Type 053H1 (Jianghu-II Class) Missile Frigate

In 1978, 701 Institute began to develop an improved variant of the Type 053H known as Type 053H1, referred to by the NATO as Jianghu-II class. The most visible modification on the Type 053H1 is the Type 79 dual-100mm main guns (range: 22.5km; rate: 50 rounds/min). These hulls also received modernisation refit later to be fitted with the SY-1A anti-ship missile, Type 517 ‘Knife Rest’ long-range air surveillance radar, British CTC-1629 combat intelligence centre (CIC), U.S. Mk36RBOC decoy launchers, and satellite/Omega navigations.

Zhaotong (555) Modernisation Project

The 7th hull of the Type 053H1, Zhaotong (555), was built with special modifications to test new weapon systems and sensors.

Main modifications include:

• Replacing the original four Type 76 manual AAA with four Type 715-II SAM/AAA air-defence systems, each of which consists of a Type 76 AAA and two PL-9 air defence missiles;
• Replacing the original Type 343 radar with two Type 347G (NATO codename: Rice Lamp) radar for AAA fire-control;
• Replacing the original Type 354 radar with Type 347S low-altitude air/surface search radar;
• Replacing the original ZPJ-4 gun director with a more advanced ZTJ-1 digital director;
• JD-5B/7446 navigation radar;
• Replacing the two Type 81 anti-submarine rocket launchers on the bow deck with two Type 3200 six-barrel rocket launchers

Type 053H1 frigate Zhaotong (555) (Chinese Internet)

The 76mm AAA with PL-9 SAM (Chinese Internet)

Shiplist

Specifications

Displacement: (standard load) 1,565t; (full load) 1,960t
Dimensions: Length 103.22 m; Beam 10.8m, Draft 3.05m
Propulsion: 2X 12E390VA diesel engines rated at 16,000hp (2X 8,000hp); 4X 16PA6V280BTC diesel generators, two shaft
Speed: Maximum 25.6 knots; economic 18 knots
Crew: 200 (30 officers)
Self-sustaining capability: 15 days/nights
Radar: (Air search) Type 354 (Eye Shield) 2D air/surface search, I-band; (surface search/SSM fire-control) Type 352 (Square Tie), E/F-band; (Long-range 2D air surveillance/early warning) Type 517 (Knife Rest), G-Band; (100mm gun fire-control) Type 341, I-band; (37mm AAA fire-control) Type 343, I-band; (Navigation) Type 752 or Racal Decca RM-1226 or RM-1290
Sonar: SJD-5 hull-mounted MF; SJC-1B reconnaissance sonar; SJX-4 communication sonar
Weapon controls: Optronic directors (main gun targeting)
ECM/EW: Type 651A IFF, Mk36RBOC/Type 923-I decoy launcher
Command & control: CTC-1629 combat intelligence centre
Communications: VHF radio, SATCOM
Missiles: 6X SY-1 SSMs, two triple launchers; active radar homing to 35km at 0.8 Mach, warhead 513kg, liquid fuel
Guns: 2X Type 79 dual-100mm/56-calibre main guns, 22km-range; 4X Type 76 manual dual-37mm AAA, 8.5km range
Anti-submarine: 2X Type 81 5-barrel 250mm anti-submarine rocket launcher; 4X DC projectors; 2X DC rack

Last update: 9 October 2007