Naval Service
A Look At People’s Liberation Army Amphibious Sealift Assets
China Defense.com
Image Archive DVD
42,000+ Images
A Look At People’s Liberation Army Amphibious Sealift Assets
by Xinhui
Note and Specs on Landing Craft and Ships:
Type 073 IV (NATO Name: YunShu)
The current production model 073 IV is a much larger new design bear limit relations with the older Type 073 I/II/III models. Similar to all PLAN landing ships since the 1980s such as Type 072 and type 074, Type 073 IV has double hulls to increase survival during battle. Type 073 IV saw a rate production rate during the past two years in Zhonghua, Wuhu, Qingdao, and Lushun Shipyards. The first example of this class was launched at Zhonghua Shipyard in June 2003 with the pennant number of 946. Information on this class is limited.
| Number in Service: | 11 with more under construction. |
| Pennant number: | 942, 943, 944, 945, 946, 947, 948, 949,950 |
| Speed (Knots) | Maximum 17, Economical 14 (estimated) |
| Displacement: | 1,460 standard; 1,850 full load (estimated) |
| Armament: | 2x Type 76F 37mm |
| Personnel Load: | 200 fully equipped troops |
| Tanks | 6 |
| Vehicles | 12 |
Type 79 (NATO Name: Yuliang)
Due to the failure of the Type 073 design, the 708 Research Institute proposed an enlarged version based on the successful Type 271. The Type 79 as it was lately designated fulfilled all its requirements and entered mass production in Guangzhou and Xiamen shipyards. 27 examples were built from 1972 to 1979. An additional 4 examples of the modified Type 079II were built in Xiamen through 1983.
| Number in Service: | 22 with PLAN, 9 with the Army. Some already decommissioned. |
| Pennant number: | 957, 958, 959, 960, 961, 962, 963, 964, 966, 967, 968, 969, 970, 971, 972, 973, 974, 975, 976, 977, 978, 979, 980, 981, 982, 983, 984, 985, 986, 987, 988. |
| Speed (Knots) | Maximum 12.5, Economical 10 |
| Displacement: | 730 standard, 838.4 full load according to the Handbook for PLA Commanders; 800 standard, 1100 full load according to Jane’s |
| Draft (m) | 2.75 |
| Wind Resistance (force) | 7 |
| Armament: | 2x Twin Type 61 twin 25mm, some with twin Type 81H 40-tube 122mm MRL |
| Crew | 60 |
| Cargo (tons) | 200 |
| Tanks | 5, according to the Handbook for PLA Commanders; Jane’s credits this class with 3 tanks -or- |
| Vehicles | 8 vehicles or 4 trucks with 4 towed howitzers |
NATO Name: Yubei Class
In late 2004, production of a new class of twin-hull LCU was launched in four shipyards: Qingdao, Zhanjiang, Shanghai, and Dinghai. So far, eight examples have been identified. There is limited information available on this class.
| Number in Service: | 8 with more to follow |
| Pennant number: | 3128, 3315, 2323, 3129, 3316,3318, |
| Personnel Load: | 150 fully equipped troops |
| Tanks | Jane’s credits this class with 10 tanks; however, judging from photos, the vehicle load is about 3 to 4. |
<< Previous Page | Next Page >>
