Type 037IG-class (Houxin)
Chinese corvette, introduced in 1964, displaces 430 tons and is propelled by four diesel engines. Key figures: displacement 478 tons, length 59 m, top speed 30 knots, crew 70, built 100. In service with 2 navies — Myanmar (6), China (3).
| Subtype | Missile boat |
| Displacement | 478 tons |
| Crew | 70 members |
| Width | 7.2 m (23.6 ft) |
| Length | 58.77 m (192.8 ft) |
| Propulsion | 4 × diesel engines, 8,800 hp (6,562 kW), 4 × shafts |
| Range | 2,000 nm |
| Maximum speed | 30 knots |
- 4 × Chinese Type 66 57 mm (2.2 in) guns (2×2)
- 4 × Chinese Type 61 25 mm (0.98 in) guns (2×2)
- 4 × RBU-1200 or Type 81 ASW rocket launchers
- 2 × BMB-2 ASW mortars
- 2 × depth charge rails with more than 20 depth charges, and mine rails (10 mines total)
Description
The Type 037IG, designated by NATO as the Houxin class, is a missile boat developed for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). Produced by the Qiuxing and Huangpu shipyards between 1991 and 1999, the class is an anti-ship variant of the Type 037 submarine chaser. The design was adopted as a lower-cost alternative to the Type 037II class.
The vessel is configured with anti-ship missiles rather than torpedoes. The onboard electronics suite consists of a Type 352 surface search radar, a Type 723 navigational radar, and a Type 347 fire control radar. Propulsion is provided by PR 230ZC diesel engines driving multiple shafts. Armament includes C-801, C-802, or C-803 series anti-ship missiles, Type 76A guns, and Type 69 heavy machine guns.
Twenty units were built for the PLAN, with additional units produced for export. The Myanmar Navy acquired six vessels in three batches between 1995 and 1997, and the Yemeni Navy also operates the class. While several units remain in active service, the Office of Naval Intelligence has reported the retirement of multiple PLAN vessels. Retired units include the Yuqing (752), which was decommissioned in 2014 for preservation at the National Maritime Museum of China, and the Shanghang (765), which serves as a museum ship in Shanghang County.
Frequently Asked Questions
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- SEP 52026 Updated Houxin specifications corrected: 478 t missile boat, in service since 1991
- JAN 182026 Updated Manufacturer and description added; displacement, range and 3 more fields updated