Military


Destroyer Shipbuilding

Since 1971 there have been six different shipyards involved with building destroyers (DDG) for the P.L.A.N. As of 2006 only two remain. The four shipyards that have produced destroyers in the past but have now been absorbed with other shipyards are as follows:

  • Luda Naval Facility – is located in the Liaoning Province, in Liaoning. This shipyard was responsible for constructing six Type 051 Luda-class Guided Missile Destroyers between 1971 and 1975. This ship yard has been incorporated into the Dalian New Shipyard.
  • Zhonghua Shipyard – was established in 1926 in Shanghai. This particular shipyard was responsible for constructing four Type 051 Luda-class Guided Missile Destroyers over a four year period between 1980 and 1983. This ship yard, as of mid-2000, has been negotiating a merger with the Hudong shipyard.
  • Guangzhou Naval Base – is located at the mouth of the Pearl River, 70 nm (nautical miles) north of Hong Kong. This shipyard was responsible for constructing seven Type 051 Luda-class Guided Missile Destroyers. The first was produced on or about late 1972 or early 1973. This ship, a Luda-I #160 was lost near Zanjiang due to an explosion in August 1978. Further, this shipyard produced two more destroyers in 1983 and then one per year for the next three years. The last destroyer produced in this yard was a Luda-III series in 1991. This shipyards development is limited by the extensive shallow areas and heavy siltation. China has been renovating this shipyard since the early to mid-1990s, by adding more berths for vessels and by deepening the approach channel by 12.5 meters, which should be completed by 2005.
  • Qiuxin Shipyard – was founded in 1902 and is located on the west bank of Huangpu River, near Shanghai. This shipyard only produced one destroyer, a Type 052 Luhu-class Multi-role Destroyer in 1994. In August of 2000 this shipyard merged with Jiangnan shipyard.

    The following are the two remaining shipyards known to be involved with the construction of destroyers.

    Jiangnan Shipyard

    The Jiangnan shipyard was established in 1865 and is located near Shanghai. This shipyard has in the past built some frigates, but more recently, with the exception of two SS Song-class submarines built in 2005, has been focused on the production of destroyers. The first DDG built here was a Type 052 Luhu-class Multi-role Destroyer in 1996. It is possible that a second ship of this class was launched about 1995 and then halted, and then possibly restarted in 1999. Between 2003 and 2005 Jiangnan shipyard has completed four Type 052 Luhai-class Multi-role Destroyers. One of the series Type 052B Luyang I was completed in 2003 with an additional ship of the same series completed in 2004. Also in 2004, the first of two in the series Type 052C Luyang II was completed. The second in this series was completed in early 2005. There is speculation as to another ship in this series being launched in 2005, if so; this boat could be completed sometime in 2006.

    This shipyard has maintained a build rate of one boat per year; with an exception in 2004 when it built two boats, one each of two different series’. It is projected that the Jiangnan shipyard can produce approximately one DDG every year. This shipyard has also proven, in relation to destroyer building, that if necessary, it can produce two boats per year as meets P.L.A.N.’s requirements.

    Dalian Shipyard

    Dalian City was founded in 1899. Since then it has grown into a major seaport and center for industry. Dalian sits on the southern tip of the Liaodong Peninsula facing the Bohai and Yellow Seas. The Dalian shipyard has produced Type 052 Luhai-class Multi-role Destroyers. One of the series Type 052A was completed in 1999. Two additional ships were launched, one in 2004 and another in 2005. It is expected that these ships can be completed by 2006 and 2007 respectively assuming construction is not impeded. The types are also unknown but it is possible that a new DDG Luzhou Type 051C could be the result.

    Though the 1990s this shipyard has undergone massive renovations which would explain the low production rates. It is estimated this shipyard, when fully operational, will produce approximately one DDG per year as meets P.L.A.N.’s requirements.

    Destroyer Construction History

      Date   Luda   Zhonghua   Guangzhou   Qiuxin   Jiangnan   Dalian     1 1
                                   
      1971 1  
      1972 1 1  
      1974 2  
      1975 2  
      1980 1  
      1981 1  
      1982 1  
      1983 ?1 2  
      1984 1  
      1985 1  
      1986 ?1  
      1991 1  
      1994 1  
      1996 1  
      1999 1  
      2003 1  
      2004 2  
      2005 1  
      2006 1 1  
       
       
    Note:  
    Question marks denote ships accounted for on webpage that do not have years attached, so years produced are estimated