Title: Type 051B DDG (167)
Description: 051B
Description: 051B
mk4ever2025 - December 18, 2004 10:46 AM (GMT)
http://www.sinodefence.com/navy/surface/051b.asp
Type 051B (Luhai Class) Missile Destroyer
NAME
* PLA Official Designation: Type 051B
* NATO Code-Name: Luhai Class
CONTRACTOR
* Dalian Shipyard, Dalian
PROGRAMME
Three years after the launch of the second Type 052 (Luhu class) destroyer 113 Qingdao, construction of a new type of destroyer Type 051B commenced in Dalian Shipyard, one of China¡¯s largest and best ship building facility located in north China. The first and only ship of this class, 167 Shenzhen, was launched in 1997 and entered sea trials in October 1998. The ship officially joined the PLAN South Sea Fleet in 1999. Its homeport is Zhenjiang Naval Base in Guangdong Province.
167 Shenzhen is one of the latest surface combatants in service with the PLA Navy
The Type 051B represented another great leap since the commission of the Type 052 in China¡¯s effort to develop a ¡°blue water¡± navy capable of operating in deep oceans. Compared to the previous Type 052 and Type 051, the Type 051B has a bigger displacement, more powerful weapon systems, and some evident radar signature reduction features in the ship¡¯s hull and superstructure designs. Most importantly, the ship provides plenty of spaces for future system upgrades.
In contrast to what most analysis expected, no following-on ship has ever been built since 167 Shenzhen entered service in 1999. One possibility is that the ship only serves as an experimental project to test various new technologies and concepts, while the other possibility is that the PLAN was not entirely satisfied with the design. One notable detail of the Type 054 is that the ship is still powered by rather outdated steam boilers, which are less reliable, less efficient, and more difficult to maintain compared to gas turbines on all Western destroyers.
In later 2000, 167 Shenzhen destroyer and 953 Nancang replenishment ship visited Africa for the first time in the history of the Chinese navy. From August 2001 to November 2001, 167 Shenzhen destroyer and 575 Taicang replenishment ship visited Germany, United Kingdom, France, and Italy. Currently 167 Shenzhen is receiving a refit, possibly including a vertical launch system (VLS) on the front deck to replace the original HQ-7 SAM launcher.
167 Shenzhen during its visit to Europe
INVENTORY
Number
Name
Fleet
Laid Down
Launched
Commissioned
167 Shenzhen South Sea Fleet 1996 1998 1999
DESIGN FEATURES
The Type 051B features a modern hull design with some evident radar signature reduction characteristics, including a streamlined hull with slightly sloped sides and superstructure, two solid masts with fewer protruding electronic sensor arrays, ¡®cleaner¡¯ deck with less weapon systems piled together, and two funnels with special designs to reduce infrared signatures. All these features give the Chinese Navy its own unique ship design style, which is inherited by the following-on surface combatants currently being constructed.
Beneath the stylish hull design of the Type 051B are modest powerplant and weapon systems. Unlike what earlier reports indicated, the Type 051B is not powered by two Ukraine gas turbines, but locally manufactured steam boilers. This is possibly due to the slow progress of indigenous gas turbine programme, and difficulty in obtaining foreign gas turbines technology.
The air defence of the Type 051B comprises an eight-cell HQ-7 SAM launcher with 32 missiles, and four dual-37 mm automatic antiaircraft artillery (AAA) guns, virtually same as those onboard the Type 052 (Luhu class). Unlike the fixed SAM autoloader located behind the SAM launcher on the Type 052 destroyer, the Type 051B has a retractable SAM autoloader which is hidden under the deck when not in use. The four dual-37 mm AAA guns are all located on the roof of the helicopter hanger, providing better protection against sea-skimmer anti-ship missiles in both sides, but apparently weaker defence in front and rear directions.
The anti-ship firepower comprises 16 (four 4-cell launchers) YJ-81 (C-801A) anti-ship missiles with extended range. A dual-100 mm main gun provides auxiliary fire power against surface and land targets. The Type 051 has a weaker antisubmarine warfare (ASW) compared to the Type 052 as it lacks variable depth sonar (VDS) and multiple ASW launchers.
