Esmeraldas vs Type 056

The Esmeraldas and the Type 056 are both Corvette classes. The Type 056 displaces 1,500 tons — 2.2x the Esmeraldas's 685 tons. The Esmeraldas reaches 37 knots vs 25 knots for the Type 056. Operational range is 4,400 nautical miles for the Esmeraldas vs 3,500 for the Type 056. The Esmeraldas carries a crew of 51 vs 78 for the Type 056. The Esmeraldas was produced in 6 units vs 81 for the Type 056. The Esmeraldas was commissioned in 1982, 31 years before the Type 056 (2013).

Italian corvette, introduced in 1982, displaces 685 tons and uses four MTU diesel engines.
Origin 🇮🇹 Italy
Category Corvette
Type Corvette
Manufacturer Cantieri Navali Riuniti
Year introduced 1982
Number built 6 units
Estimated unit price NA
Chinese corvette, introduced in 2013, displaces 1,500 tons.
Origin 🇨🇳 China
Category Corvette
Type Corvette
Manufacturer Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding
Year introduced 2013
Number built 81 units
Estimated unit price $42 million
Displacement 685 tons
Maximum speed 37.0 knots
Range 4,400 nm at 1200 knots
Length 62.3 m
Beam 9.3 m
Crew 51
Propulsion 4 shaft MTU diesel engines, 24,400 hp (18,200 kW)
Armament
  • 1 x Otobreda 76 mm gun
  • 1 x 40 mm Breda Dardo guns
  • 1 x Selenia Aspide surface-to-air-missile (1 x 4)
  • 6 x MM40 Exocet anti-ship missiles
  • 2 x Mk32 torpedo launchers
Displacement 1,500 tons
Maximum speed 25.0 knots
Range 3,500 nm at 16 knots
Length 90.0 m
Beam 11.1 m
Crew 78
Propulsion 2 SEMT Pielstick PA6-STC diesel motors
Armament
  • 1 × AK-176 76 mm gun
  • 2 × H/PJ-17 30 mm autocannon
  • 2 × 2-cell YJ-83 anti-ship missiles
  • 1 × 8-cell HHQ-10 SAM launcher
  • 2 × triple 324 mm torpedo tubes

Performance Radar Chart

Frequently Asked Questions

Which has greater displacement, the Esmeraldas-class or Type 056-class?
The Type 056-class has greater displacement at 1,500 tons compared to the Esmeraldas-class's 685 tons.
Which is faster, the Esmeraldas-class or Type 056-class?
The Esmeraldas-class is faster with a maximum speed of 37 knots compared to the Type 056-class's 25 knots.
Which has longer range, the Esmeraldas-class or Type 056-class?
The Esmeraldas-class has a longer range at 4,400 nautical miles compared to the Type 056-class's 3,500 nautical miles.
Which is longer, the Esmeraldas-class or Type 056-class?
The Type 056-class is longer at 90.0 meters compared to the Esmeraldas-class's 62.3 meters.
How many crew members do the Esmeraldas-class and Type 056-class have?
The Type 056-class has a larger crew complement of 78 compared to the Esmeraldas-class's 51 crew members.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Esmeraldas-class or Type 056-class?
The Type 056-class has been built in greater numbers with 81 vessels compared to 6 vessels of the Esmeraldas-class.