China building more Type 055 large destroyers
The guided-missile destroyer Dalian (Hull 105) attached to the PLA Southern Theater Command sails during a far-sea joint training drill in early April, 2023.
China is reportedly building more Type 055 large destroyers, for their Navy’s strides toward the blue water and efforts. Citing new commercial satellite imagery of the Dalian Shipyard in Dalian, Northeast China’s Liaoning Province, it has been reported on Tuesday that China has recently launched its 10th Type 055 large destroyer and is ramping up ship production.
It marks the launch of the second recently launched Type 055, with the Shanghai-based Jiangnan Shipyard having launched the previous ship in late 2023. From January 2020 to April 2023, the PLA Navy had commissioned eight Type 055 large destroyers from the first batch of production, according to official releases.
The Type 055 is considered a contemporary destroyer in terms of comprehensive capabilities, as it can accompany aircraft carriers or play the role of a command ship. Adding more Type 055s can give the PLA more tactical flexibility.
The Dalian Shipyard has commenced construction on a further hull for a Type 055 in the second batch, and laid down another Type 052D destroyer, said Naval News. Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai also appears to be working on a second hull for the second batch’s Type 055, as well as additional Type 052Ds.
Other Chinese shipyards such as Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai and Huangpu-Wenchong Shipyard in Guangzhou, South China’s Guangdong Province, are continuing to construct Type 054A and Type 054B frigates and related adoptions for the China Coast Guard, the report said.
The PLA Navy has started a providing its regular escort missions in the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia as well as humanitarian aid and disaster relief missions when needed. However if it thinks of making any kind of mischief in the Indian Ocean like it tries in West Philippines Sea and Natuna Sea then it stands no chance. After all Indian Ocean is India ‘s Ocean.