167 Shenzhen still lacks advanced SAM for area defence
COMMAND, CONTROL, COMMUNICATIONS & INTELLIGENCE (C3I)
The Type 051B has an indigenous combat data system derived from the Thomson-CSF TAVITAC to integrate various weapons and sensors onboard. The system is said to be capable of tracking and processing several hundred targets simultaneously.
Other systems include two OFD-630 optronic directors, satellite communications (SATCOM), and datalink.
MISSILES
The ship's surface-to-surface missile system is the indigenous YJ-82 (or in its export designation C-802) anti-ship missile. The missile system has sixteen box launchers (in four groups, each with 4 launchers). The missile uses active radar homing and is powered by a turbojet (with a solid rocket booster). The anti-ship missile has a range of 120 km and approaches the target in sea skimming mode at a speed of 0.9 Mach. The 165 kg shaped charge warhead has time delayed impact proximity fuses.
For air defence, the ship is fitted with the HQ-7 short-range surface-to-air missile system. This consists of one eight-cell launcher for the HQ-7 surface-to-air missile, which has a range of 13 km and uses semi-active radar/optical homing to deliver a 14 kg fragmentation warhead at speed of 2.4 Mach. The system has 8 ready-to-fire and 16 spare missiles, which are reloaded by a retractable automatic reloader hidden under the deck when not in use.
167 Shenzhen firing YJ-82 antiship missile in exercise
GUNS
The ship's main gun installed on the bow deck is the PJ-33A dual-100 mm 56 calibre gun which fires 15 kg rounds at a rate of 18 rounds/min. The range of the gun is more than 22 km against surface targets. Some ships have been fitted with a new dual-100 mm main gun with stealthy turret, and this might eventually applies to all four ships.
Four Type 76A dual-37 mm anti-aircraft guns located on top of the helicopter hanger fire shells at a rate of 400 rounds/min to a range of 9.4 km for airborne targets.
ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE (ASW)
The ship is fitted with two triple 324 mm torpedo launch tubes. The Yu-7 torpedo (Chinese copy of the Mk-46 Mod 1) uses active/passive homing to a target range of 15 km at 43 kt. The torpedo is armed with a 45 kg warhead.
RADAR
The ship's primary air/surface search radars include a Type 360S (Chinese copy of Thomson-CSF DRBV-15 Sea Tiger) 2D air/surface radar operating at E/F-band, a Type 381A 3D air search radar operating at G-band, and a Type 517H-1 Knife Rest 2D long-range air search radar operating at A-Band.
The ship has four fire-control radars. One I/J-band Type 345 (Chinese copy of Thomson CSF Castor-II) radar for the HQ-7 SAM control, a Type 343G operating at G/H-band for the dual 100-mm main gun and YJ-82 SSM targeting, and two I-band Type 347G (EFR-1) Rice Lamp radars for use with the dual-37 mm AAA guns.
Two Racal RM-1290 navigation radars operating at I-band are also fitted.
COUNTERMEASURES
The ship's electronic warfare suite include the SRW210A intercept and jammer, radar warning receiver, IFF, and two Type 946 (PJ46) 15-barrel chaff/decoy rocket launchers.
SONAR
The ship has a DUBV-23 medium-frequency, hull-mounted sonar installed for active search and attack.
167 Shenzhen is currently receiving a refit. As this photo clearly shows, the original dual-100 mm main gun has been replaced by a new stealthy turret.
AVIATION
The helicopter deck at the stern has a single landing spot for a medium size helicopter, such as the Russian Kamov Ka-27 Helix, or the indigenous Harbin Z-9C. The deck is fitted with the helicopter handling system. A fully equipped hangar accommodates two helicopter.
PROPULSIONS
The propulsion system is steam turbines with 4 boilers, 2 turbines, and 2 shafts, giving a max speed of 30 knots.
SPECIFICATIONS
Displacement: (standard) 5,000 tonnes; (full load) 6,600 tonnes
Dimensions: Length 153 m; Beam 16.5 m, Draft 6 m
Speed: 30 knots
Range: N/A
Crew: 250 (40 officers)
http://www.sinodefence.com/navy/surface/051b.asp
Type 051B (Luhai Class) Missile Destroyer
NAME
* PLA Official Designation: Type 051B
* NATO Code-Name: Luhai Class
CONTRACTOR
* Dalian Shipyard, Dalian
PROGRAMME
Three years after the launch of the second Type 052 (Luhu class) destroyer 113 Qingdao, construction of a new type of destroyer Type 051B commenced in Dalian Shipyard, one of China¡¯s largest and best ship building facility located in north China. The first and only ship of this class, 167 Shenzhen, was launched in 1997 and entered sea trials in October 1998. The ship officially joined the PLAN South Sea Fleet in 1999. Its homeport is Zhenjiang Naval Base in Guangdong Province.
