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Luda class destroyer

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The Luda class (Type 051) missile destroyer were the first anti-ship warfare oriented vessel ever designed and built in China, and the first Chinese ship to be fitted with an integrated combat direction system. It was based on the ex-Soviet Kotlin class (project 56) class design.

Contents

History

In the late 1960s, China began testing its long-range rockets for the Chinese space program, as well as the ICBM program. Unfortunately the PLAN only operated four ex-Soviet Gordy class destroyers (Anshan class in PLAN service) at the time, which were unsuitable for long-range ocean recovery missions. The 701 institute was instructed to develop China's first indigenous guided missile destroyer, modelled after the Soviet Kotlin-class. The design was approved in 1967, and construction of the first Type 051 Luda class destroyer began in 1968.

A total of 17 Type 051 destroyers were built between 1968 and 1991. 16 remain in service today. Major refit for ships of this class began in 1990s, replacing the old HY-1/HY-2 with YJ-83 (C-803) missile, and manual guns with automatic guns. For air-defense, an 8-cel HQ-7 SAM is also installed with the upgrade.

Ships

Luda I

This is the original configuration of the design, albeit with equipment inconsistencies among the units. Three shipyards built the 13 vessels of this group: units #106-110 in Luda, #131-134 in Zhonghua, and #160-185 in Guangzhou. Unit No.160 suffered an explosion in 1978 and was eventually scrapped.

The original Luda destroyer was equipped with 2 x triple HY-1 or HY-2 missile launchers, 2 x 130 mm guns, plus an assortment of manual 25 mm, 37 mm, and 57 mm AA guns. Two of the Luda I destroyers were converted into command-vairant, with enlarged superstructure for air defense C3I center, ZJK-1 combat data system, and Type 381A Rice Shield 3-D long-range air search radar.

Luda II

Two Luda class destroyers were modified for ASW and C3I duties. The aft 130 mm gun and AAA guns were removed, and replated with helicopter deck and hanger space for 2 helicopters. See this [pic] for example.

Luda III (051G1/G2)

In the 1980s, the PLAN wanted to upgrade its 051 destroyers with British systems. Originally designed as the Type 051S, the plan was cancelled due to high cost, but later continued as the 051G (Gai) project. Only one ship of this type was built, #166 Zhuhai, equipped with 4 x twin YJ-8 (C-801) SSMs, 1 x triple Whitehead A244 torpedo launcher, Thomson-CSF TAVITAC combat automation system, and EFR-1 Rice Lamp fire-control radar. During the mid-life upgrade, the #166 Zhuhai was upgraded with HQ-7 SAM, 4 x YJ-83 (C-803) SSMs, Type 344 fire-control radar, and Type 79A 37 mm AA guns.

The #165 Zhanjiang was upgraded to the Type 051G1 standard, which is very similiar to the Type 051G2.

Luda mid-life upgrade (051DT)

The PLAN has performed mid-life upgrades on several of its Luda-class destroyers. Some ships have been upgraded with combat data system (C3I), Crotale/HQ-7 SAM, HY-1/HY-2 missiles replaced by 16 YJ-83 (C-803) anti-ship missiles, and manual AA guns replaced by Type 76A dual-37 mm automatic AA guns. The upgraded ships are sometimes referred to as the Type 051DT. At least 2 ships (109 & 110) are reported to have been upgraded to the Type 051DT standard, with more expected to follow.

Type 051DT (mid-life upgrade) Specs

For comparison, please see this [pic] of Luda prior to modernization, and this [pic] of Luda with modernization.

External links

 

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