Luda class destroyer
Encyclopedia
The Type 051 destroyer (NATO code name Luda class) missile
destroyer
was the first surface warfare
oriented vessel ever designed and built in China
, and the first Chinese ship to be fitted with an integrated combat direction system. It was based on the Soviet Neustrashimy class
destroyer design, with some design influences from the Kotlin class destroyer design.
, as well as the ICBM program. The People's Liberation Army Navy
operated only four ex-Soviet Gnevny class
destroyers (Anshan class
in PLAN service) at the time, which were unsuitable for long-range ocean recovery missions. The 701 institute was instructed to develop China's first indigenous guided missile destroyer, modelled after the Soviet Kotlin class. The design was approved in 1967, and construction of the first Type 051 Luda class destroyer began in 1968.
A total of 17 Type 051 destroyers were built between 1968 and 1991. 15 remain in service today. Major refit for ships of this class began in 1990s, replacing the old HY-1/HY-2 with YJ-83 (C-803) missile, and manual guns with automatic guns. For air-defense, an 8-cell HQ-7
Surface-to-air missile
system is also installed with the upgrade.
, and #160-166 in Guangzhou
. Of these, Units Nos. 105 and 109 were converted into Luda II type, while Unit No. 160 suffered an explosion in August, 1978 and was eventually scrapped. She is listed as decommissioned.
The original Luda destroyer was equipped with 2 x triple HY-1 or HY-2 missile launchers, 2 x 130 mm guns, plus an assortment of manual 25 mm, 37 mm, and 57 mm AA guns. Two of the Luda I destroyers were converted into command-variant, with enlarged superstructure for air defense C3I center, ZKJ-1 combat data system, and Type 381A Rice Shield 3-D long-range air search radar.
TAVITAC combat data system, ZKJ-4 was added for the C3I duties.
TAVITAC combat data system (two systems purchased from France in 1985), EFR-1 Rice Lamp fire-control radar, and ESS-1 VDS towed sonar. During the mid-life upgrade, Zhuhai (166) was upgraded with HQ-7 SAM, 4 x YJ-83 (C-802a) SSMs, Type 344 fire-control radar, and Type 79A 37 mm AA guns.
The HQ-7 SAM system is reported to be equipped with "semi-automatic reloader" system with 16 spare missiles. The same system is also used on the Type 052 destroyer, bringing the total number of air-defense missiles to 24: 8 (ready to fire) plus 16 (stored).
Zhanjiang (165) was upgraded to the Type 051G1 standard, which is very similar to the Type 051G2.
SAM, HY-1/HY-2 missiles replaced by 16 YJ-83 (C-802a) anti-ship missiles, and manual AA guns replaced by Type 76A dual-37 mm automatic AA guns. The upgraded ships are sometimes referred to as the Type 051DT. At least 2 ships (109 & 110) are reported to have been upgraded to the Type 051DT standard, with more expected to follow.
Missile
Though a missile may be any thrown or launched object, it colloquially almost always refers to a self-propelled guided weapon system.-Etymology:The word missile comes from the Latin verb mittere, meaning "to send"...
destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
was the first surface warfare
Surface warfare
Modern naval warfare is divided into three operational areas: surface warfare, air warfare and submarine warfare. Each area comprises specialized platforms and strategies used to exploit tactical advantages unique and inherent to that area....
oriented vessel ever designed and built in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, and the first Chinese ship to be fitted with an integrated combat direction system. It was based on the Soviet Neustrashimy class
Neustrashimy class destroyer
The Neustrashimy was a destroyer built for the Soviet Navy in the early 1950s. She was to be the prototype for an extended production run but only one ship was built. The Neustrashimy was considered too big for series production and a modified design, the Kotlin Class destroyer was chosen for...
destroyer design, with some design influences from the Kotlin class destroyer design.
History
In the late 1960s, China began testing its long-range rockets for the Chinese space programChinese space program
The space program of the People's Republic of China is directed by the China National Space Administration . Its technological roots can be traced back to the late 1950s, when the People's Republic began a rudimentary ballistic missile program in response to perceived American threats...
, as well as the ICBM program. The People's Liberation Army Navy
People's Liberation Army Navy
The People's Liberation Army Navy is the naval branch of the People's Liberation Army , the military of the People's Republic of China. Until the early 1990s, the navy performed a subordinate role to the PLA Land Forces. Since then, it has undergone rapid modernisation...
operated only four ex-Soviet Gnevny class
Gnevny class destroyer
The Gnevny class were a group of destroyers built for the Soviet Navy in the late 1930s - early 1940s. They are sometimes known as the Gremyashchiy class destroyer and the Official Soviet Designation was Project 7...
destroyers (Anshan class
Anshan class destroyer
The Anshan-class destroyers were the People's Liberation Army Navy's first destroyers. They were ex-Soviet s purchased in the 1950s. The Chinese later added HY-2 anti-ship missiles and removed some of the torpedo tubes....
in PLAN service) at the time, which were unsuitable for long-range ocean recovery missions. The 701 institute was instructed to develop China's first indigenous guided missile destroyer, modelled after the Soviet Kotlin class. The design was approved in 1967, and construction of the first Type 051 Luda class destroyer began in 1968.
