052C/052D Class Destroyers

Blitzo

Lieutenant General
Staff member
Super Moderator
Registered Member
I doubt there's going to be that many 055...

There's already 50 destroyers (not counting the last couple of 051) that are either in service, launched, or in production right now.
(1*051B, 2*051C, 2*052, 2*052B, 6*052C, 25*052D/L, 8*055, and those 4 sovremenny) Plus there's already 30 054A... USN have 22 Tico and 67 Burke right now but they don't have any real frigates so they are actually doing a lot of the frigate jobs as well.

There will be more 055 or 055A, but they're also going to make 20-30 of the new frigates. And there'll be a lot more subs, LHDs and other ships. The next 10 years will still be busy, but I doubt they are going to pump out 055 like they did for 052D. I believe the focus will gradually shift away from piling surface combatants.

And remember these things are like twice as big as 052D...

I would be happy if I'm wrong tho XD

I too expect they will gradually slow down surface combatant production, but I also think they're going to likely produce a relatively large number of 055s in the family (potentially 20-30 once all is said and done). After all, we've heard rumours since when the first 055 was launched that it would be followed by a successor.

I personally won't be surprised if the PLAN seeks an eventual full fleet of 60 odd modern aegis type destroyers (consisting of 055 derivatives, 052C/D, and potentially an 052E), and 60 odd modern frigates (054B, 054A), while the older destroyers are relegated as "second line" destroyers
Obviously, a ship like 051B or Sov is nowhere near the same capability as an 052D or 055.

60 modern aegis DDGs and 60 modern blue water FFGs of course, would require an effective doubling of each DESFLOT's combatant strength, but that isn't out of reason either.
 

Arienai

New Member
Registered Member
I too expect they will gradually slow down surface combatant production, but I also think they're going to likely produce a relatively large number of 055s in the family (potentially 20-30 once all is said and done). After all, we've heard rumours since when the first 055 was launched that it would be followed by a successor.

I personally won't be surprised if the PLAN seeks an eventual full fleet of 60 odd modern aegis type destroyers (consisting of 055 derivatives, 052C/D, and potentially an 052E), and 60 odd modern frigates (054B, 054A), while the older destroyers are relegated as "second line" destroyers
Obviously, a ship like 051B or Sov is nowhere near the same capability as an 052D or 055.

60 modern aegis DDGs and 60 modern blue water FFGs of course, would require an effective doubling of each DESFLOT's combatant strength, but that isn't out of reason either.
I can see them building 20 or so 055, but 30-40 seems a bit much... That been said, 10 years ago nobody can imaging where they're at today, and I'll be happy if I'm wrong.
 

Bhurki

Junior Member
Registered Member
Supplying skilled seamen and officers at a fast rate rather production of ships seems to be deciding factor or bottleneck for PLAN moving into the next decade, considering the fact that the newer ships arent just replacing the older ships but adding to the size of the force. Combine that with the increment of sophisticated technologies onboard these ships and its not the just officers and enlisted in the strike force, but also a large increase in supportive roles and logistic services that will have to inflate in order to successfully employ these ships in large scale missions for long durations.
Adding 10 destroyers to the fleet may have become faster and easier, but adding 3000 skilled seamen still takes the same time and effort.
 

asif iqbal

Lieutenant General
I can see them building 20 or so 055, but 30-40 seems a bit much... That been said, 10 years ago nobody can imaging where they're at today, and I'll be happy if I'm wrong.

not to make any comparison but lets remember the Areligh Burke re-start programme is going to produce close to 100 destroyers

between Bath Iron Works and Ingalls Shipbuilding over 3 decades they have produced 2-3 units per year, tremendous run

China is matching and even exceeding this build rate, but so far not close to a 3 decade production run, 1st Arleigh Burke was launched in 1989, so around 20 years before China really streamlined its DDG production

but I definitely believe the Type 055 programme will be a long one its, that hull has potential for many future technologies
 

Arienai

New Member
Registered Member
not to make any comparison but lets remember the Areligh Burke re-start programme is going to produce close to 100 destroyers

between Bath Iron Works and Ingalls Shipbuilding over 3 decades they have produced 2-3 units per year, tremendous run

China is matching and even exceeding this build rate, but so far not close to a 3 decade production run, 1st Arleigh Burke was launched in 1989, so around 20 years before China really streamlined its DDG production

but I definitely believe the Type 055 programme will be a long one its, that hull has potential for many future technologies
Build rate is only part of the problem tho. I have no doubt on how fast they can pump these things out if they really want to.
 

sndef888

Senior Member
Registered Member
Are the VLS systems standardised between 054A, 052D and 055? Or do they all use different types of VLS?
 

Tyler

Captain
Registered Member
not to make any comparison but lets remember the Areligh Burke re-start programme is going to produce close to 100 destroyers

between Bath Iron Works and Ingalls Shipbuilding over 3 decades they have produced 2-3 units per year, tremendous run

China is matching and even exceeding this build rate, but so far not close to a 3 decade production run, 1st Arleigh Burke was launched in 1989, so around 20 years before China really streamlined its DDG production

but I definitely believe the Type 055 programme will be a long one its, that hull has potential for many future technologies
Probably about 65 type 052d variants and 35 type 055 variant, supplemented by type 054 variant.
 

foxmulder_ms

Junior Member
with the launch of the 7th x Type 055 I personally believe the production of the Type 052D/L should be ceased

they did well with this hull going from Type 052C 48 VLS to Type 052D with 64 VLS

after 24 units or even 30 units just stop, no need for a Type 052E!? what more can they do

JNCX + DL have pumped 2.5 units per year for over a decade and since 2017 also Type 055 2 units per year

if both shipyards solely focus on Type 055A they could manage 3-4 x Type 055A each year rather than 2

two 5 year plans could produce between 30-40 x Type 055/A/B until 2030


This is kind of an old discussion... 055+057 or 055+052E+057? Difficult to decide requires a lot of analyses but I prefer 055+057.
 

AndrewS

Brigadier
Registered Member
This is kind of an old discussion... 055+057 or 055+052E+057? Difficult to decide requires a lot of analyses but I prefer 055+057.

I think they have settled on a 4 tier Navy.

Type-055 Cruiser
Type-052 Destroyer
Type-054/57 Frigate
Type-056 Corvette

I used to think that they should standardise on Type-055 Cruiser plus Type-054/057 Frigate.
But now I think there is a place for a Type-052 Destroyer hull for the following main reasons.

1. Cost per missile launch for the Type-052 is cheaper at a campaign level than Type-055, given that the supply of expensive missiles will run out quickly.
2. Plus operations would be in the Western Pacific near Chinese ports, so resupply time for fuel and munitions is not an issue.

It's all detailed in the ORBAT thread.
 
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