881 Hongzehu is the first hull of the Fuqing class (Chinese Internet)
Fuqing class is the name given by NATO to the the PLA Navy’s first replenishment oilers. Construction of the vessel began in the mid-1970s at the Dalian Shipyard. The first-of-class X615 was commissioned on 15 December 1979. In May 1980, X615 and its sister ship X950 joined a naval task force of 18 vessels to be deployed in the Southern Pacific for the “580 Mission”—the codename for the PRC’s first DF-5 ICBM full-range flight test. In November 1985, during a goodwill visit to three countries in South Asia, X615 and two destroyers crossed the Strait of Malacca to enter the Indian Ocean for the first time in the PLA Navy’s history.
A total of four vessels were constructed. The first hull originally carried hull number R326, but this was changed to X615 after the vessel was commissioned. In the 1980s, the vessel was named Fengcang (hull No. Dongyun 615). In 2003, the vessel was renamed Hongzehu, and was given a new hull number 881. The vessel is currently deployed by East Sea Fleet.
The second hull X575 became Taicang (hull No. Beiyun 575) in the 1980s. In 2003, the vessel was renamed Poyanghu and was given a new hull number 882. The vessel is currently deployed by North Sea Fleet. It differs to the first hull in the shape of its funnel.
The third hull X950 became Haicang (hull No. Nanyun 950) in the 1980s. The vessel was decommissioned 1989 and transferred to the merchant fleet to serve as oil tanker.
The fourth hull, Nasr (hull No.871), was built for the Pakistani Navy. The vessel was delivered in 1985.
The Fuqing class can replenish three ships simultaneously (Chinese Internet)
Design
The Fuqing class is 160 metres in length and has a full displacement of 21,740 tonnes. The vessel is capable of carrying 10,550 tonnes of fuel oil, 1,000 tonnes of diesel fuel, 200 tonnes of feed water, 200 tonnes of portable water, and 50 tonnes of lube oil. The vessel has four oil refuelling stations and two stores stations, capable of replenishing three vessels simultaneously.
Aviation
The vessel is fitted with an aft flight deck, though no hanger is provided. This gives the vessel a limited vertical replenishment (VERTREP) capability.
Shiplist
North Sea Fleet
882 (ex-Beiyun 575, X575, Taicang)
East Sea Fleet
881 (ex-Dongyun 615, X615, Fengcang)
Others
Nanyun 950 (ex-X950) -- Transferred to commercial fleet
