Type 056 corvette

Class of Chinese light frigates From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Type 056 corvette (NATO reporting name: Jiangdao-class corvette) is a class of littoral combat-oriented corvette (designated natively as "light frigate") deployed by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). The first ship entered service in March 2013. Later ships were completed with a towed array sonar; these are commonly designated as the Type 056A and entered service in November 2014. The last ship commissioned in February 2021. All of the Type 056s were transferred to the China Coast Guard between mid 2021 and January 2023, with the PLAN retaining only the Type 056A. Variants were produced for export.

Builders
Preceded byType 037
Built2012–2021
Quick facts Class overview, Builders ...
Type 056 corvette Shangrao
Class overview
Builders
Operators
Preceded byType 037
Built2012–2021
In commission2013–present
Building2 (Cambodian navy)
Completed
  • 22 (Type 056)
  • 50 (Type 056A)[1]
  • 4 (C13B)
  • 2 (P18N)
  • 1 (F-15A)
Active
  • 50 (PLAN)
  • 22 (China Coast Guard)[2]
  • 7 (Others)
General characteristics
TypeCorvette (per NATO)
Displacement1,500 tons
Length90 m (295 ft 3 in)
Beam11.14 m (36 ft 7 in)
Draught4 m (13 ft 1 in)
Propulsion2 SEMT Pielstick PA6-STC diesel motors
Speed25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Range3,500 nmi (6,500 km; 4,000 mi) at 16 kn (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Complement78
Sensors &
processing systems
  • Type 360 air/surface search radar[3]
  • Type 347G fire control radar
  • Bow sonar
  • Towed array and variable depth sonar (Type 056A)
Armament
Aviation facilitiesHelipad for 1 medium-lift helicopter (Harbin Z-9)
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History and development

The Type 056 hull may have been based on the Pattani-class offshore patrol vessels, which were built in China for Thailand from 2005 to 2006.[4]

In late 2012, four Chinese shipyards were producing the corvettes.[5] They replaced older coastal patrol craft and some of the Type 053H frigates.[6]

The Type 056A were in production by late 2013.[7] The Type 056 series was constructed at a high production rate to enhance the PLAN's littoral warfare capabilities. The last ship commissioned in February 2021.[2] 22 Type 056s and 50 Type 056As were produced.[1]

Starting in mid 2021, the PLAN transferred the 22 original Type 056s to the China Coast Guard.[2] The first 20 Type 056As received new pennant numbers in the new "600" series, which was also used for subsequent production.[8]

Design

Type 056A corvette Huangshi
YJ-83 ASM launchers
HHQ-10 SAM launcher
Type 360 radar

The Type 056 corvette fills the capability gap between the Type 022 missile boat and the Type 054A frigate.[9] It is 90 m (300 ft) long with a gross displacement of 1500 tons,[10] and incorporates anti-radar features.[11] The Type 056 is suited for mid-range green-water missions and littoral duties, but not for major blue-water combat operations.[6] The Type 056 corvette has a crew of 78 people with a top speed of 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph), and a cruise range of 3,500 nautical miles (6,500 km; 4,000 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph).[12][13]

Surface armament is reported as an AK-176 76-millimetre (3.0 in) naval gun,[12] two H/PJ-17 30 mm (1.2 in) autocannons,[3] and four pod-launched YJ-83 anti-ship missiles (AShM).[10] HHQ-10 (or FL-3000N in foreign-operated vessels) surface-to-air missiles (SAM) are carried in a single eight-cell launcher.[12] Finally, there are two triple-tube 324 mm (12.8 in) torpedo launchers,[10] which may carry Yu-7 light anti-submarine (ASW) torpedoes.[12]

The 30mm autocannons can also be used for a de-mining purpose.[14]

The basic Type 056 is equipped with Type 347G (LR66) radar and bow-mounted sonar.[12] The Type 056A adds towed array and variable depth sonars (VDS);[10] the towed body suggests the VDS is "not an exact copy" of either the Italian/US DE-1163 or the French DUBV-43. It is likely that the Chinese will have undertaken extensive trials and analysis of any imported equipment and built a nominally indigenous system using the knowledge gained.[7]