A total of 17 Type 051 destroyers were built between 1968 and 1991. 15 remain in service today. Major refit for ships of this class began in 1990s, replacing the old HY-1/HY-2 with YJ-83 (C-803) missile, and manual guns with automatic guns. For air-defense, an 8-cell HQ-7
HQ-7
The HongQi 7 or HQ-7 is a short-range air defense missile. The missile is deployed on both ships and land-based vehicles. China revealed the export version, FM-80, in the 1989 Dubai Aerospace Show...
Surface-to-air missile
Surface-to-air missile
A surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles...
system is also installed with the upgrade.
Luda I
This is the original configuration of the design, albeit with equipment inconsistencies among the units. Three shipyards built the original 16 vessels of this group: units #106-110 in Luda, #131-134 in ZhonghuaZhonghua
Zhonghua or Chung-hua may refer to:*China, in a cultural, literary sense *Huaxia - a name representing the Chinese civilisation*Zhonghua minzu , literally the Chinese nation...
, and #160-166 in Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
. Of these, Units Nos. 105 and 109 were converted into Luda II type, while Unit No. 160 suffered an explosion in August, 1978 and was eventually scrapped. She is listed as decommissioned.
The original Luda destroyer was equipped with 2 x triple HY-1 or HY-2 missile launchers, 2 x 130 mm guns, plus an assortment of manual 25 mm, 37 mm, and 57 mm AA guns. Two of the Luda I destroyers were converted into command-variant, with enlarged superstructure for air defense C3I center, ZKJ-1 combat data system, and Type 381A Rice Shield 3-D long-range air search radar.
- Xi'an (106) - retired Oct. 2007
- Yinchuan (107)
- Xining (108)
- Dalian (110) - Command variant
- Nanjing (131)
- Hefei (132) - Command variant
- Chongqing (133)
- Zunyi (134)
- Changsha (161)- retired Aug. 2008
- Nanning (162)
- Nanchang (163)
- Guilin (164)
Luda II
Two Luda class destroyers were modified for ASW and C3I duties. The aft 130 mm gun and AAA guns were removed, and replaced with a helicopter deck, hangar space for 2 helicopters, and an 8-cell HQ-7 SAM system. See this pic for example. A Chinese copy of Thomson-CSFThomson-CSF
Thomson-CSF was a major electronics and defence contractor. In December 2000 it was renamed Thales Group.-History:In 1879 Elihu Thomson and Edwin Houston formed the Thomson-Houston Electric Company in the United States....
TAVITAC combat data system, ZKJ-4 was added for the C3I duties.
- Jinan (105) - converted from Luda I to Luda II started in 1987. Retired Nov.2007
- Kaifeng (109) - upgraded with Crotale SAM and YJ-83 (C-802a) missiles (However, it is undecided as to whether unit no. 109 is the Kaifeng or the Dalian.)
Luda III (Type 051G1/G2)
On a whole the new Luda IIIs had the SJD-II and SJD-4 Sonar systems installed. These sonar systems allowed submarine detections up to 18 knots (35 km/h) in harsh sea states. Zhuhai (166) was equipped with 4 x twin YJ-8 (C-801) AShMs, 1 x triple Whitehead A244 torpedo launcher, Thomson-CSFThomson-CSF
Thomson-CSF was a major electronics and defence contractor. In December 2000 it was renamed Thales Group.-History:In 1879 Elihu Thomson and Edwin Houston formed the Thomson-Houston Electric Company in the United States....
TAVITAC combat data system (two systems purchased from France in 1985), EFR-1 Rice Lamp fire-control radar, and ESS-1 VDS towed sonar. During the mid-life upgrade, Zhuhai (166) was upgraded with HQ-7 SAM, 4 x YJ-83 (C-802a) SSMs, Type 344 fire-control radar, and Type 79A 37 mm AA guns.
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The HQ-7 SAM system is reported to be equipped with "semi-automatic reloader" system with 16 spare missiles. The same system is also used on the Type 052 destroyer, bringing the total number of air-defense missiles to 24: 8 (ready to fire) plus 16 (stored).
Zhanjiang (165) was upgraded to the Type 051G1 standard, which is very similar to the Type 051G2.
- Zhanjiang (165)
- Zhuhai (166)
Luda IV (Type 051DT)
The PLAN has performed mid-life upgrades on several of its Luda class destroyers. Some ships have been upgraded with a new ZKJ-4A-3 combat data system (C3I), HQ-7HQ-7
The HongQi 7 or HQ-7 is a short-range air defense missile. The missile is deployed on both ships and land-based vehicles. China revealed the export version, FM-80, in the 1989 Dubai Aerospace Show...
