I'm thinking of the 056 as lone or paired defensive patroller or escort for lower value targets within the first island chain in wartime.
My assumptions were:
- a minimum of 2x ASM shot per self-defense capable target
- 1x ASM per self-defense incapable target
- 2x self-defense incapable targets escorted per 056
- 2x SAM per inbound ASM
That means the base 056 is only good for 1x exchange of fire defensively while having 2x attempts against an enemy combatant. If each base 056 carries an even mix of anti-ship and anti-sub missiles then it would only have 1x attempt against an enemy combatant of each type. This may be sufficient for a single encounter with a lone missile boat or maybe even a lone sub but it is highly likely the 056 will be encountering more hostile forces than that before reinforcements can get involved.
Doubling each 056's ASM and SAM totals for a Combat version would allow it to last through 2x exchanges of fire.
Pairing a Combat version with a Surveillance version equipped with both an armed UAV and USV/UUV, even if each unmanned vehicle only carries a single lightweight torpedo, enables the entire convoy to last through 3x exchanges of fire, have a better chance against a lone sub, and should buy enough time for reinforcements to arrive.
There is a wave of up-arming all across Asia specifically all around the first island chain both on land and in the sea, the base 056 is just not good enough in wartime even as a defensive node in a network.
I think you are making a fundamental logical mistep here.
You are taking a typical peacetime deployment 056 and throwing it into a total war zone scenario.
056s operate alone during peacetime for low intensity/risk patrols that are mostly about showing the flag.
If tensions ever got so high that actual combat was even a remote possibility, you will see those 056 patrols significantly beefed up with heavy support in the form of line combatants of 054A class and beyond acting as command ships backing up forward patrols of paired or even groups of 056s operating as a wolf pack.
The only scenario where an 056 would find itself so outnumbered as to need to take on 2-3 enemies at the same time or in quick succession is of someone decided to launch an alpha strike ambush.
If that was the case, it wouldn't really matter what asset was the subject of the ambush. It could be one 056, an 054A, 052D or even 055, if an enemy wants to launch a surprise attack, they would bring sufficient numbers and firepower to overwhelm their target.
The only hard counter against that is to deploy something like a full carrier
Strike group with more ships, fighters and firepower for an entire national navy and Air Force to take on.
Need I point out how absurd it would be to use that sort of heavy presence for routine patrols 'just in case'?
The current strategy is to use 056s almost as tripwires.
Anyone wanting to launch a surprise attack against China would need to get past the 055 screens first.
To leave the 056 would allow it to warn fleet command of an unusually large foreign force moving towards key Chinese fleet assets and put the juicy targets in high alert and also leave dangerous forces behind the ambushing force when they make their move. To attack the 056 would similarly tip their hand to such an attack.
It is better to loose a single 056 to such a sudden attack that a wolf pack or heavier, more important warship.
The primary job of the 056 is such a scenario would be to hold off long enough to get a warning off to the rest of the Chinese fleet. If they can inflict some damage on their ambushers, it's a bonus.
For the 056 it's not its own armaments that keep them safe from such attacks, but the promise of the terrible retribution the rest of the PLAN would inflict in turn on the aggressors.
No '509' Huaian
