Type 056-class (Jiangdao)
Summary
| Origin country | 🇨🇳 China |
| Category | Corvette |
| Subtype | Corvette |
| Manufacturer | Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding |
| Year commissioned | 2013 |
| Approx. unit cost | $42 million |
| Units |
El Moutassadi 502 Huangshi 504 Suqian 505 Qinhuangdao 506 Jingmen 507 Tongren 508 Qujing 513 Ezhou 514 Liupanshui 518 Yiwu 520 Hanzhong 535 Xuancheng 540 Wuhai 541 Zhangye 551 Suining 552 Guangyuan 554 Deyang 556 Yichun 557 Nanchong 593 Sanmenxia 594 Zhuzou 600 Songyuan 602 Pingdingshan 603 Dingzhou 604 Mudanjiang 605 Zhangjiakou 606 Xinji 607 Dongying 608 Liaocheng 609 Shizuishan 610 Shuozhou 611 Luan 615 Xiaogan 616 Taian 617 Jingdezhen 618 Shangqiu 619 Nanyang 620 Ganzhou 621 Panzhihua 622 Guangan 623 Wenshan 624 Suizhou 625 Bazhong 626 Wuzhou 627 Enshi 628 Yongzhou 629 Tongling 630 Aba 631 Tianmen 636 Jining 637 Shiyan |
Operators
Technical specifications
| Displacement | 1500 tons |
| Range | 3500 km at 16 knots |
| Endurance | 20 |
| Crew | 78 members |
| Width | 11.14 m (36.5 ft) |
| Length | 90.0 m (295.3 ft) |
| Air Park |
|
| Propulsion | 2 SEMT Pielstick PA6-STC diesel motors |
| Armament |
|
| Maximum speed | 25 knots |
Description
The Type 056 (NATO reporting name: Jiangdao-class) is a class of littoral combat corvettes developed for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) to replace Type 037 patrol craft and select Type 053H frigates. Built between 2012 and 2021 at the Hudong-Zhonghua, Huangpu Wenchong, Wuchang, and Liaonan shipyards, the design potentially utilizes the hull form of the Pattani-class offshore patrol vessels.
Design characteristics include anti-radar features and a hull optimized for green-water littoral duties rather than blue-water combat operations. The basic Type 056 variant utilizes air and surface search radars, fire control radars, and bow-mounted sonar. The Type 056A sub-class incorporates additional anti-submarine warfare (ASW) equipment, specifically a towed array and variable depth sonar. While the class includes a flight deck capable of supporting a Z-9 medium-lift helicopter, the standard design does not include a hangar.
The PLAN commissioned 22 Type 056 and 50 Type 056A vessels. From mid-2021 to January 2023, the PLAN transferred the 22 original Type 056 units to the China Coast Guard. Following this transfer, the PLAN renumbered its remaining Type 056A ships into the 600-series pennant range. Coast Guard units feature structural modifications, including davits and raised forward superstructures, to support maritime law enforcement missions.
Export variants are in service with multiple navies. The Bangladesh Navy operates four C13B units, known as the Shadhinota-class. The Nigerian Navy operates two P18N offshore patrol vessels; unlike the standard PLAN configuration, the P18N variant includes a helicopter hangar and an oil support recovery system. Algeria received one F-15A variant in 2023 and has announced plans for local production of the class. Two vessels are currently under construction for the Royal Cambodian Navy.