Type 065 Jiangnan-class Frigates - Program
In the 1950s, China obtained authorization from the Soviet Union to manufacture Type 01 frigates (ie, 6 Type 601 frigate). The Chinese Navy had a type of practical main battle equipment, and the Chinese shipbuilding industry has also begun to build modern large and medium-sized surface ships. However, because only Shanghai Jiangnan Shipyard was able to build frigates, and the Taiwan Strait was blocked by the United States and Taiwan’s Nationalist Navy, all new frigates in service could not enter the South China Sea to equip the Chinese Navy’s South China Sea fleet. [This formulation is frequently encountered in Chinese sources, and evidently the idea of sailing completely around Taiwan much further out to sea, entirely bypassing the Taiwan Strait, was not considered an option] On the other hand, after entering the 1960s, due to the frequent provocations by South Vietnam in the South China Sea and other reasons, the situation in the South China Sea is becoming increasingly tense. The South China Sea Fleet with only one old frigate "Nanning" (formerly the Japanese Navy's Type 1-Type C-Haiphong) urgently needed firepower. Main surface warships with long range and good seaworthiness could perform patrol missions in the vast waters of the South China Sea. Therefore, the task of developing a new type of frigate was put on the agenda of the Chinese shipbuilding industry.
In fact, the Chinese Navy has proposed a new frigate in 1958. Plan, code 022. However, under the influence of the "Great Leap Forward" atmosphere, the military required the new ship to have a displacement of less than 800 tons and a speed of 45 knots (at least 40 knots, both implausibly high numbers). It was to use gas turbine power and be equipped with 2 100 mm guns, 3 57 mm guns, and anti-submarine rocket launchers [very heavy armament for such a small displacement]. Because the gas turbines and other key equipment could not be implemented, this plan was later forced to be dismissed, but it set the tone for the subsequent frigate development work - but using existing equipment and using mature technology to ensure progress and to meet urgent needs. In December 1961, in order to strengthen the strength of the South China Sea Fleet, the Navy proposed to use existing materials and equipment to design and build frigates. The first ship was to be created Before 1965 (the code for the "65" ship also came from this), and Four ships were to be built built in the "Three Five-Year Plan" (1966 ~ 1970).
The Type 65 frigate was the first one designed and built by China, all using domestic materials and equipment. During the difficult period of "three years of natural disasters" (1959 ~ 1961), the situation of domestic and international struggles required new ships. At this time, the Soviet government suspended technical assistance to China and withdrew all experts. Therefore, China had to rely on its own strength to develop the ship industry and organize ship scientific research and production. To this end, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China decided to establish the China Ship Research Institute (ie, the Seventh Research Institute of the Ministry of Defense). On June 7, 1961, the Seventh Academy of Defense (abbreviated as the Seventh Academy) was established. In December 1962, the 701 Institute was ordered to assume the overall design and specific tasks of the 65 type frigate.
Based on the reference to the 6601 type ship, China designed its own type 65 artillery frigate. After the cooperation of 701 and Hudong Shipyard, Shanghai Shipbuilding and Repairing Factory, Shanghai Jiaotong University, and the Fourth Ship Product Design Office, the Type 65 frigate was laid at the Shanghai Jiangnan Shipyard in 1964. The new frigate officially joined the Navy in 1966. It entered service and was named the Type 65 Artillery Frigate.
The Type 65 frigate's weapons and equipment were not advanced, and the single-tube 100mm main gun was based from a land system. The main engine was a single engine of only 3300 horsepower diesel engine, the maximum speed is only 23 knots. However, it was the first frigate with the large tonnage and the most complicated technology designed and built by China. Relying entirely on China’s own scientific and technological strength, based on the country, from the ground up, China completed the entire process of design, construction, testing and service.
For the first time, this type of ship used 901 ship steel developed by China. For the first time, a 380V AC system was used; for the first time, an air conditioning system was used. Through sea trials and use, especially after the test of typhoon 12, it fully proved that the design is successful, the performance is excellent, the quality of construction is good, and the equipment is reliable.
Considering that the Taiwan Strait was not yet navigable, the warships launched into the sea could not serve in the South China Sea. So it was decided to build the first 65 type ship in Shanghai and deliver the ship in the East China Sea. Then the Shanghai side helped the Guangzhou side build the next four ships and delivered them to the South China Sea. During construction, Guangzhou only undertook the hull structure manufacturing and final assembly tasks, while Shanghai provided all the complete sets of components that can be transported by train, as well as personnel training, process equipment, and documents. This led to the development of Guangzhou's shipbuilding industry. The Shipyards had built wooden torpedo speedboats and 55 A gunboats, but now could build medium-sized surface ships, laying the foundation for further construction of destroyers.
In August 1964, the first ship of the Shanghai Jiangnan Shipyard (ship number 529) was started, launched in December 1965, and commissioned in August 1966, which lasted two years. Because the first ship was built at the Jiangnan Shipyard, it was called the "Jiangnan" class in the Jane's Ship Yearbook. At the same time, the Guangzhou Shipyard rebuilt the slipway, newly built workshops and infrastructure required for the construction of medium-sized ships, and sent people to Shanghai to participate in the construction process. On the Shanghai side, standards were set during the construction of the first ship, and a full set of technical information was provided to Guangzhou, so that the Guangzhou side had a basic technical foundation.
In August 1965, Guangzhou's No. 1 ship (ship No. 504) started construction, was launched in June 1966, and entered service in December 1966. Guangzhou-built No. 4 ship (No. 503) started construction in May 1966. Due to the influence of the "Cultural Revolution", it entered active service only in June 1969. The construction of five ships of the Type 65 frigate took 4 years and 11 months. The design was started in February 1962, but it too 7 years and 5 months. According to the Jane ’s warship yearbook, the five ships are 501 "Xiaguan", 502 "Nanchong", 503 "Kai Yuan", 504 "Dongchuan" ship, and 529 "Haikou" ship, all belonging to the South China Sea Fleet.
Among them, 529 ships first served in the East China Sea Fleet, and in 1981 they were added into the South China Sea Fleet. With the development of missile weapons and radar electronic equipment, and the reasons for the life of the ship, by 1994, the last Type 65 ship withdrew from active service, and the No. 3 ship 502 built in Guangzhou entered the Qingdao Naval Museum for permanent preservation.
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