Type 053H Jianghu Class Missile Frigate
Last updated: 9 October 2007
The Type 053H (NATO reporting name: Jianghu class) missile frigate was designed by Wuhan-based 701 Institute and built by Hudong Shipyard (now Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard) and Jiangnan Shipyard, both based in Shanghai. A total of 39 hulls in five variants have been built between the early 1960s and 1995. As well as being operational with the PLA Navy, the frigate is also in service with the Bangladesh (1 hull), Egyptian (2 hulls), and Royal Thai Navy (4 hulls). Some hulls in the PLA Navy have been transferred to the Coast Guards, with the rest expected to be either transferred or decommissioned within a decade.
Type 053H Jianghu Class
701 Institute began to work on a new missile frigate Type 053 in the late 1960s in order to meet the PLA Navy’s growing demand for larger surface combatants. The frigate was initially designed to provide air defence cover for destroyers and frigates with its onboard air-defence missiles. Construction of the frigate began at Hudong Shipyard in September 1969, with the first hull Yingtan (531, ex-222) launched in October 1971. A second hull was launched shortly after.
However, the finished frigates could not be commissioned because of the delayed HQ-61 surface-to-air missile (SAM) and dual-100mm gun development. As a result, the PLA Navy decided to cancel the construction plan for the subsequent hulls. Instead, the frigate hull design was to be used to develop an anti-surface frigate equipped with anti-ship missiles and designated Type 053H (H: Hai = ‘Sea’). The first hull of the frigate, Changde (509), was commissioned in December 1974. The frigate was identified by the NATO as Jianghu class.
By the production stopped in 1980, a total of 14 hulls had been built, 11 of which are still operational with the PLA Navy today. These hulls were produced in three variants, which differ slightly in their superstructure and funnel design. In 2006, Jiujiang (516) was converted into a fire-support frigate, with its anti-ship missile launchers removed and replaced by five 50-tube 122mm multiple rocket launchers. In 2007, Changde (509) and Shaoxing (510) were decommissioned and transferred to the PAP Coast Guards to be converted into coastal patrol vessels.
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| Basic variant of the Type 053H (Chinese Internet) |
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| The second batch design of the Type 053H (Chinese Internet) |
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| The final batch design of the Type 053H (Chinese Internet) |
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| Jiujiang (516) fire-support frigate with five 50-tube MRLs (Chinese Internet) |
The frigate has two rotatable missile launchers installed in the mid-ship position, each carrying three SY-1 (SS-N-2 Styx copy) anti-ship missiles. The missile uses an active radar homing guidance and carries a 513kg HE warhead. Powered by a liquid-propellant rocket engine with a solid-propellant booster, the missile flies at a subsonic speed (Mach 0.8) to a maximum range of 40km. The single-shot probability is 70%.
The frigate is also equipped with two single-barrel 100mm main guns (one front, one rear) for anti-surface role. Air defence is provided by six Type 61 dual-37mm AAA guns (range: 8.5km; rate: 180rds/min). For anti-submarine warfare (ASW), the frigate is equipped with 2~4 Type 62 5-tubed ASW rocket launchers and 2~4 Type 64 432mm depth charge projectors.
The frigate’s electronic systems comprise a Type 354 ‘Eye Shield’ 2D air/surface-search radar, a Type 352 ‘Square Tie’ surface search radar (AShM fire-control), a Type 341 ‘Wasp Head’ fire-control radar (100mm gun), Type 752 or Racal Decca RM-1226 navigation radar, a Type 651A IFF, an optronic director (main gun targeting). Its sonar systems include an SJD-5A medium-frequency hull-mounted sonar, an SJC-1B reconnaissance sonar, and an SJX-4 communications sonar.
The Type 053H is powered by two 12PA68TC diesels rated at 16,000hp in total, with two shafts and four generators. The maximum speed is 26 knots. The frigate has a full displacement of 1,661t and a crew of 200 men (30 officers).
Type 053H Jianghu Class Specifications
Displacement: (standard load) 1,425t; (full load) 1,661t
Dimensions: Length 103.22 m; Beam 10.8m, Draft 3.19m
Propulsion: 2X 12PA68TC diesel engines rated at 16,000hp (2X 8,000hp); 4X diesel generators, two shaft
Speed: Maximum 25.6 knots; Economic 18 knots
Crew: 200 (30 officers)
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; (100mm gun fire-control) Type 341, I-band; (37mm AAA fire-control) Type 343, I-band; (Navigation) Type 752 or Racal Decca RM-1226
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
Missiles: 6X SY-1 SSMs, two triple launchers; active radar homing to 35km at 0.8 Mach, warhead 513kg, liquid fuel
Guns: 2X single-100mm main guns, 16km-range; 4X Type 61 manual dual-37mm AAA, 8.5km range
Anti-submarine: 2X Type 62 5-barrel 250mm anti-submarine rocket launcher; 4X DC projectors; 2X DC rack
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