The Type 056 has a helicopter deck for landing a Z-9-sized helicopter, but no hangar.[10]

Other operators

Algeria

The Algerian National Navy operates one[15] of the F-15A corvette variant.[16] El Moutassadi was ordered in 2020 and delivered in 2023.[17] and arrived in Algeria in 2023.[16][18] In 2024 Algeria announced plans to build Type 056s locally.[19][20]

Bangladesh

The Bangladesh Navy operates four of the C13B[21] corvette variant, called Shadhinota-class in service.[22] The C13B is 90 metres (295 ft 3 in) long and displaces 1,330 tons.[23] Armament includes a 76 mm gun, C-802 AShMs, and FL-3000N SAMs.[21] The stern has a helicopter pad but no hangar.[24] The first two ships have SR 60 radar,[23] and the last two have a phased-array radar; none have ASW sensors or weapons.[25] All were built by Wuchang Shipyard in Wuhan.[23][25]

Shadhinota − the lead ship − and Prottoy were ordered in October 2012[24] and commissioned in 2016.[22][26] Sangram and Prottasha were ordered in late-2015[25] and commissioned in 2020.[22]

China Coast Guard

A Type 056 variant for the China Coast Guard was under construction at Huangpu in late 2014. The forward superstructure was moved back to make for a raised structure ahead of the bridge. Large davits were installed ahead of the flight deck on both sides of the ships. It is not expected to be armed with the 76 mm. gun, missiles, or other weapon systems.[27]

Between mid-2021 and January 2023, China also transferred all 22 of the original Type 056 variant to the China Coast Guard.[28]

Nigeria

The Nigerian Navy operates two of the P18N offshore patrol vessel (OPV) variant. The P18N displaces 1,800 tons, is 95 m (311 ft 8 in) long, has an endurance of 20 days,[29] a maximum speed of 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph)[30] and a range of 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph).[29] It has a crew of 75. Armament is reportedly a single NG-16-1 76 mm gun with a TR47 fire-control radar, two 30 mm guns, and two 20 mm (0.79 in) guns.[30] The class has an Oil Support Recovery System to combat oil spills.[31] Unlike the Type 056, the P18N has a helicopter hangar. Both were built at the Wuchang Shipyard.[29]

Nigeria ordered the ships from CSOC in April 2012[32] for US$42 million each.[33] Centenary − the lead ship − commissioned in February 2015.[31] Unity commissioned in December 2016.[34]

The final 50–70% of the work on Unity was originally expected to be completed at the Nigerian Naval Shipyard in Port Harcourt; CSOC was contracted to upgrade the shipyard.[32] Unity was ultimately completed at Wuchang.[29]

Cambodia

China has donated two Type 056 corvettes which are under construction.[35]

Ships in class

China Coast Guard
More information #, Pennant Number ...
# Pennant Number Name Namesake Builder Laid
Down
Launched Commissioned Fleet Current Status Notes
Type 056
1 582 (In navy service)[36][37]
21616 (In Coast Guard Service)[38][39]
蚌埠 / Bengbu (In navy service)[36]
南澳 / Nan'ao (In Coast Guard Service)[38][39]
Bengbu (In navy service)

Nan'ao County (In Coast Guard Service)

Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding 2010 [28] 23 May 2012 [28] 12 March 2013 [28][37] East Sea Fleet (In Navy Service)
Guangdong Provincial Coast Guard Bureau (In coast guard service)
Transferred to China Coast Guard On January 3, 2024, Nan'ao intercepted cigarette smugglers, seizing a total of 100,000 smuggled cigarettes worth 14 Million RMB and arresting 7 suspects.[38]
2 596 [36][40] 惠州 / Huizhou [36][40] Huizhou Huangpu, Guangzhou 2010 [28] 3 June 2012 [28] 1 July 2013 [28][41] Hong Kong Garrison[40] Transferred to China Coast Guard
3 584 [36][42] 梅州 / Meizhou [36][42] Meizhou Wuchang Shipyard[28] 2010 [28] 31 July 2012 [28] 29 July 2013 [28][42] South Sea Fleet[42] Transferred to China Coast Guard
4 580 [36][43] 大同 / Datong [43] Datong Liaonan Shipyard[28] 2011[28] 10 August 2012[28] 18 May 2013[28][43] North Sea Fleet Transferred to China Coast Guard
5 583 [36] 上饶 / Shangrao [36] Shangrao Hudong-Zhonghua [28] 2011 [28] 19 August 2012 [28] 10 June 2013 [28] East Sea Fleet Transferred to China Coast Guard
6 597 [36][40] 钦州 / Qinzhou [36][40] Qinzhou Huangpu, Guangzhou [28] 2011 [28] 30 August 2012 [28] 1 July 2013 [28][41] Hong Kong Garrison [40] Transferred to China Coast Guard
7 585 [36] 百色 / Baise [36] Baise Wuchang Shipyard [28] 2011 [28] 25 October 2012 [28] 19 October 2013 [28] South Sea Fleet [28] Transferred to China Coast Guard
8 581 [36][44] 营口 / Yingkou [44] Yingkou Liaonan Shipyard [28] 2011 [28] 18 November 2012 [28] 1 August 2013 [28][44] North Sea Fleet [44] Transferred to China Coast Guard
9 586 [36] 吉安 / Ji'an [36] Ji'an Hudong-Zhonghua [28] 2012 [28] 25 February 2013 [28] 8 January 2014 [28] East Sea Fleet [28] Transferred to China Coast Guard
10 587 [36][45] 揭阳 / Jieyang [36][45] Jieyang Huangpu, Guangzhou [28] 2012 [28] 26 January 2013 [28] 26 January 2014 [28][45] East Sea Fleet [28] Transferred to China Coast Guard
11 588 [36][46] 泉州 / Quanzhou [46] Quanzhou Hudong-Zhonghua [28] 2012 [28] 25 June 2013 [28] 8 August 2014 [28][46] East Sea Fleet[46] Transferred to China Coast Guard
12 589 [36][47] 清远 / Qingyuan [47] Qingyuan Huangpu, Guangzhou [47] 2012 [28] 30 May 2013 11 June 2014 [47] South Sea Fleet [47] Transferred to China Coast Guard
13 590 (In navy service)[36]

4103 (In coast guard service)[48]

威海 / Weihai (in Navy service)[49]

飞鱼 / Feiyu (in Coast Guard Service)[50]

Weihai (in navy service)

Flying fish (in Coast Guard service)

Liaonan Shipyard [28] 2012 [28] 1 August 2013 [28] 15 March 2014 [28] North Sea Fleet(in navy service)[28]
4th Bureau of the China Coast Guard (in Coast Guard Service)[51][50]
Transferred to China Coast Guard in 2021[48] Rammed and water cannoned BFAR vessel BRP Datu Sunday on August 25, 2024; two dents were visible[48]
14 591 [36] 抚顺 / Fushun Fushun Liaonan Shipyard [28] 2012 [28] 1 August 2013 [28] 12 July 2014 [28] North Sea Fleet [28] Transferred to China Coast Guard
15 592 [36][47] 泸州 / Luzhou [47] Luzhou Wuchang Shipyard [47] 2012 [28] 16 July 2013 [28] 7 June 2014 [28][47] South Sea Fleet[47] Transferred to China Coast Guard
16 595 [36] 潮州 / Chaozhou Chaozhou Wuchang Shipyard [28] 2012 [28] 14 November 2013 [28] 28 November 2014 [28] East Sea Fleet [28] Transferred to China Coast Guard
17 501 [52] 信阳 / Xinyang [52] Xinyang 2013 [28] March 2015 [52] North Sea Fleet [52] Transferred to China Coast Guard All crew of the ship were made honorary citizens of Xinyang in December 2017.[53]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the crew of Xinyang raised 10600 RMB to assist virus control in Xinyang.[54]

