Type 037II-class (Houjian)

The Type 037II missile boat, NATO reporting name Houjian class, was developed by the Huangpu Shipyard in Guangzhou for the People's Liberation Army Navy. The design was adapted from a proposal by the American H-3 group, which originally specified gas turbine engines, waterjet propulsion, and Western armament. To reduce complexity, the design was modified to utilize diesel engines and conventional propellers. Plans to include Western-sourced primary guns were abandoned following the termination of military cooperation with Western nations in 1989. The first vessel was completed in 1990 as a technology demonstrator and conducted missile firing trials in 1995.

The Type 037II is a missile-equipped corvette utilizing SEMT-Pielstick diesel engines. Production was limited to six units due to technical issues related to the licensed engine production and a design considered sophisticated by then-current standards. The class features the Type 348S search radar and Type 348G tracking radar. Its secondary armament is directed by the Type 88C electro-optical targeting system, which integrates an infrared seeker, automatic tracker, and laser rangefinder. One hull, the Lianjiang, was utilized as a proof-of-concept vessel for modified engines and a Russian-designed primary gun.

Six vessels were delivered to the People's Liberation Army Navy and serve as the primary naval defense force for Hong Kong. These ships operate on a rotation that keeps two units stationed in the territory. The service history of the class includes two navigation incidents involving the Lianjiang. In 2001, the vessel was damaged in a collision with a fast ferry, and in June 2006, it sank following a collision with a freighter. It was subsequently refloated and repaired. The Nanhai was decommissioned in 2021 and converted into a museum ship. The Pakistan Navy operates the Azmat-class, which is based on the Type 037II design, and Bangladesh contracted for modified versions of the class in 2012.