055 DDG Large Destroyer Thread

[tphuang]

From fzgfzy's prediction for 2016

3. 8 units of type 055 will be built , some will be built in Nansha shipyard in the South.

4. LHA build date is uncertain, could be around 2017.

5. Eight 054AG (G for Gai - upgraded) to be added. 056 production will be continued. Contract for eight 054B (electric propulsion) should have been signed by then (2016)

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fyi, Nansha refers to the GSI shipyard that builds the AORs at the moment.

It said that 054A upgraded has added 8 to the order. Now, what is the original order is hard to say. If you think the original order was 4 (9th and 10th from HP and HD shipyard), then the 4 we've seen since then are all part of that 8 additional. Will have to see i guess.

 

[antiterror13]

So 24 x Type 054A and another 8 units of them before Type 054B appears?

I would expect Type 054B but not so soon the Type 054A programme is a robust one and is doing fine if they continue building

goooosh, 32 054Ax and God knows how many 054B to be built?

 

[steve_rolfe]

Rumours circulating today on Chinese Navy forums, is that of the first 4 055's to be built, 2 will be at JN and 2 at Dalian.
It will be interesting to see if a further orders for the 052D are made, while construction is ongoing on the 055 class.

 

[Lethe]

Building 055 at two shipyards would seem to undermine the notion that 052D production is going to continue. If that were the case, the obvious setup would be to have one yard dedicated to 052D and one to 055.

 

[Blitzo]

Building 055 at two shipyards would seem to undermine the notion that 052D production is going to continue. If that were the case, the obvious setup would be to have one yard dedicated to 052D and one to 055.

Not necessarily, I think it actually makes sense to distribute work to both shipyards so that they both receive high end work to upskill their work force and gain experience. It also means both shipyards can produce both types of ships, so if one shipyard is out of commission for a period for some reason, the other shipyard can still provide a source of either type of ship to the Navy's most pressing demand (whatever it may be).

If such contingencies were not considered for, then it would make much more economic sense for each shipyard to specialize in producing only one type of ship and the other shipyard specialize in another type, but of course this isn't realistic.

 

[Lethe]

Not necessarily, I think it actually makes sense to distribute work to both shipyards so that they both receive high end work to upskill their work force and gain experience.

I guess that depends on how large the differences in construction techniques are between the two types. Aren't 052Ds already produced with modular construction techniques? The most significant technology differences between the two types are at the system and sub-system level and therefore upstream of the shipyards themselves, no?

It also means both shipyards can produce both types of ships, so if one shipyard is out of commission for a period for some reason, the other shipyard can still provide a source of either type of ship to the Navy's most pressing demand (whatever it may be).

If such contingencies were not considered for, then it would make much more economic sense for each shipyard to specialize in producing only one type of ship and the other shipyard specialize in another type, but of course this isn't realistic.

There is redundancy, and then there is an unnecessary level of redundancy. In my admittedly inexpert opinion, having two shipyards each producing two broadly similar types of vessels crosses that line into an unnecessary level of redundancy (whilst incurring inefficiencies).

 

[Blitzo]

I guess that depends on how large the differences in construction techniques are between the two types. Aren't 052Ds already produced with modular construction techniques? The most significant technology differences between the two types are at the system and sub-system level and therefore upstream of the shipyards themselves, no?

It's good that you mention that, because I think one of the most difficult tasks for for a shipyard in producing complex vessels is integrating the various subsystems into a ship.

Constructing a hull and receiving delivery of various subsystems for a ship are relatively easy compared to actually implementing all those subsystems into the hull during the construction process, then fitting the ship out after launch and getting them to work properly.
And a ship like what 055 is expected to be vs what 052D is, will almost certainly be significantly more complex in regards to subsystem integration.

There is redundancy, and then there is an unnecessary level of redundancy. In my entirely inexpert opinion, having two shipyards each producing two broadly similar types of vessels crosses that line into an unnecessary level of redundancy (whilst incurring inefficiencies).

Potentially. However, I believe having two shipyards that can both construct high end surface combatants of two types is a necessary level of redundancy given the fact that China's overall geopolitical strategic situation is one where its shipyards are quite vulnerable to attack.

That degree of redundancy/flexibility, combined with the fact that spreading construction of 055 across two shipyards provides a greater spread of experience and advanced work to more workers (mostly in relation to very important domain of subsystem integration), I think would make any slight inefficiencies worth the cost.

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edit: also one other major factor I forgot to add, is that having two shipyards also provides a degree of healthy competition and incentives to improve efficiency and avoid each shipyard monopolizing one type of destroyer each.

So really I suppose it's three major reasons for why producing 052D and 055 at two shipyards each makes sense: providing experience for both shipyards, redundancy/flexibility, and competition.

 

[antiterror13]

I don't think any country including the US would attack China in foreseeable future . The main reason to have 2 major shipyards able to build major destroyers/cruisers is simply for a competition. Having 2 shipyards competing each other is a good thing for everybody, including the shipyards themselves

 

[Blitzo]

I don't think any country including the US would attack China in foreseeable future .

Yes, but I think the military would've recognized the vulnerability of their shipyards in the event of war, and would've made a sensible and reasonable degree of redundancy planning without incurring excessive inefficiencies... including splitting production of its major destroyer classes between two shipyards.

 

[mr.bean]

Yes, but I think the military would've recognized the vulnerability of their shipyards in the event of war, and would've made a sensible and reasonable degree of redundancy planning without incurring excessive inefficiencies... including splitting production of its major destroyer classes between two shipyards.

perhaps having an extra shipyard capable of building carriers alllows you to use more time on the berths if needed. look at india, they had to launch their carrier 3 times because that space was needed for commerical vessels.