18 503 [36] 宿州 / Suzhou Suzhou Wuchang Shipyard [28] 2013 [28] 17 May 2014 [28] 11 February 2015 [28] East Sea Fleet [28] Transferred to China Coast Guard
19 509 淮安 / Huai’an Huai‘an Hudong-Zhonghua [28] 2014 [28] 15 August 2015 [28] 11 August 2016 [28] East Sea Fleet [28] Transferred to China Coast Guard
20 510 宁德 / Ningde Ningde Huangpu, Guangzhou [28] 2014 [28] 24 October 2015 [28] 28 December 2016 [28] East Sea Fleet [28] Transferred to China Coast Guard
21 511 (In navy service)[55]
1108 (In coast guard service)[56]
保定 / Baoding (In navy service)[55]
海警1108 / Haijing 1108
Baoding Wuchang Shipyard [28] 2014 [28] 22 October 2015 [28] 12 December 2016 [28] East Sea Fleet (In navy service)[28]
1st Bureau of the China Coast Guard (In coast guard service)[51]
Transferred to China Coast Guard
22 512 [55] 菏泽 / Heze [55] Heze Liaonan Shipyard [28] 2014 [28] 7 July 2015 [28] 12 December 2016 [28] East Sea Fleet [28] Transferred to China Coast Guard
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 People's Liberation Army Navy
More information #, Pennant Number ...
# Pennant Number Name Namesake Builder Laid
Down
Launched Commissioned Fleet Status
Type 056A
23 638 (ex 593)[57][36] 三门峡 / Sanmenxia[57] Sanmenxia Hudong-Zhonghua [12] 2012 [8] 30 November 2013 [8][7] 13 November 2014 [8][57] East Sea Fleet [57] Active
24 639 (ex 594) [36][58] 株洲 / Zhuzhou [58] Zhuzhou Huangpu, Guangzhou [8] 2012 [8] 30 November 2013 [8] 28 November 2014 [8][58] East Sea Fleet [8] Active
25 655 (ex 502) [10] 黄石 / Huangshi [10] Huangshi Hudong-Zhonghua [10] 2013 [8] 16 May 2014 [8] 6 May 2015 [8] North Sea Fleet [10] Active
26 666 (ex 504) 宿迁 / Suqian Suqian Huangpu, Guangzhou [8] 2013 [8] 29 June 2014 [8] 20 July 2015 [8] South Sea Fleet [8] Active
27 656 (ex 505)[59] 秦皇岛 / Qinhuangdao [59] Qinhuangdao Hudong-Zhonghua [59] 2013 [8] 11 October 2014 [8][59] 16 October 2015 [8][59] North Sea Fleet [59] Active
28 667 (ex 506) 荆门 / Jingmen Jingmen Huangpu, Guangzhou [8] 2014 [8] 25 December 2014 [8] 25 January 2016 [8] South Sea Fleet [8] Active
29 664 (ex 507) 铜仁 / Tongren Tongren Hudong-Zhonghua [8] 2014 [8] 19 March 2015 [8] 20 February 2016 [8] East Sea Fleet [8] Active
30 668 (ex 508) 曲靖 / Qujing Qujing Huangpu, Guangzhou [8] 2014 [8] 16 July 2015 [8] 8 June 2016 [8] South Sea Fleet [8] Active
31 640 (ex 513) 鄂州 / Ezhou Ezhou Hudong-Zhonghua [8] 2014 [8] 25 December 2015 [8] 18 January 2017 [8] East Sea Fleet [8] Active
32 669 (ex 514) 六盘水 / Liupanshui Liupanshui Huangpu, Guangzhou [8] 2015 [8] 31 March 2016 [8] 31 May 2017 [8] South Sea Fleet [8] Active
33 641 (ex 518) 义乌 / Yiwu Yiwu Hudong-Zhonghua [8] 2015 [8] 20 May 2016 [8] 21 July 2017 [8] East Sea Fleet Active
34 648 (ex 520) 汉中 / Hanzhong Hanzhong Huangpu, Guangzhou [8] 2015 [8] 22 July 2016 [8] 11 July 2017 [8] South Sea Fleet Active
