Type 051 Luda Class Missile Destroyer

Anti-Surface

The Type 051 employs the Type 76 dual-barrel 130mm/58-calibre gun and the HY-1J (NATO reporting name: CSS-N-1 Silkworm) anti-ship missile. Each of the two Type 76 guns (one front, one rear) fires 33.4kg shells at a rate of 17 rounds/minute to a range of 29km against surface targets. They can also be used for air defence and shore bombardment. Six HY-1J liquid-propellant missiles are housed in two rotatable 3-cell launchers installed in the mid-ship position. The missile uses active radar homing to a maximum range of 70km, flying at subsonic speed (Mach 0.95). The warhead is 513kg.

The Luda-III class (No.166 of the Mod 3 variant) was equipped with eight solid-propellant, 40km-range YJ-8 (C-801, NATO reporting name: CSS-N-4 Sardine) anti-ship missiles. They have subsequently replaced by sixteen improved YJ-83 anti-ship missiles during the modernisation refit.

The fire-control for the main guns and AShM was provided by the Type 343G (NATO reporting name: Wasp Head and Wok Won) radar located on top of the bridge.

The strike weapon package for the Mod 4 variant includes the PJ33A dual-barrel 100mm/56-calibre guns and the YJ-83 (NATO reporting name: CSS-N-8 Saccade) anti-ship missiles. The PJ33A gun was developed from the Type 79A dual-100mm gun, but has a redesigned gun house with strong radar cross-section reduction features. Sixteen box-shape YJ-83 missile launchers are organised into four groups, each with four launchers. The YJ-83 employs active radar homing and a turbojet powerplant (with a solid rocket booster). The missile has a reported range of 120km and approaches the target in sea skimming mode at a speed of Mach 0.9. The 165kg shaped charge warhead has time delayed impact proximity fuses.

On No.165 (Zhanjiang) and No.166 (Zhuhai), the Type 343G radar has also been replaced by a more advanced Type 344 radar to provide targeting information for the dual-100mm main guns and YJ-83 AShM.

Air Defence

The early variant Type 051 relies purely on AAA guns to provide limited air defence. Each destroyer has four Type 76 dual-37mm manual/automatic AAA guns and four Type 61 dual-25mm manual AAA guns. On No.166 (Zhuhai), the four Type 76 guns were replaced by four improved Type 76A guns (fully automatic with concealed turret) and the 25mm AAA guns were all removed. The Type 76A guns were directed by two Type 347G fire-control radars (one front, one rear).

The PLA Navy obtained some examples of the French Crotale short-range air-defence missile system in the 1980s and installed one system on No.109 (Kaifeng) for trial and evaluation (Mod 2B). The system includes an 8-cell missile launcher and a Thompson-CSF Castor CTM fire-control radar. Later the missile system was produced in PRC as the HQ-7. The rear dual 37mm AAA gun on the stern deck of the Type 051 has to be removed in order to provide space for the SAM system. The missile can only be reloaded manually as there is no enough space for the bulky automatic reloader.

The air defence package for the Mod 4 variant includes an HQ-7 SAM system and three Type 76A dual-37mm automatic AAA guns. The 8-cell HQ-7 SAM launcher and the Type 345 (Castor copy) radar are installed on the stern deck, in front of the rear main gun. One Type 76A automatic AAA gun is installed on the bow deck in front of the bridge, and two are installed at the mid-ship position. They are directed by a single Type 347G radar on top of the bridge. No.109 (Kaifeng) also retains two Type 61 dual-25mm manual AAA guns.

The Mod 1/1A/2 variants have a Type 354 (NATO reporting name: Eye Shield) mounted on top of the main mast for air and surface search. The radar has a maximum detection range of 100km against aircraft-sized airborne targets. Long-range 2D air surveillance and early warning is provided by a Type 515 (NATO reporting name: Bean Sticks or Pea Sticks) or Type 517 (NATO reporting name: Knife Rest) radar located behind the rear mast.

The Mod 2B/3 variants were fitted with a Type 381A (NATO reporting name: Rice Screen) long-range 3D air surveillance radar mounted on the rear mast and a combat information centre (CIC), which enable the destroyers to provide air defence intelligence for a whole task force. These hulls served as the flagships of the flotillas in which they were deployed. Following the modernisation upgrade to Mod 4 standard, the Type 381A radar on these hulls has been removed and replaced by a Type 362 (copy of the Thompson-CSF TSR-3004 Sea Tiger).

Anti-Submarine Warfare

All hulls are fitted with two Type 75 (FQF-2500) twelve-barrel 240mm antisubmarine rocket launchers on the bow deck. The rocket is armed with a 34kg warhead and has a maximum range of 1,200m. The destroyer also carries four BMB projectors and four racks for depth charges at the stern. Alternatively the destroyer may carry 38 mines.

The destroyer is fitted with an SJD-II medium-frequency bow-mounted sonar for long-range search, and an SJD-IV medium-frequency hull-mounted sonar for active search and attack. No.166 (Zhuhai) also has a DUBV-43 (ESS-1) towed medium-frequency variable depth sonar (VDS) for active attack.

Mod 3/4 variants are fitted with two Alenia B515S (or its Chinese copy) triple-324mm torpedo launchers, which is used to launch the Yu-7 (copy of the U.S. Mk46 Mod1) anti-submarine torpedo. The Yu-7 carries a 45kg to engage underwater target at a speed of 43kt, and has a maximum range of 7.3km.

Navigation and ECM

The Type 051 employs the Recal Decca series navigation radar co-produced locally under license. These include the Decca 707 (“Fin Curve”) and the more advanced Decca RM-1290.

Mod 1/1A/2/2A/2B are equipped with the ‘High Pole’ IFF and the RW-23-1 (NATO reporting name: Jug Pair) radar warning receivers. No.166 (Zhuhai) was fitted with a Type 825 electronic countermeasures (ECM) suite consisting of interceptors and jammers, but it was removed during the modernisation refit.

The Mod 4 variant is equipped with two Type 946 15-barrelled chaff/decoy launchers.

Command & Control

The Mod 1/1A/2 variants lack the integrated command and control system. Radio and telephone are provided for intra-ship, inter-ship, and ship-to-land communications. The Mod 2A variant was added with a combat information centre for fleet air defence. The Mod 4 variant has been added with a ZJK-4 combat data system developed from the French TAVITAC. Later hulls were all equipped with satellite navigations, satellite communications (SATCOM), and No.11 datalink.

Aviation

No.105 (Jinan)/Mod 1A variant received a refit in 1987, with its rear 130mm gun and AAA gun removed to give space to a 17m X 10.5 X 5.5mm helicopter hanger and a 25m X 12.8m flight deck. The vessel was also added with helicopter landing assistance/handling system and aviation fuel storage to support two Z-9 helicopters.

Propulsion

The propulsion system of the Type 051 destroyer is steam turbines with 4 boilers and 2 turbines rated at 72,000hp (53MW), and 2 shafts, giving a max speed of 32 knots.

Specifications

Displacement: (standard) 3,250t; (full load) 3,670t
Dimensions: Length 132m; Beam 12.8m, Draft 4.6m
Speed: 32 knots
Range: 2,970 miles at 18kt
Crew: 280 (up to 300 maximum, 45 officers)