Type 073II Yudao-class medium landing ship

The Yudao class ship enterred service in early 1980s and replaced the elderly Medium Landing Ship class. The 073II medium-sized landing ship adopts the first open door short-seat ship type, sheltered high tank deck, diesel engine power, and double-shaft scull propulsion. The design task is to transport the landing troops directly at the beachhead during the landing operation of the sea, assisting the mine-laying ship to deploy defensive mines in the offshore area, and also serve as a transportation task.

In 1975, the 9308 factory (located in a county in Anhui Province) actively proposed to the Sixth Ministry of Machinery Industry and the Provincial Defense Industry Office to apply for the trial production of the Type 073II medium-sized landing ship on the basis of Type 073, and to add a 500-ton class position in the shipyard area. In April 1976, the Sixth Machine Department held a meeting, passed the technical design of the Type 073II ship, and issued three production plans. It started production in September 1976, launched in June 1978, and carried out inland river and sea trials from 1978 to 1979. At the beginning of 1980, it ended its trial flight and delivered to the Navy.

The successful construction of the 073II medium-sized landing ship marked the maturity of the production conditions for the construction of larger military auxiliary ships in Anhui Province. After the quality of the vessel was not enough, the second and third type 073II medium-sized landing ships cannot be rebuilt. In 1985, the 9308 plant reworked and rebuilt more than 100 uncompleted 073II landing hulls, deck machinery, electrical and turbines, and successfully converted the 073II landing ship into a military carrier. In September 1985, the military transport ship launched a trial flight.

By 2010 there was only one ship in the class currently in service, 965, and it is currently based in the East Sea Fleet. As of 1987 it was reported that there were four units of this class, and as of 1995 there were reportedly three units in service.