2017. Time enough to build say three at that yard and five at the other yard that will take up production of the next class when its design is proven.
 

steve_rolfe

Junior Member
He put in in two paragraphs, one about 054A, one about the next class for which no number is given. If the first modules of the next class appear in the middle of 2016 the first in class will appear in 2017. Time enough to build say three at that yard and five at the other yard that will take up production of the next class when its design is proven.

Yes, that could be the answer.............anyway, the Chinese are really gearing up their production on their surface fleet now!
 

tphuang

Lieutenant General
Staff member
Super Moderator
VIP Professional
Registered Member
Well thought-out response. Perhaps I was a tad too quick with my assumption.

Anyways, as if on cue, here are (according to Henri K.) some actual photos showing the 054A firing Yu-8 ASROCs from its VLS:

I posted this already in the torpedo thread. Please continue talking about it there.

Also on the henri K claims, everything seems to be stuff already reported on Chinese bbs. Now, everything seems to be possible, but PLAN plans do change, so I'm not sure these numbers are that useful.
 
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