Type 206 class gunboat
Encyclopedia
The Type 206 class gunboat is a gunboat
Gunboat
A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.-History:...
of 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...
's 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...
. Also known as the Huludao class, it is a simplified version of the Type 037 class submarine chaser
Type 037 class submarine chaser
The Type 037 class submarine chaser, also known as the Hainan class, is a class of submarine chaser of the People's Republic of China's People's Liberation Army Navy, designed by China to replace the Soviet S.O.-1 class submarine chaser...
(also known as the Hainan class). Used for patrol duties, it has slightly reduced displacement, but has an enlarged superstructure.
Construction
A total of 7 of this class were sold to Algeria in the period of 1990 through 1991. At least a single unit remaining in PLANPeople'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...
service for training and patrol missions, unconfirmed reports claiming that the Chinese unit has been up gunned. The specification of Type 206 class gunboat is generally similar to that of Type 037 class submarine chaser
Type 037 class submarine chaser
The Type 037 class submarine chaser, also known as the Hainan class, is a class of submarine chaser of the People's Republic of China's People's Liberation Army Navy, designed by China to replace the Soviet S.O.-1 class submarine chaser...
except for its much lighter armament, making it more suited for patrolling friendly coastal areas.
Designation
Although the Chinese classify this class as gunboatGunboat
A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.-History:...
, it is actually much more accurate to fit the classification of the patrol boat
Patrol boat
A patrol boat is a relatively small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defense duties.There have been many designs for patrol boats. They may be operated by a nation's navy, coast guard, or police force, and may be intended for marine and/or estuarine or river environments...
s for various reasons. For example, the missions and weaponry are that of patrol boat
Patrol boat
A patrol boat is a relatively small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defense duties.There have been many designs for patrol boats. They may be operated by a nation's navy, coast guard, or police force, and may be intended for marine and/or estuarine or river environments...
s and due to the drastic reduction of the number of crews, the living conditions is significantly improved. In fact, after evaluating the class, the Chinese eventually developed much smaller 80 ton type harbor security / patrol boats to replace the obsolete and aging Shantou
Shantou class gunboat
The Shantou class gunboat, was a Chinese built gunboat of the People's Republic of China's People's Liberation Army Navy. Known in the United States as the "Swatow" class gunboat; it was based on the Soviet P-6 class torpedo boat. The boat is designated as Type 55A...
, Beihai, Huangpu
Huangpu class gunboat
Huangpu class gunboats were gunboats of the People's Republic of China's People's Liberation Army Navy. They entered service in the 1970s and had been completely taken out of active service by the early 2000s and were transferred to law enforcement agencies...
and Yulin
Yulin class gunboat
Yulin class gunboats were gunboats of the People's Republic of China's People's Liberation Army Navy. They first entered service in the 1960s, but had been completely taken out of active service by the late 1990s, and were transferred to law enforcement agencies...
classes of gunboats performing the patrol duties, thus breaking the long tradition of the PLAN of having no dedicated patrol boat
Patrol boat
A patrol boat is a relatively small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defense duties.There have been many designs for patrol boats. They may be operated by a nation's navy, coast guard, or police force, and may be intended for marine and/or estuarine or river environments...
s.