Type 051C (Luzhou Class) Missile Destroyer

The Type 051C (NATO codename: Luzhou class) is the air-defence missile destroyer built by Dalian Shipyard for the PLA Navy. The first-of-class, Shenyang (hull No.115), was launched in December 2004 and completed its system installation in late 2005. The sea trial began in early 2006 and the ship was finally commissioned in October 2006. A second hull Shijiazhuang (hull No.116) was launched in 2005 and commissioned in March 2007. Both hulls are deployed by the North Sea Fleet based at Qingdao.

The Type 051C is designed mainly to provide air defence for a fleet against air attack, but it also retains reasonable anti-surface and anti-submarine capabilities. The destroyer appears to be based on the same hull design as the Type 051B (NATO codename: Luhai class) introduced in the late 1990s, with an estimated  displacement of 7,100 tonnes. The destroyer is believed to be powered by the steam turbine propulsion, indicating PRC’s continuing restraint on the gas turbine technology. The ship has a helicopter flight deck on the stern but does not have a hanger.

Like most PRC-built destroyers introduced after the 1990s, the Type 051C is only built in a small quantity to test the ship design and its weapon systems and sensors. No further construction has been reported since the completion of the first two hulls. Unconfirmed reports suggested that the PRC is developing a more advanced air defence destroyer Type 051D with enhanced capabilities.

S-300FM Rif-M Missile System

The revolver VLS and the 3R41 Volna (Top Dome) fire-control radar on the stern deckhouse (Chinese Internet)

The most noticeable feature of the Type 051C is its Russian-built Rif-M air defence missile system. Each missile complex consists of six large-size revolver vertical launching systems (VLS), each housing eight ready-to-launch missiles. Two revolver VLS are installed underneath the bow deck behind the main gun, and four inside the aft deckhouse on the stern ahead of the helicopter flight deck, carrying a total of 48 missiles.

The S-300FM Fort-M (SA-N-20) missile system uses the 48N6 missile, which employs the track-via-missile (TVM) technology. First introduced in 1990, the missile is capable of engaging airborne targets at a range of 5~150km and an altitude between 10m and 27km. The missile is guided by the Volna (NATO codename: Tomb Stone) 3D phased-array target tracking radar installed on top of the stern deckhouse. The radar can direct 12 missiles to engage 6 targets simultaneously. Since two radars are required to give 360º coverage (as, for example, in the Russian Kirov class cruiser), this means that there is a blind gap in full SAM cover in the forward quadrant, resulting in a major tactical restriction.

As shown in its land-based equivalent S-300PMU, the S-300F missile was proven to be highly effective against airborne targets and was found on all Soviet/Russian cruisers built after 1980. The PRC ordered two sets of the S-300FM/Rif-M system from Russia in 2002.

Anti-Ship Missiles

The ship's surface-to-surface fire-power is less impressive, comprising merely eight indigenous YJ-83 anti-ship missiles. The missile system has eight box launchers (in two groups, each with 4 launchers). The missile uses active radar homing and is powered by a turbojet (with a solid rocket booster). The anti-ship missile has a 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.

Guns

The Type 051C destroyer featuring a mixture of Chinese indigenous and Russian-made systems (Chinese Internet)

For short-range air defence, the Type 051C destroyer is fitted with two indigenous Type 730 seven-barrel close-in weapon system (CIWS) located in the mid-ship position on either side of the rear mast. The Type 730 system has a maximum rate of fire of 4,600~5,800 rounds/min and a maximum range of 3km.

The ship also has a single-barrel 100mm gun, which can be used against surface targets and air targets such as aircraft and low speed missile, with a maximum rate of fire of 90 rounds/min. The gun can be operated in fully automatic mode from the radar control system, from the shipborne optical sighting system, or laid manually. The turret design incorporates strong radar cross-section reduction features.

Anti-Submarine Warfare

The ship is fitted with two 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.

Sensors

The air search radar is a Fregat-MAE-5 (NATO reporting name: Top Plate) 3D air search radar mounted at the top of the rear mast, offering two channels in E-band. The radar can track up to 40 targets simultaneously, and has a maximum range of 120km to aircraft and 50km to sea-skimming missile. There is also a large round radome mounted at the top of the rear mast, possibly housing a MR36 (Type 346?) surface search radar.

The stern view of the Type 051C destroyer (Chinese Internet)

A large round radome installed on top of the bridge houses the Mineral-ME (NATO reporting name: Band Stand) radar that provides anti-ship missile control and over-the-horizon radar acquisition and target designation of surface ships. There are two indigenous Type 347G I-band radars integrated with the Type 730 CIWS to provide fire-control.

Countermeasures

The Type 051C has two Type 946 15-barrelled chaff/decoy launchers, and two unknown multiple launchers installed at the mid-ship position. Active ECM system include the interceptor and jammer.

Aviation

The destroyer has helicopter flight deck on the stern, but does not have a helicopter hanger in order to give space to the bulky S-300F missile complex.

Ship List

Last update: 31 May 2009