Type 053K Jiangdong-class Frigate
The Jiangdong-class frigates are largely identical to Jianghu-class, apart from mounting surface-to-air missiles for anti-air warfare rather than surface-to-surface missiles. China's first vertical launch system [VLS] was anticipated for the the HQ-61 missile, scheduled to be installed on the Jiangdong FFG-531. This premier Chinese anti-aircraft missile frigate, whose keel was laid in 1970, was commissioned in 1977. The missile system did not enter service until the mid-1980s, and turned out to be a twin rail launcher, rather than a VLS. Either the initial reports about the VLS were mistaken or disinformation, or some early technical difficulties could not be overcome. In any event, this ship was withdrawn from service [not scrapped] in 1994.
Type 053K Frigate (NATO code: Jiangdong Class Frigate), was the first type of air defense missile frigate developed and built by China in the early 1970s. For the first time, this type of ship was equipped with the "Red Flag-61" (HQ-61) ship-to-air missile system. Its basic mission is to carry out the escort mission in the middle and offshore seas, and to cover and support missile boats and torpedo boats in wartime.
In the mid-1960s, the People's Navy had equipped the Type 01 (Chengdu-class) and Type 65 (Jiangnan-class) two types of artillery frigates, initially having the capability of offshore activities, and the artillery ships were in line with the surrounding countries. However, at this time, the advanced countries of the world navy have begun the process of ship missileization. With the development of China's missile technology and the construction of small missile ships, the Navy was also preparing to surpass the world's advanced level and promote the missileization of medium-sized surface ships, destroyers and frigates.
The 053K frigate was equipped with a new type of ship-to-air missile, a new fully automatic 100mm main gun, a fully automatic 37mm auxiliary gun, a three-coordinate radar, a folding anti-roller, and a 18E390VA diesel engine. Although the 053K frigate failed to become the main ship of the Chinese Navy, as there were imperfections in design, its significance to the Chinese navy is very important. The 053K was the first frigate of the Chinese Navy to integrate many new weapons and equipment into one platform. Compared with the Type 65 frigate and Type 01 frigate equipped with only artillery and anti-submarine weapons, it was a great improvemennt in quality. It already possessed the characteristics of a missile frigate in the modern sense and has kept up with the development trend of the world missile frigate.
This type of frigate so heavily burdened the industry of China in the early 1970s that these new technologies were almost simultaneously developed with the hull, and the development time coincided with the "Cultural Revolution". It was already decided that this type of ship itself will encounter many difficulties. However, this is the first attempt of the Chinese Navy's modern frigate. It is an accumulation of experience and technology. Although it is not a type of successful frigate, its construction inadvertently led to the development of a series of domestic radars and weapon systems. And development, such as the "Red Flag 61" ship-to-air missile equipped with the ship, fully automatic small and medium-calibre guns, three-coordinate radar, etc. were improved to become the main battle equipment on the new generation of drive and protection.
The 053K frigate had major flaws in electronic equipment - no electronic warfare equipment, or even the most basic passive interference equipment, although this is determined by the design era, but it has greatly reduced its survivability, especially this type of ship. It should be used frequently as a formation air defense core, and this kind of defect is more obvious at this time. The 053K frigate, as China's first air defense frigate, had many gaps compared with foreign frigates with air defense capabilities.
Two ships were built on the 053K ship. The second ship No. 532 was started. It was started in October 1971 and by July 1977, the first phase of the project was delivered. Later, the shipborne missile weapons were not installed and the hull and pipelines were seriously corroded. Some of the shipborne equipment was not working properly and it was retired in June 1986.
In the late 1970s, the Navy also proposed a type of air defense and general-purpose frigate on the basis of 053K. It was originally called 053C, later changed to 053K1, and finally called 053I. It was also equipped with "Red Flag-61" air defense missiles and "Eagle-8" anti-ship missiles, the main engine also used 18E390VA diesel engine. The ship had already completed the basic design work and is about to enter the construction phase. However, due to insufficient naval military expenses, the ship was unable to bear the cost of the ship, which caused the project to be dismantled in 1985.
The 053K frigate's first ship, the 531 Yingtan, participated in the "314 Naval Battle" conducted by the South China Sea and the South Vietnamese Navy on March 14, 1988, and participated in the military operations of the Chinese army to recover the six island reefs such as the Nansha Yongshu Reef. The Yingtan frigate was retired in the 1990s and is the permanent collection of the Qingdao Naval Museum.
The 053K frigate was equipped with a series of new equipment such as ship-to-air missiles, new fully automatic 100mm guns, fully automatic force millimeter guns, three-coordinate radar, folding anti-rolling device and 18E390VA diesel engine. It was a big step forward compared to the 65 ships with only isolated artillery and anti-submarine weapons. It can be said that the 65 ship also bears the shadow of the ships of World War II, while the 053K ship is completely a frigate in the modern sense. However, under the industrial basis at that time, such a large number of new technologies were used, and these new technologies were almost simultaneously developed with the ship as a whole, and the development time coincided with the "Cultural Revolution", which has already decided this type of ship. The difficulties that will be encountered by itself. Although this type of ship itself is not a success, it has led to the development of a series of equipment.
The "Red Flag-61" missile provided valuable experience for the installation of anti-aircraft missiles on other ships; the ship type of the 053K ship became the basis for the subsequent construction of a large number of follow-up frigates; the three-coordinate radar also became Later, the technical basis of a large number of equipped three-coordinate radars... In short, the attempt was an inevitable process in the process of advancement - the 053K played its due role as an attempt and accumulation of skills.
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