The Type 075 landing helicopter dock (

NATO reporting name NATO reporting names are code names for military equipment from Russia, China, and historically, the Eastern Bloc (Soviet Union and other nations of the Warsaw Pact). They provide unambiguous and easily understood English words in a uniform man ...

: Yushen-class landing helicopter assault) is a class of Chinese

amphibious assault ship An amphibious assault ship is a type of amphibious warfare ship employed to land and support ground forces on enemy territory by an amphibious assault. The design evolved from aircraft carriers converted for use as helicopter carriers (and, a ...

s built by

Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding is a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC). It produces civilian and military ships. Hudong–Zhonghua claims to be the "Cradle of Chinese Frigates and Landing Ships" for its work for the People ...

for the

People's Liberation Army Navy The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN; ), also known as the People's Navy, Chinese Navy, or PLA Navy, is the maritime service branch of the People's Liberation Army. The PLAN traces its lineage to naval units fighting during the Chines ...

(PLAN). It has a full-length

flight deck The flight deck of an aircraft carrier is the surface from which its aircraft take off and land, essentially a miniature airfield at sea. On smaller naval ships which do not have aviation as a primary mission, the landing area for helicopte ...

for helicopter operations and features a floodable well deck from which to disembark hovercraft and armored amphibious assault vehicles.

History

The Marine Design and Research Institute of China (708 Institute) of the

China State Shipbuilding Corporation The China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) is a Chinese shipbuilding conglomerate. Description CSSC is one of the top 10 defence groups in China. It consists of various shipyards, equipment manufacturers, research institutes and shipbu ...

began design work in 2011. Debate over the desired result may have continued into 2016. Reportedly, the Central Military Commission Equipment Development Department favored a smaller design than the final Type 075, effectively an enlarged

Type 071 amphibious transport dock The Type 071 (NATO reporting name: Yuzhao) is a class of Chinese amphibious transport dock ships in service with the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). The Type 071 provides the PLAN with capabilities and flexibility not found in its previo ...

, possibly due to concerns that the existing propulsion plant was insufficient for a larger ship. Ultimately, the PLAN's desire for an LHA prevailed.

received the contract in 2018 and construction began that year. Images of ''Hainan'', the first ship, under construction in drydock appeared by June 2019. She suffered a minor fire while

fitting out Fitting out, or outfitting, is the process in shipbuilding that follows the float-out/launching of a vessel and precedes sea trials. It is the period when all the remaining construction of the ship is completed and readied for delivery to her o ...

in April 2020 which did not slow construction. ''Hainan'' commissioned on 23 April 2021 and reached

initial operating capability Initial operating capability or initial operational capability (IOC) is the state achieved when a capability is available in its minimum usefully deployable form. The term is often used in government or military procurement. The United States D ...

in March 2022. In November 2022, The PLAN announced that the first two ships were combat ready.

Design

The flight deck is 226 meters long and 36 meters wide. There are seven flight spots - six along the port side and one aft of the island. The forward aircraft elevator can carry one medium helicopter with rotors folded; the stern elevator is larger and can carry Changhe Z-8 helicopters with rotors folded. Two weapons elevators are located on the forward flight deck. The hangar may be 150 meters long, 20 meters wide, and 6 meters high. The ship may operate 20-35 aircraft. The well deck and vehicle deck are one continuous space. The well deck has a 20 meter wide gate and may be 80-90 meters long, sufficient for two or three

Type 726 LCAC The Type 726 LCAC (with NATO reporting name Yuyi class) is a class of air-cushioned landing craft used by the People's Liberation Army Navy. Six Yuyi-class LCACs are believed to be in service with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), with the fi ...

s. The vehicle deck is large enough for a PLAN Marine Corps amphibious mechanized infantry company plus additional platoon-sized tank or artillery elements. An opening on each side allows

roll-on/roll-off Roll-on/roll-off (RORO or ro-ro) ships are cargo ships designed to carry wheeled cargo, such as cars, motorcycles, trucks, semi-trailer trucks, buses, trailers, and railroad cars, that are driven on and off the ship on their own wheels or using ...

access to the vehicle deck.

List of ships

Citations

Sources

* Amphibious warfare vessel classes Amphibious warfare vessels of the People's Liberation Army Navy Helicopter carrier classes {{navy-stub

History

Design

List of ships

See also

Citations

Sources