The Type 903 (

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 ...

: ''Fuchi'') is a class of

replenishment oiler A replenishment oiler or replenishment tanker is a naval auxiliary ship with fuel tanks and dry cargo holds which can supply both fuel and dry stores during underway replenishment (UNREP) at sea. Many countries have used replenishment oilers. Th ...

(AOR) built 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 ...

by the

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. They resemble , an AOR built by China for

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and delivered in 1996. Two Type 903s entered service in 2003. Construction of the Type 903A, a slightly modified design, began in 2010; the first Type 903As entered service in 2013.

Development

According to Zhang Gang, chief designer of ''Similan'', China started development of a new AOR in 1988. Development was delayed due to cost, leading China to buy a

Komandarm Fedko-class oiler The ''Komandarm Fedko'' class is a class of Replenishment oiler, replenishment tankers operated by the Indian Navy, Indian and People's Liberation Army Navy, Chinese navies. Four ships of the ''Komandarm Fedko'' class were constructed by the Sov ...

, renamed '' Qinghaihu'', from

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in 1992. The new design was completed for ''Similan'', which became the basis for the Type 903.

Design

The Type 903 is a flush-decked development of the Type 905 AOR resembling the French ''

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. File:Flight Deck of Type 903A People's Liberation Army Navy Replenishment Ship Taihu (889).jpg, Flight deck of ''Taihu''.

References

Sources

* * * {{Ship classes of the Chinese Navy Auxiliary replenishment ship classes Qiandaohu-class replenishment ships