Type 062-class (Shanghai I & II)

The Type 062 gunboat, designated by NATO as the Shanghai I and II class, was developed by the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) starting in the 1950s. The project intended to replace the Shantou and Huangpu classes, which were determined to lack sufficient size, firepower, and endurance. Development involved several prototype designs, including the Type 0108, 0109, and 0110. These efforts led to the Type 0111 hybrid design in 1960, which was refined by the No 708 Institute and formally designated as the Type 062 in 1963.

The class consists of two primary variants: the initial Shanghai I and the improved Shanghai II. Both versions utilize a four-shaft propulsion system powered by diesel engines. Initial units were equipped with L-12V-180 engines, but these were later replaced by the L-12D-6 model to address issues with overheating and fuel consumption. The vessels are equipped with a navigational or surface search radar. Armament configurations differ between the subclasses; the Shanghai I features a forward twin gun mount of a larger caliber than the twin mounts used on the Shanghai II. Both subclasses carry secondary gun mounts and depth charges. Some units were also fitted with a recoilless gun. Specialized versions include the Fushun-class, a minesweeper variant equipped with mine-sweeping gear, and the Haizhui-class, a submarine chaser variant.

The PLAN completed 30 units of the Type 062. While the Chinese fleet was retired by the 1990s, the design became the most widely produced and exported Chinese naval vessel. Licensed production occurred in Romania between 1972 and 1989, where engineers adapted the design for the Black Sea to serve as coast guard ships, submarine hunters, and diver support vessels. Other international operators include the navies and coast guards of Albania, Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, North Korea, Pakistan, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, and East Timor. The class was succeeded by the Type 062I, or Shanghai III class, which is larger and carries updated armament.