167 Shenzhen is one of the latest surface combatants in service with the PLA Navy
The Type 051B represented another great leap since the commission of the Type 052 in China¡¯s effort to develop a ¡°blue water¡± navy capable of operating in deep oceans. Compared to the previous Type 052 and Type 051, the Type 051B has a bigger displacement, more powerful weapon systems, and some evident radar signature reduction features in the ship¡¯s hull and superstructure designs. Most importantly, the ship provides plenty of spaces for future system upgrades.
In contrast to what most analysis expected, no following-on ship has ever been built since 167 Shenzhen entered service in 1999. One possibility is that the ship only serves as an experimental project to test various new technologies and concepts, while the other possibility is that the PLAN was not entirely satisfied with the design. One notable detail of the Type 054 is that the ship is still powered by rather outdated steam boilers, which are less reliable, less efficient, and more difficult to maintain compared to gas turbines on all Western destroyers.
In later 2000, 167 Shenzhen destroyer and 953 Nancang replenishment ship visited Africa for the first time in the history of the Chinese navy. From August 2001 to November 2001, 167 Shenzhen destroyer and 575 Taicang replenishment ship visited Germany, United Kingdom, France, and Italy. Currently 167 Shenzhen is receiving a refit, possibly including a vertical launch system (VLS) on the front deck to replace the original HQ-7 SAM launcher.
167 Shenzhen during its visit to Europe
INVENTORY
Number
Name
Fleet
Laid Down
Launched
Commissioned
167 Shenzhen South Sea Fleet 1996 1998 1999
DESIGN FEATURES
The Type 051B features a modern hull design with some evident radar signature reduction characteristics, including a streamlined hull with slightly sloped sides and superstructure, two solid masts with fewer protruding electronic sensor arrays, ¡®cleaner¡¯ deck with less weapon systems piled together, and two funnels with special designs to reduce infrared signatures. All these features give the Chinese Navy its own unique ship design style, which is inherited by the following-on surface combatants currently being constructed.
Beneath the stylish hull design of the Type 051B are modest powerplant and weapon systems. Unlike what earlier reports indicated, the Type 051B is not powered by two Ukraine gas turbines, but locally manufactured steam boilers. This is possibly due to the slow progress of indigenous gas turbine programme, and difficulty in obtaining foreign gas turbines technology.
The air defence of the Type 051B comprises an eight-cell HQ-7 SAM launcher with 32 missiles, and four dual-37 mm automatic antiaircraft artillery (AAA) guns, virtually same as those onboard the Type 052 (Luhu class). Unlike the fixed SAM autoloader located behind the SAM launcher on the Type 052 destroyer, the Type 051B has a retractable SAM autoloader which is hidden under the deck when not in use. The four dual-37 mm AAA guns are all located on the roof of the helicopter hanger, providing better protection against sea-skimmer anti-ship missiles in both sides, but apparently weaker defence in front and rear directions.
The anti-ship firepower comprises 16 (four 4-cell launchers) YJ-81 (C-801A) anti-ship missiles with extended range. A dual-100 mm main gun provides auxiliary fire power against surface and land targets. The Type 051 has a weaker antisubmarine warfare (ASW) compared to the Type 052 as it lacks variable depth sonar (VDS) and multiple ASW launchers.
167 Shenzhen still lacks advanced SAM for area defence
COMMAND, CONTROL, COMMUNICATIONS & INTELLIGENCE (C3I)
The Type 051B has an indigenous combat data system derived from the Thomson-CSF TAVITAC to integrate various weapons and sensors onboard. The system is said to be capable of tracking and processing several hundred targets simultaneously.
Other systems include two OFD-630 optronic directors, satellite communications (SATCOM), and datalink.