SAM, HY-1/HY-2 missiles replaced by 16 YJ-83 (C-802a) anti-ship missiles, and manual AA guns replaced by Type 76A dual-37 mm automatic AA guns. The upgraded ships are sometimes referred to as the Type 051DT. At least 2 ships (109 & 110) are reported to have been upgraded to the Type 051DT standard, with more expected to follow.
Type 051DT (mid-life upgrade) Specs
For comparison, please see this pic of Luda prior to modernization, and this pic of Luda with modernization.- Displacement 3,250 tons (empty), 3,670 tons (loaded)
- Length 433.1 ft (132 m) / 132 meters
- Beam 42 ft (13 m) / 12.8 meters
- Draft 15.3 ft (4.7 m)
- Speed ~30+ kts
- Endurance 2970 nautical miles (5,500.4 km) at 18 knots (35 km/h)
- Crew 280 (45 officers)
- Propulsion 2 boilers 2 turbines 72,000 hp(m) (53 MW) 2 shafts
- C3I System: combat data systems of ZKJ series (ZKJ = Zidong Kongzhi Jiqi: automatic control machines)
- ZKJ-1 for Luda I
- ZKJ-4 for Luda II
- Thomson-CSFThomson-CSFThomson-CSF was a major electronics and defence contractor. In December 2000 it was renamed Thales Group.-History:In 1879 Elihu Thomson and Edwin Houston formed the Thomson-Houston Electric Company in the United States....
TAVITAC for Luda III (051G1/G2) - ZKJ-4A-3 for Luda mid-life upgrade (051DT)
- Data linkData linkIn telecommunication a data link is the means of connecting one location to another for the purpose of transmitting and receiving information. It can also refer to a set of electronics assemblies, consisting of a transmitter and a receiver and the interconnecting data telecommunication circuit...
: HN-900 (Chinese equivalent of Link 11A/B, to be upgraded)
- Radar/Sonar
- Type 517A Knife RestType 517 RadarThe Type 517 radar is believed to be a A-band/VHF air search radar widely deployed on PLA-N surface vessels with 4 antennas in two crossed-brace supported pairs, one above the other, each pair mounted on each side of a single tublar support carried on the turning gear.As it is similar to the...
, or Cross Slot 3-D long-range air search, A-band - Type 515 Bean Sticks or Pea Sticks air search radar, E/F-band
- Rice ScreenType 381 RadarThe Type 381 was one of the first Chinese naval 3D search radar employing FRESCAN technique developed by the Nanjing Marine Radar Research Institute / No. 724 Institute...
3-D early warning lon-range radar, G-band - Square TieType 352 RadarThe Type 352 is a surface search radar in People's Liberation Army Navy service since the 1970s. Analogous to the MR-331 Rangout radar in Russian service, it was initially thought to be a Type 331.-Specifications:* I - band...
air/surface-search radar, I-band - TSR 3004 (DRBV-15 Sea TigerType 363 RadarThe Type 363 radar is often mistaken for Type 360 Radar. The main visual difference can be found on the antenna. The Type 360 has a lattice type array while the Type 363 has a single solid spine....
or Eye-ShieldType 354 RadarsType 354 Radars are one of the most widely deployed air and surface search naval radars in Chinese service. The Type 354 was predominantly found on major People's Liberation Army Navy surface combatants such as the Luda class destroyer and Jianghu class frigate in the 1980s and 1990s...
air/surface search radar (E-band) - Type 343G fire-control radar (for 100 mm gun)
- Type 347 fire-control radarType 347 RadarThe Type 347G "Rice Lamp" I-band fire-control radar is found on older Chinese Navy ships, in conjection with the Type 76A dual-37mm automatic AAA gun. Typically, the system includes 2 Type 347G fire-control radar with optical director, and 4 Type 76A guns...
(for automatic 37 mm guns) - RacalDecca RadarThe Decca Company, a British gramophone manufacturer that, as Decca Records, released records under the Decca label, contributed to the British war effort during the Second World War...
RM-1290 navigation radar (J-band) - High pole IFF
- Pegas 2M & Tamir 2 medium-frequency hull-mounted sonar
- Type 517A Knife Rest
- Armament
- 16 x YJ-83 (C-803) anti-ship missiles in 4 x quad launcher boxes
- 1 x 8-cell HQ-7HQ-7The HongQi 7 or HQ-7 is a short-range air defense missile. The missile is deployed on both ships and land-based vehicles. China revealed the export version, FM-80, in the 1989 Dubai Aerospace Show...
Surface-to-air missileSurface-to-air missileA surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles...
launcher + 16 spare missileMissileThough a missile may be any thrown or launched object, it colloquially almost always refers to a self-propelled guided weapon system.-Etymology:The word missile comes from the Latin verb mittere, meaning "to send"...
s - 2 x twin 100 mm guns
- 4 x Type 76A dual-37 mm automatic AA guns
- 2 x Type 75 (FQF-2500) 12 barrel 240 mm ASW rocket launchers (120 rockets)
- 2 x triple 324 mm Yu-7 torpedo launchers
- 4 x DC projectors + 4 DC racks
- 2 x Chaff/decoy rocket launchers