Type 051C-class (Luzhou)
Chinese guided-missile destroyer, introduced in 2006, displaces 7,100 tons.
| Subtype | Guided-missile destroyer |
| Displacement | 7100 tons |
| Width | 17.1 m (56.1 ft) |
| Length | 155.0 m (508.5 ft) |
| Propulsion | 2 indigenous steam turbines |
| Maximum speed | 30 knots |
- 48 × S-300FM (SA-N-20) surface-to-air missiles
- 8 × YJ-83 anti-ship missiles
- 1 × 100 mm H/PJ-87 dual purpose gun
- 2 × Type 730 30 mm seven-barrel Gatling gun close-in weapons systems
- 2 × 3 324 mm torpedo launchers carrying Yu-7 torpedoes
- 2 × 15 Type 946 decoy launchers
- 2 × 18 Type 726-4 decoy launchers
- Kamov Ka-28 Helix-size helicopter
Description
The Type 051C destroyer, identified by the NATO reporting name Luzhou class, is a guided-missile vessel operated by the People's Liberation Army Navy. Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company constructed the ships between 2003 and 2007. The class utilizes the hull design of the earlier Type 051B and served as a stop-gap measure to provide long-range air defense until the Type 052C entered production. Construction of the class was first identified through internet photographs in 2004.
The design incorporates steam turbine propulsion and lacks the reduced radar cross-section characteristics found on later Chinese surface combatants. The air defense system is the Russian S-300FM, which utilizes a single Tombstone 3D phased-array target tracking radar mounted on the stern deckhouse. This configuration results in a radar blind gap in the forward quadrant. Electronic systems include a Fregat-MAE-5 air search radar, a Type 364 surface search radar, and a Mineral-ME radar for anti-ship missile control and target designation. Fire control for the close-in weapon systems is provided by Type 347G radars.
Armament consists of vertical launch systems for S-300FM surface-to-air missiles and launchers for YJ-83 anti-ship missiles. The vessels are also equipped with an H/PJ-87 dual-purpose gun based on a French design, Type 730 Gatling guns, torpedo launchers, and decoy launchers. For aviation, the class features facilities for a Ka-28 helicopter but lacks a hangar.
Two ships of the class were completed and are assigned to the North Sea Fleet. The Shenyang (115) entered service on January 1, 2006, followed by the Shijiazhuang (116) on January 22, 2007. In August 2015, the Shenyang conducted a port visit to Vladivostok.