Type 052B-class (Luyang I)
Summary
| Origin country | 🇨🇳 China |
| Category | Destroyer |
| Subtype | Guided-missile destroyer |
| Manufacturer | Jiangnan Shipyard |
| Year commissioned | 2004 |
| Units |
168 Guangzhou 169 Wuhan |
Operators
Technical specifications
| Displacement | 7000 tons |
| Range | 4500 km at 14 knots |
| Crew | 280 members |
| Width | 17.0 m (55.8 ft) |
| Length | 155.0 m (508.5 ft) |
| Air Park |
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| Propulsion | Combined diesel or gas: 2 × DA80 gas turbines (35.7 MW), 2 × MTU 1163 TB 83 diesel engines (10 MW) |
| Armament |
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| Maximum speed | 29 knots |
Description
The Type 052B, designated by NATO as the Luyang I-class, is a class of guided-missile destroyers operated by the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Surface Force. Constructed at Jiangnan Shipyard, the class followed the Type 051B and the Russian-purchased Type 956E/EM. It was developed as part of a procurement program in the early 2000s to integrate Russian air defense technology into the Chinese fleet. The Type 052B was the first Chinese destroyer design to incorporate medium-range air defense capabilities.
The hull design is derived from the Type 051B and incorporates stealth features. Propulsion is provided by a combined diesel or gas (CODOG) system utilizing DA80 gas turbines and MTU diesel engines. The primary air defense capability is provided by the Russian Shtil-1 system, a navalized version of the Buk missile, which utilizes single-arm launchers. Surface-to-surface armament consists of YJ-83 anti-ship missiles and an H/PJ87 main gun. For close-in defense, the vessels utilize Type 730 CIWS and multiple rocket launchers. Anti-submarine warfare equipment includes Yu-7 torpedoes launched from triple tubes, supported by bow-mounted and towed array sonar systems. The electronic suite includes the Fregat MAE-3 3D air search radar and various fire control radars, including the Front-Dome and Mineral-ME. Each vessel is equipped with a flight deck and hangar to support a single Harbin Z-9 or Kamov Ka-28 helicopter.
The PLAN completed two vessels of this class, both of which are active in the South Sea Fleet. The lead ship, Guangzhou (168), was launched in May 2002 and entered service in July 2004. The second ship, Wuhan (169), was launched in September 2002 and entered service in December 2004. Operational history includes deployments in the South China Sea and the western Pacific. The class has also conducted international transits and port visits, including a 2007 appearance by Guangzhou in Cádiz and a subsequent visit to Saint Petersburg. The design served as a precursor to subsequent Chinese air warfare destroyers, including the Type 051C and Type 052C.