The Type 072 series of large landing ships is the backbone and workhorse in the PLA Navy’s amphibious warfare ship fleet, providing key sealift and power projection capabilities. First introduced in the late 1970s, the Type 072 has been built in three variants, including 7 hulls of the Type 072 (NATO reporting name: Yukan class), 10 hulls of the Type 072-II (NATO reporting name: Yuting class), and 9 hulls of the Type 072-III NATO reporting name: Yuting-II class). The last of the Type 072-III Yuting-II class was commissioned in 2005.
Type 072 Yukan Class
The development of the Type 072 large landing ship for the PLA Navy was approved by the PRC leadership in 1975. The vessel was required to be able to carry a tank company and an infantry company and directly land them on shore. The vessel must also possess strong firepower to suppress enemy defence. Additionally, the vessel must have relatively high speed (no less than 18 knots) in order to cross the Taiwan Strait overnight. In peacetime, the vessel would be used for troop/cargo transport roles.
The design proposal of the Type 072 was approved by the PLA Navy in April 1976. The first-of-class of the Type 072 was laid down in the Zhonghua Shipyard (now Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard) in June 1977 and the vessel was launched in October the same year. The sea trial began in March 1978 and the vessel was commissioned in late 1978. The first batch included three hulls, with the #2 and #3 hull commissioned in 1980 and 1982 respectively.
Satisfied with the vessel’s performance, the PLA Navy approved the batch production of the Type 072 in April 1980. This class of landing ship was designated Yukan class by the NATO. A total of seven hulls (hull No.927~933) were built before the production was stopped and replaced by the improved Type 072-II (Yuting class) in the early 1990s.
Type 072 landing ship hull 933 (Chinese Internet)
Design
The Type 072 designer adopted a unique destroyer-style bow, with two side-hinged doors and a 17m-length two-piece foldable ramp. This replaced the traditional flat-bow door/ramp design, which has characterised the tank landing ship’s construction since the World War II. The new bow design enables the vessel to attain speeds in excess of 18 knots. This feature, combined with high-power propulsion, allows the vessel to cross the Taiwan Strait overnight to reduce the chance of the amphibious assault forces being detected, thus enabling the surprise element of its attack.
The Type 072 has a shallow draft (less than 3 metres) to allow troops and vehicles being landed on shore directly. The bow deck and stern deck are connected via corridors on both sides of the vessel’s bridge to allow quick movement of troops. The vehicle deck below is accessed via both the bow ramp and stern gate. The stern gate can be flooded to allow off-loading of amphibious vehicles or air cushioned landing craft directly into the water. Additionally, the vessel carries two small landing crafts for off-loading troops when direct beaching is not possible.
The 3,100t-displacement vessel could carry a tank company (10~11 tanks) and an infantry company (100~120 troops). Alternatively, it can carry an infantry battalion of 200 troops and an 82mm anti-tank gun company. The vehicle deck provides a large floor area of 700 square metres, capable of accommodate 10 vehicles or 500 tonnes of cargo. The vessel has crew of 130 men.
Type 072 landing ship hull 928 (Chinese Internet)
Weapons
The Type 072 is armed with 4 manually-operated Type 66 dual-57mm/70-calibre AAA gun (rate 120 rds/min; range 12km) and 4 manually-operated Type 61 dual-25mm/60-calibre anti-aircraft guns (rate 800~900 rds/min, range 2.7km). These guns are effective against surface/shore targets as well as airborne targets. Additional air defence can be provided by man-portable air defence missile systems (MANPADS).
Propulsion
The ship's propulsion is provided by two 12E390 diesels rated at 9,600hp. There are two shafts driving two fixed-pitch propellers, giving a max speed of 18 knots.
Operations
In 1988, two PLAN Type 072 landing ships (hull 927 and 929) landed troops and equipments on the Yongshu (Fiery Cross) Reef in the Nansha (Spratly) Islands and supported the construction of a marine hydrometeorological observation station there.
During the standoff between the PLA Navy and the Philippine Navy in 1999, several Type 072 landing ships were sent to the Meiji (Mischief) Reef in support the operations of Chinese forces.
