The Type 075 landing helicopter dock (

NATO reporting name NATO uses a system of code names, called reporting names, to denote military aircraft and other equipment used by post-Soviet states, former Warsaw Pact countries, China, and other countries. The system assists military communications by providi ...

: Yushen-class landing helicopter assault) is a class of Chinese

amphibious assault ship An amphibious assault ship is a type of warship employed to land and support ground forces on enemy territory during an armed conflict. The design evolved from aircraft carriers converted for use as helicopter carriers (which, as a result, ar ...

s built by

Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding is a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC). It produces civilian and military ships. Hudong–Zhonghua claims to be the "Cradle of Chinese Frigates and Landing Ships" for its work for the Peop ...

for the

People's Liberation Army Navy The People's Liberation Army Navy, also known as the People's Navy, PLA Navy or simply Chinese Navy, is the naval warfare military branch, branch of the People's Liberation Army, the national military of the People's Republic of China. It i ...

(PLAN). It has a full-length

flight deck The flight deck of an aircraft carrier is the surface on which its aircraft take off and land, essentially a miniature airfield at sea. On smaller naval ships which do not have aviation as a primary mission, the landing area for helicopters ...

for helicopter operations and features a floodable well deck from which to disembark hovercraft and armored amphibious assault vehicles.

History

The Marine Design and Research Institute of China (708 Institute) of the

China State Shipbuilding Corporation The China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) is a state-owned shipbuilding conglomerate of the People's Republic of China (PRC). Background CSSC is one of the top 10 defence groups in the PRC. It consists of various shipyards, equip ...

began design work in 2011. Debate over the desired result may have continued into 2016. Reportedly, the

Central Military Commission Central Military Commission may refer to: *Central Military Commission (China), the highest national defense organization in the People's Republic of China. *Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the highest body in Vietnam ...

Equipment Development Department favored a smaller design than the final Type 075, effectively an enlarged

Type 071 amphibious transport dock The Type 071 (NATO reporting name: Yuzhao) is a class of Chinese amphibious transport dock ships in service with the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). The Type 071 provides the PLAN with capabilities and flexibility not found in its prev ...

, possibly due to concerns that the existing propulsion plant was insufficient for a larger ship. Ultimately, the PLAN's desire for an LHA prevailed.

received the contract in 2018 and construction began that year. Images of ''Hainan'', the first ship, under construction in

drydock A dry dock (sometimes drydock or dry-dock) is a narrow basin or vessel that can be flooded to allow a load to be floated in, then drained to allow that load to come to rest on a dry platform. Dry docks are used for the construction, maintenance, ...

appeared by June 2019. She suffered a minor fire while fitting out in April 2020 which did not slow construction. ''Hainan'' commissioned on 23 April 2021 and reached

initial operating capability Initial operating capability or initial operational capability (IOC) is the state achieved when a capability is available in its minimum usefully deployable form. The term is often used in government or military procurement. The United States D ...

in March 2022. In November 2022, the PLAN announced that the first two ships were combat ready.

Design

The flight deck is long and wide. There are seven flight spots - six along the port side and one aft of the island. The forward aircraft elevator can carry one medium helicopter with rotors folded; the stern elevator is larger and can carry

Changhe Z-8 Changhe, officially Jiangxi Changhe Automobile Co Ltd, was a Chinese automobile manufacturer based in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, China.Type 726 LCAC The Type 726 LCAC (with NATO reporting name Yuyi class), also known as the Wild Horse class LCAC() is a class of air-cushioned landing craft used by the People's Liberation Army Navy. Six Yuyi-class LCACs are believed to be in service with th ...

s. The vehicle deck is large enough for a PLAN Marine Corps amphibious mechanized infantry company plus additional platoon-sized tank or artillery elements. An opening on each side allows

roll-on/roll-off Roll-on/roll-off (RORO or ro-ro) ships are cargo ships designed to carry wheeled cargo, such as cars, motorcycles, trucks, semi-trailer trucks, buses, Trailer (vehicle), trailers, and railroad cars, that are driven on and off the ship on their ...

access to the vehicle deck. The ship has an estimated displacement between , or more than at full displacement.

List of ships

Citations

Sources

* {{Ship classes of the Chinese Navy, state=uncollapsed Amphibious warfare vessel classes Amphibious warfare vessels of the People's Liberation Army Navy Helicopter carrier classes Type 075 landing helicopter dock

History

Design

List of ships

See also

Citations

Sources