Type 053H1 Jianghu-II Class Missile Frigate
Last updated: 9 October 2007
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. A total of 10 ships were built in the order of 533, 534, 543, 553, 544, 554, 555, 545, 556, 557.
Type 053H1 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
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| Type 053H1 Jianghu-II class (Chinese Internet) |
Type 053HT-H Siping (544) Modernisation Project (Jianghu-IV)
The fifth hull of the Type 053H1, Siping (544), was built with special modifications aimed to improve its anti-submarine warfare capability. The frigate was fitted with a helicopter hanger/flight deck to support a Z-9-sized ASW helicopter. Some indigenous and Western-made systems were also installed on the vessel for trial and evaluation. The frigate was designated Type 053HT-H by the PLA Navy, and was referred to by NATO as Jianghu-IV class.
Construction of Siping began in November 1984 at Hudong Shipyard. The vessel was launched in September 1985 and commissioned in December the same year. A further modernisation refit was carried out in 1987. After 20 years of service with the PLA navy North Sea Fleet, the vessel was withdrawn from operational service in late 2006 and handed over to the PLA Navy Dalian Naval Academy for training role.
At the time of its launch, the Type 054HT-H frigate was the PLA Navy’s most capable warship in ASW capability. Its ASW suite included an SJD-5 hull-mounted medium-frequency sonar, an SJD-7 variable depth sonar (VDS), and Type 7826B/C torpedo/depth charge digital directors. The frigate was equipped with long-, medium-, and short-range ASW weapon systems. The long-range system was a Z-9A naval helicopter, carrying 1~2 324mm anti-submarine torpedoes and dipping sonar. The medium-range ASW weapon consisted of two Alenia B515S triple-tube torpedo launchers, with 24 Italian A.244S Whitehead anti-submarine torpedoes (speed: 45kt, range: 10km). The short-range ASW weapon consisted of two Type 62 five-tube 250mm ASW rocket launchers installed on the bow deck.
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| Siping (544) Jianghu-IV class (Chinese Internet) |
The original Type 79 dual-100mm main gun on the bow deck was replaced by a French Creusot-Loire T100C single-100mm gun, which fires 13.5kg shell at a rate of 80 rounds/min to a range of 8km. Air defence is provided by two indigenous Type 76 manual/automatic dual-37mm AAA gun with a maximum range of 8.5km. For surface strike role, the frigate was equipped with three SY-1 anti-ship missiles (active radar homing; warhead: 513kg; speed: Mach 0.8; range: 40km).
The frigate was installed with a French-made NAJA optronic director, replacing the Type 352 ‘Square Tie’ targeting radar. Other electronic systems included a Type 348S air-search radar, a Type 343 main gun fire-control radar, an electronic warfare suite, and Type 348C ELINT processing system.
The frigate had its second SY-1 missile launcher and stern guns removed to provide room for a helicopter flight deck and hanger. The helicopter hanger was 15.2m in length, 8.5m in width, and 5.6m in height. The flight deck was 21.6m X 10.8m, capable of supporting a Z-9-sized helicopter. The flight deck was also fitted with a French-made helicopter landing assistance and handling system, which has been copied and installed on virtually all newly-built indigenous surface combatants since then.
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
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| Type 053H1 frigate Zhaotong (555) (Chinese Internet) |
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| The 76mm AAA with PL-9 SAM (Chinese Internet) |
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