35 645 (ex 535) 宣城 / Xuancheng Xuancheng Wuchang Shipyard [8] 2015 [8] 19 August 2016 [8] 25 September 2017 [8] East Sea Fleet Active
36 643 (ex 556) 宜春 / Yichun Yichun Hudong-Zhonghua [8] 2015 [8] 7 September 2016 [8] 16 October 2017 [8] East Sea Fleet Active
37 650 (ex 540) 乌海 / Wuhai Wuhai Liaonan Shipyard [8] 2015 [8] 14 September 2016 [8] 15 January 2018 [8] North Sea Fleet Active
38 646 (ex 551) 遂宁 / Suining Suining Wuchang Shipyard [8] 2015 [8] 3 October 2016 [8] 28 November 2017 [8] South Sea Fleet Active
39 649 (ex 552) 广元 / Guangyuan Guangyuan Huangpu, Guangzhou [8] 2015 [8] 28 October 2016 [8] 16 November 2017 [8] South Sea Fleet Active
40 642 (ex 554) 德阳 / Deyang Deyang Hudong-Zhonghua [8] 2015 [8] 29 December 2016 [8] 19 January 2018 [8] East Sea Fleet Active
41 654 (ex 541) 张掖 / Zhangye Zhangye Liaonan Shipyard [8] 2015 [8] 7 December 2016 [8] March 2018 [8] North Sea Fleet Active
42 647 (ex 557) 南充 / Nanchong Nanchong Wuchang Shipyard [8] 2016 [8] 2 February 2017 [8] 1 June 2018 [8] South Sea Fleet Active
43 610 朔州 / Shuozhou Shuozhou Hudong-Zhonghua [8] 2016 [8] 26 July 2017 [8] 10 December 2019 [8] East Sea Fleet Active
44 608 聊城 / Liaocheng Liaocheng Hudong-Zhonghua [8] 2017 [8] 21 December 2017 [8] 19 January 2020 [8] East Sea Fleet Active
45 625 巴中 / Bazhong Bazhong Huangpu, Guangzhou [8] 2017 [8] 2 March 2018 [8] 5 November 2019 [8] South Sea Fleet Active
46 611 六安 / Lu'an Lu'an Hudong-Zhonghua [8] 2017 [8] 17 March 2018 [8] 18 January 2020 [8] East Sea Fleet Active
47 603 定州 / Dingzhou Dingzhou Liaonan Shipyard [8] 2017 [8] 29 April 2018 [8] 2020 [8] North Sea Fleet Active
48 604 牡丹江 / Mudanjiang Mudanjiang Liaonan Shipyard [8] 2017 [8] 29 April 2018 [8] May 2020 [8] North Sea Fleet Active
49 615 孝感 / Xiaogan Xiaogan Hudong-Zhonghua [8] 2017 [8] 16 May 2018 [8] March 2020 [8] East Sea Fleet Active
50 626 梧州 / Wuzhou Wuzhou Huangpu, Guangzhou [8] 2017 [8] 8 August 2018 [8] 29 December 2019 [8] South Sea Fleet Active
51 622 广安 / Guang'an Guang'an Wuchang Shipyard [8] 2017 [8] August 2018 [8] 31 December 2019 [8] South Sea Fleet Active
52 621 攀枝花 / Panzhihua Panzhihua Wuchang Shipyard [8] 2017 [8] 27 August 2018 [8] 10 January 2020 [8] South Sea Fleet Active
53 617 景德镇 / Jingdezhen Jingdezhen Hudong-Zhonghua [8] 2018 [8] 12 September 2018 [8] 17 June 2020 [8] East Sea Fleet Active
54 623 文山 / Wenshan Wenshan Huangpu, Guangzhou [8] 2018 [8] 11 December 2018 [8] 31 December 2019 [8] South Sea Fleet Active
55 605 [60] 张家口 / Zhanhjiakou [60] Zhangjiakou Liaonan Shipyard [8] 2018 [8] 15 January 2019 [8] April 2020 [8] North Sea Fleet[60] Active
56 606 辛集 / Xinji Xinji Liaonan Shipyard [8] 2018 [8] 15 January 2019 [8] 2020 [8] North Sea Fleet Active
57 627 恩施 / Enshi Enshi Huangpu, Guangzhou [8] 2018 [8] 7 March 2019 [8] April 2020 [8] South Sea Fleet Active
58 620 赣州 / Ganzhou Ganzhou Wuchang Shipyard [8] 2018 [8] 11 January 2019 [8] 10 January 2020 [8] South Sea Fleet Active
