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Pre-2012 Nomenclature System

Prior to December 2012, the PLAN used the hull numbering system described below.

The PLAN assigned 3-digit hull numbers to its submarines as follows:

• Nuclear submarines had 4xx hull numbers
• Conventional submarines had 2xx or3xx hull numbers

The PLAN assigned 3-digit hull numbers to its destroyers and frigates as follows:

• Destroyers had 1xx hull numbers
• Frigates had 5xx hull numbers

In addition, vessels above battalion leader grade had 3-digit hull numbers. These include submarine chasers, minesweeper ships, serviceships, landing ships, and some escort boats. Small combatants have a 4-digit pennant number,the first digit of which signifies area subordination. Furthermore, company leader-gradeboats have 4-digit hull numbers. These include minesweeper boats, service ships, landing craft, missile speedboats, missile boats, and some escort boats. The system for hull numbers on auxiliaries consists of a 3-digit number preceded by two or more Chinese characters describing the ship's fleet and function. For example, "nanshui" is an SSF water tanker: The first character shows the fleet as follows:

• "Bei" for North Sea Fleet
• "Dong" for East Sea Fleet
• "Nan" for South Sea Fleet

The second character showed the function as follows:

• "Jiao" for transport
• "Jiu" for salvage
• "Jun" for dredge
• "Kang" for hospital
• "Shui" for water tanker
• "Tuo" for tug
• "Xiu" for repair
• "You" for oiler

When the Chinese Navy ships are received or built, they are assigned a 3- digit (or 2- digit) code, which is quite confusing at the beginning. For example, in 1950, the Gordy-class destroyer from the former Soviet Union was purchased, and the PLAN used the code of the Soviet 07 (also known as the 6607 ).

Later, various types of ships were built, and the code of the assignment was more regular. Types 051 and 052 are special codes for destroyers. If there is any modification or system upgrade for each type of destroyer, the English letters ( A, B, C, D... ) or Roman numerals ( I, II, III ) display. For example, the 052D is based on the 052 -type destroyer as the basic stage. After the fourth research and modification of the destroyer, it is also the versatile destroyer of the Chinese Navy with the latest phase-array radar and advanced vertical launch system. 051 type III is at 051. The third modified destroyer was carried out on the basis of the type. At present, in addition to the K -class submarines ( types 877EKM, 636 and 636A ) and the modern ( Sovremenny-class) destroyers ( types 956E and 956EM ) still use the Russian model, all domestic ships are given a custom model.

In 1953, the Chinese Communist Party purchased the Riga-class frigate design blueprint and related crew equipment from the former Soviet Union. In 1956 and 1959, two ships were set up in Shanghai Hudong and Guangzhou Huangpu Shipyard respectively. The frigate built by the mainland itself is assigned the code of type 01 (also known as the 6601 type). In 1962, the PLAN began to set up a completely self-made light frigate, with the 065 code, and built five.

There is obviously no rule to follow in these models. Some people think that these five ships were completed in 1965, so they are called 065 frigates. In fact, the ship type code of the PLAN's ships has been assigned at the planning stage. It can be found in other types of ships that there is no necessary correlation between the model and the completion time. The ship was completed in 1965. Known as the 065 type, it is obviously a far-fetched attachment, and it is also a mistake that has caused the consequences. From 065 each frigate after the start type are made, the model is also more traceable, 053, 054,056 is the exclusive code of the frigate, and the subsequent derivative models of each type of frigate are displayed in the same way as the destroyer.

Subsequent derivatives of the Type 053 frigate were once referred to as Models 055 and 057 by the planners, but the models were not approved by the Navy. Currently, the two models are not in service. The Western think tanks judged that the 055 may be the 052D advanced destroyer, while the 057 may be reserved for the next-generation frigate that is more advanced than the 054A. In fact, the former argument and can not be established, because since it is " 052D type" would not be " 055 type", ships models are completed in the planning stage demonstration on the establishment, not to mention there are already 1 Sou 052D type ship into the water, and the other One ship is also close to the launching stage. Since it is constructed with the 052D blueprint, it is impossible to come out with other models after completion. The "055 type" may continue to develop on the basis of the "052D type", it is a reasonable forecast. As for the truth about the Type 057, it will take years to observe.

The model of the PLAN's submarine does not appear disorganized. From the introduction of blueprints and materials, the self-built 03 (also known as the 6603 ), the self-made 031 and 033, to the fully autonomous 035, 039 and 043 are traditional power. Submarine; Types 091, 092, 093, 094, 096 and 097 are nuclear-powered submarines. Whether it is a traditional power or a nuclear-powered submarine, the larger the model, the more advanced the submarine performance. Like surface ships, outsourced submarines also maintain the original model. For example, the 877EKM, 636 and 636A traditional power submarines from Russia.

The number of PLAN's naval submarines, anti-submarines, torpedo speedboats and missile speedboats has reached as many as hundreds. Today, a large number of them have been decommissioned, and their models will not be as much as submarines and frigates. Anti / submarine chasers primarily 04 -type (also known as the 6604 model) and 037 type and derived type; missile boats, there are 037 -type service and was near 022 type; more torpedo boat of the type, including the already decommissioned P4 type, 02 type (also known as 6602 type), 25 type (also known as 6625 type) has been decommissioned and most of the 026 type and 027 type. In the future, the possibility of the PLAN continuing to build hunting/anti-submarines and torpedo speedboats is not high, and light and small warships will be replaced by missile-capable speedboats with stealth capabilities.

Models for sweeping, mine hunting and mine-laying ships include decommissioned Type 05 (also known as Model 6605 ) and Type 10 (also known as Type 6610 ) minesweepers, as well as Type 918 minebreakers, Type 081 minefields and Type 082 minesweepers. The minesweeper section has decommissioned 057K, 312 and 7102 models. In the future, new types of hunting/sweeping ships will use the 081 and 082 types as the basis for their development.

There are also many models of landing ships, including the 1151 tank landing ship (LST ), the 071 type dock landing ship, the 072 type large landing ship, the 073 and 079 medium-sized landing ships, except for the 1151 type, which have been decommissioned. Most of the ships are new ships with a ship age of less than 10 years. The landing crafts are the Type 271 small landing craft, the 066 / 067, 068, 069, 074 general landing craft and the 716, 726 (decommissioned) and 727 air cushion landing craft.