Luhai class destroyer
Encyclopedia
The Type 051B Luhai-class is a class of destroyer
built by the People's Republic of China
. It consists of only one ship, No.167 Shenzhen
. When Shenzhen was commissioned into the People's Liberation Army Navy
in 1998, it was then, the largest surface combatant that China had ever built. It resembles in many ways an enlarged version of the , and is one of the first PLAN ships with a slope-sided hull to reduce radar signature.
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Shenzhen was laid down by Dalian Shipyard in Northeastern China in May 1996. The Shenzhen made the switch from the Luhu-class' Diesel-Gas-Turbines to Gas Turbine engines. Some sources claim that the ship is powered by 2 Ukrainian AM50 Gas Turbine Engines while others claim that the ship may be powered by two indigenous steam turbine engines. The Luhai-class is 2,000 tons larger than the Type 052 destroyer, Luhu-class. The launch was in 1997 although official revelation of the ship's existence did not come until the year following its commissioning. The chief designer of this class is academic, Mr. Pan Jingfu (潘镜芙), who is also the designer of the predecessor and follow-up of this class of ship.
Analysts speculated that the ship would be equipped with VLS system in the forward section for air-defense SAMs. However, when the ship was finally revealed, many were disappointed by its out-dated air-defense capability. They were still armed with the 8-cell HQ-7
SAM launcher. These SAMs lack effectiveness against sea skimming missiles with multiple approach angles. The PLAN was unhappy with the design and no further ships of this class was built.
The sole Type 051B destroyer 167 Shenzhen participated in the PLA Navy’s first goodwill visit to Africa in 2000, the first visit to Europe in 2001 and the first visit to Japan in 2007. In 2004, the ship received its mid-life modernization refit, with its original 100mm main gun and the HQ-7 air defense missile system being replaced by improved models.
Type 051B destroyer 167 Shenzhen visited Kochi, India for four days in August 2009, after deployment in the Gulf of Aden on anti-piracy operations.
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...
built by the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. It consists of only one ship, No.167 Shenzhen
Shenzhen
Shenzhen is a major city in the south of Southern China's Guangdong Province, situated immediately north of Hong Kong. The area became China's first—and one of the most successful—Special Economic Zones...
. When Shenzhen was commissioned into 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...
in 1998, it was then, the largest surface combatant that China had ever built. It resembles in many ways an enlarged version of the , and is one of the first PLAN ships with a slope-sided hull to reduce radar signature.
History
Analysts speculated that the ship would be equipped with VLS system in the forward section for air-defense SAMs. However, when the ship was finally revealed, many were disappointed by its out-dated air-defense capability. They were still armed with the 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...
SAM launcher. These SAMs lack effectiveness against sea skimming missiles with multiple approach angles. The PLAN was unhappy with the design and no further ships of this class was built.
The sole Type 051B destroyer 167 Shenzhen participated in the PLA Navy’s first goodwill visit to Africa in 2000, the first visit to Europe in 2001 and the first visit to Japan in 2007. In 2004, the ship received its mid-life modernization refit, with its original 100mm main gun and the HQ-7 air defense missile system being replaced by improved models.
Type 051B destroyer 167 Shenzhen visited Kochi, India for four days in August 2009, after deployment in the Gulf of Aden on anti-piracy operations.