MISSILES
The ship's surface-to-surface missile system is the indigenous YJ-82 (or in its export designation C-802) anti-ship missile. The missile system has sixteen box launchers (in four groups, each with 4 launchers). The missile uses active radar homing and is powered by a turbojet (with a solid rocket booster). The anti-ship missile has a range of 120 km and approaches the target in sea skimming mode at a speed of 0.9 Mach. The 165 kg shaped charge warhead has time delayed impact proximity fuses.
For air defence, the ship is fitted with the HQ-7 short-range surface-to-air missile system. This consists of one eight-cell launcher for the HQ-7 surface-to-air missile, which has a range of 13 km and uses semi-active radar/optical homing to deliver a 14 kg fragmentation warhead at speed of 2.4 Mach. The system has 8 ready-to-fire and 16 spare missiles, which are reloaded by a retractable automatic reloader hidden under the deck when not in use.
167 Shenzhen firing YJ-82 antiship missile in exercise
GUNS
The ship's main gun installed on the bow deck is the PJ-33A dual-100 mm 56 calibre gun which fires 15 kg rounds at a rate of 18 rounds/min. The range of the gun is more than 22 km against surface targets. Some ships have been fitted with a new dual-100 mm main gun with stealthy turret, and this might eventually applies to all four ships.
Four Type 76A dual-37 mm anti-aircraft guns located on top of the helicopter hanger fire shells at a rate of 400 rounds/min to a range of 9.4 km for airborne targets.
ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE (ASW)
The ship is fitted with two triple 324 mm torpedo launch tubes. The Yu-7 torpedo (Chinese copy of the Mk-46 Mod 1) uses active/passive homing to a target range of 15 km at 43 kt. The torpedo is armed with a 45 kg warhead.
RADAR
The ship's primary air/surface search radars include a Type 360S (Chinese copy of Thomson-CSF DRBV-15 Sea Tiger) 2D air/surface radar operating at E/F-band, a Type 381A 3D air search radar operating at G-band, and a Type 517H-1 Knife Rest 2D long-range air search radar operating at A-Band.
The ship has four fire-control radars. One I/J-band Type 345 (Chinese copy of Thomson CSF Castor-II) radar for the HQ-7 SAM control, a Type 343G operating at G/H-band for the dual 100-mm main gun and YJ-82 SSM targeting, and two I-band Type 347G (EFR-1) Rice Lamp radars for use with the dual-37 mm AAA guns.
Two Racal RM-1290 navigation radars operating at I-band are also fitted.
COUNTERMEASURES
The ship's electronic warfare suite include the SRW210A intercept and jammer, radar warning receiver, IFF, and two Type 946 (PJ46) 15-barrel chaff/decoy rocket launchers.
SONAR
The ship has a DUBV-23 medium-frequency, hull-mounted sonar installed for active search and attack.
167 Shenzhen is currently receiving a refit. As this photo clearly shows, the original dual-100 mm main gun has been replaced by a new stealthy turret.
AVIATION
The helicopter deck at the stern has a single landing spot for a medium size helicopter, such as the Russian Kamov Ka-27 Helix, or the indigenous Harbin Z-9C. The deck is fitted with the helicopter handling system. A fully equipped hangar accommodates two helicopter.
PROPULSIONS
The propulsion system is steam turbines with 4 boilers, 2 turbines, and 2 shafts, giving a max speed of 30 knots.
SPECIFICATIONS
Displacement: (standard) 5,000 tonnes; (full load) 6,600 tonnes
Dimensions: Length 153 m; Beam 16.5 m, Draft 6 m
Speed: 30 knots
Range: N/A
Crew: 250 (40 officers)
http://www.sinodefence.com/navy/surface/051b.asp
mk4ever2025 - December 18, 2004 10:53 AM (GMT)
mk4ever2025 - December 18, 2004 04:14 PM (GMT)
Modernized Integrated Combat Centre aboard DDG-167 Destroyer
mk4ever2025 - December 20, 2004 09:25 PM (GMT)
"Kanwa is saying that china is about to start construction of two new 'chinese russian Aegis' heavy destroyers (presumed in the 10,000 ton range). It is claimed that these will be the most advanced chinese 'red aegis' warships to date."
051C: Cruiser
051C: Cruiser
mk4ever2025 - January 28, 2005 08:08 PM (GMT)
