2012-05-22 (China Military News cited from Taipeitimes.com)
A new type of Chinese missile corvette, the principal role for which might be to project power in the South China Sea, could be
launched “within days,” military watchers said on the weekend.
Talk of a Type 056 class first emerged in late 2010. So far, little technical information has been released about the corvettes,
which are believed to lie in the 1,400-to-1,700-tonne category.
<a href="http://s1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/?action=view&current=056.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/056.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Type 056 corvette (left) and Type 054A frigate in Huangpu Ship Yard
Two shipyards, Hudong Shipyard in Shanghai and Huangpu Shipyard in Guangzhou, are engaged in what appears to be a race
to complete the vessels.
Officials at Hudong reportedly announced late last week that the first Type 056 corvette could be launched “within days,” with
possible commissioning at the end of this year.
A total of four hulls are known to be under construction, with completion expected to follow soon after the delivery of the lead
ship.
Designs of the Type 056 show fin stabilization for high seas navigation with weapons including a 76mm main gun, four
surface-to-surface missile (SSM) launchers — reportedly YJ-83 SSMs, the latest Chinese design — and one FL-1000 surface-to-air
missile launcher.
The corvette could also come equipped with torpedoes for limited anti-submarine capability. It also has a helipad large enough to
accommodate vertical takeoff and landing for unmanned aerial vehicles.
Analysts believe the Type 056 could replace or augment the six Type 037 Houjian 528 fast-attack craft that have been based in
Hong Kong since 1997, with future production for other People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) fleets, where they could replace aging
attack craft and frigates.
The new corvettes will fill a gap between smaller offshore patrol vessels and larger frigates and could be ideal for action in the South
China Sea, where China is embroiled in disputes with Vietnam and the Philippines.
Analysts believe medium-sized ships like the Type 056 are better suited to combat light missile frigates with similar displacement already
deployed by competitors in the volatile, mineral-rich body of water.
Beyond China’s disputes with the Philippines and Vietnam in the South China Sea, the new corvettes could also play a role in a conflict
with Taiwan.
A new type of Chinese missile corvette, the principal role for which might be to project power in the South China Sea, could be
launched “within days,” military watchers said on the weekend.
Talk of a Type 056 class first emerged in late 2010. So far, little technical information has been released about the corvettes,
which are believed to lie in the 1,400-to-1,700-tonne category.
<a href="http://s1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/?action=view&current=056.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/056.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Type 056 corvette (left) and Type 054A frigate in Huangpu Ship Yard
Two shipyards, Hudong Shipyard in Shanghai and Huangpu Shipyard in Guangzhou, are engaged in what appears to be a race
to complete the vessels.
Officials at Hudong reportedly announced late last week that the first Type 056 corvette could be launched “within days,” with
possible commissioning at the end of this year.
A total of four hulls are known to be under construction, with completion expected to follow soon after the delivery of the lead
ship.
Designs of the Type 056 show fin stabilization for high seas navigation with weapons including a 76mm main gun, four
surface-to-surface missile (SSM) launchers — reportedly YJ-83 SSMs, the latest Chinese design — and one FL-1000 surface-to-air
missile launcher.
The corvette could also come equipped with torpedoes for limited anti-submarine capability. It also has a helipad large enough to
accommodate vertical takeoff and landing for unmanned aerial vehicles.
Analysts believe the Type 056 could replace or augment the six Type 037 Houjian 528 fast-attack craft that have been based in
Hong Kong since 1997, with future production for other People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) fleets, where they could replace aging
attack craft and frigates.
The new corvettes will fill a gap between smaller offshore patrol vessels and larger frigates and could be ideal for action in the South
China Sea, where China is embroiled in disputes with Vietnam and the Philippines.
Analysts believe medium-sized ships like the Type 056 are better suited to combat light missile frigates with similar displacement already
deployed by competitors in the volatile, mineral-rich body of water.
Beyond China’s disputes with the Philippines and Vietnam in the South China Sea, the new corvettes could also play a role in a conflict
with Taiwan.