59 616 泰安 / Tai'an Tai'an Hudong-Zhonghua [8] 2018 [8] 19 March 2019 [8] August 2020 [8] East Sea Fleet Active
60 628 永州 / Yongzhou Yongzhou Huangpu, Guangzhou [8] 2018 [8] 9 May 2019 [8] January 2020 [8] South Sea Fleet Active
61 618 商丘 / Shangqiu Shangqiu Hudong-Zhonghua [8] 2018 [8] 5 July 2019 [8] February 2021 [8] East Sea Fleet Active
62 624 随州 / Suizhou Suizhou Huangpu, Guangzhou [8] 2019 [8] 15 July 2019 [8] 2020 [8] South Sea Fleet Active
63 637 十堰 / Shiyan Shiyan Hudong-Zhonghua [8] 2019 [8] 21 August 2019 [8] 4 February 2021 [8] East Sea Fleet Active
64 600 松原 / Songyuan Songyuan Liaonan Shipyard [8] 2019 [8] 17 September 2019 [8] 28 October 2020 [8] North Sea Fleet Active
65 602 平顶山 / Pingdingshan Pingdingshan Liaonan Shipyard [8] 2019 [8] 17 September 2019 [8] 28 October 2020 [8] North Sea Fleet Active
66 607 东营 / Dongying[8] Dongying Huangpu, Guangzhou [8] 2019 [8] 17 October 2019 [8] January 2021 [8] North Sea Fleet Active
67 636 济宁 / Jining Jining Wuchang Shipyard [8] 2019 [8] 8 November 2019 [8] 2021 [8] East Sea Fleet Active
68 631 天门 / Tianmen Tianmen Wuchang Shipyard [8] 2019 [8] 14 November 2019 [8] January 2021 [8] South Sea Fleet Active
69 629 铜陵 / Tongling Tongling Huangpu, Guangzhou [8] 2019 [8] November 2019 [8] January 2021 [8] South Sea Fleet Active
70 609 石嘴山 / Shizuishan Shizuishan Hudong-Zhonghua [8] 2019 [8] 25 December 2019 [8] January 2021 [8] East Sea Fleet Active
71 619 南阳 / Nanyang Nanyang Wuchang Shipyard [8] 2019 [8] December 2019 [8] 30 January 2021 [8] East Sea Fleet Active
72 630 阿坝 / Aba Aba Huangpu, Guangzhou [8] 2019 [8] 30 December 2019 [8] January 2021 [8] South Sea Fleet Active
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 Bangladesh Navy
More information Pennant Number, Name ...
Pennant Number Name Builder Launched Commissioned Status
C13B
F111[23] Shadhinota[23] Wuchang[23] 30 November 2014[61] 19 March 2016[26] Active[26]
F112[23] Prottoy[23] Wuchang[23] 30 December 2014[61] 19 March 2016[26] Active[26]
F113 Sangram Wuchang February 2018[25] 18 June 2020[62] Active[62]
F114 Prottasha Wuchang 8 April 2018[63] 5 November 2020[64] Active
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 Nigerian Navy
More information Pennant Number, Name ...
Pennant Number Name Builder Launched Commissioned Status
P18N
F91[29] Centenary[29] Wuchang[30] January 2014[30] February 2015[31] Active
F92[29] Unity[29] Wuchang[29] 29 November 2014[65] 15 December 2016[34] Active
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 Algerian National Navy
More information Pennant Number, Name ...
Pennant Number Name Builder Launched Commissioned Status
F-15A
940[16][additional citation(s) needed] El Moutassadi[15] Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Group[17] 2023 Active
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