China launches 10th Type 055 destroyer. Image from Chinese social networks
China continues to expand its naval fleet with the launch of a new Type 055 destroyer by Dalian Shipbuilding, one of the country’s main shipyards. This is the tenth ship of this type to be built, and the production took place at a secondary facility in Dagushan, evidencing an ongoing effort to accelerate naval production.
+ See the video about the Type 055 destroyer
The video released by the press office of the brigade shows the launch of the destroyer, which joined another Type 052D at the shipyard, marking the sixth ship of this latest batch. The dimensions of the new modules, with widths of 18 and 20 meters, indicate parallel construction in a single dry dock, a strategy to optimize production.
Located east in Dalian Bay, the Dagushan facility operates separately from the main facilities of Dalian Shipbuilding, which previously dealt exclusively with the construction of guided missile destroyers (DDG). This separation may be a strategic move to relieve the load from the main facilities and allow larger dock spaces to be used for commercial constructions.
Interestingly, the Dagushan shipyard adopted a technique similar to that used by Jiangnan, using a ramp for the initial assembly of the Type 055, and a barge to transfer the hull to the dry dock for subsequent finishing in March.
Recently, five Type 052D destroyers were launched from a single large dry dock in Dalian. The shipyard is also conducting a modernization program for the Liaoning (16), the first Chinese aircraft carrier, which was upgraded until mid-April at the same facilities.
The Type 055, displacing about 13,000 tons and measuring 180 meters in length and 20 meters in width, is armed with a universal vertical launch system that accommodates long-range HQ-9 missiles and AShM YJ-18. Images from 2022 indicate the destroyer’s capability to operate with the YJ-21, a supposedly hypersonic anti-ship missile. U.S. reports suggest that the Type 055 may soon be able to launch anti-ship ballistic missiles.
To date, the production of the Type 055 includes a first batch of eight hulls, with Jiangnan and Dalian producing four each. With the introduction of the second batch already underway, the exact number of destroyers planned remains uncertain, given the PLA’s policy of secrecy. Other shipyards, such as Hudong-Zhonghua and Huangpu-Wenchong in Shanghai and Guangzhou, respectively, are focused on constructing frigates, while HZ leads the production of amphibious assault ships for the PLAN.
+ Click here to see more videos about the military world
Photo and video: Twitter @zhao_dashuai
