Type 903 replenishment ship

The Type 903 combined replenishment ship (Chinese: 903型综合补给舰, NATO reporting name: Fuchi) is a class of replenishment oiler (AOR) built for the People's Liberation Army Navy, serving as a principal fleet auxiliary ship for blue-water expeditionary missions by the People's Republic of China.^[1] They resemble HTMS Similan, an AOR built by China for Thailand delivered in 1996.^[1][3]

Gaoyouhu
Class overview
Builders	CSSC Offshore & Marine Engineering (Group) Company Limited Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard
Operators	People's Liberation Army Navy
Preceded by	Type 908 replenishment ship
Succeeded by	Type 901 replenishment ship
In commission	2004
Completed	9
Active	9
General characteristics
Type	Replenishment oiler
Displacement	23,369 tons (full load)[1]
Length	178.5 metres (586 ft)[1]
Beam	24.8 metres (81 ft)[1]
Draught	8.7 metres (29 ft)[1]
Propulsion	2 x SEMT Pielstick 16PC2 6V400 diesel engines;[1] 2 shafts[1] Total output: 24,000 hp (18,000 kW)[1]
Speed	19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph)[1]
Range	10,000 nautical miles (19,000 km; 12,000 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)[1]
Capacity	10,500 tons of fuel oil, 250 tons of fresh water, 680 tons of cargo and ammunition[1]
Complement	130[1]
Armament	4 x twin 37 mm[1]
Aircraft carried	1 Harbin Z-8[1] or Changhe Z-18[2]
Aviation facilities	hangar and flight deck[2]

Two original-design Type 903s entered service in 2003. Construction of the Type 903A (NATO reporting name: Fuchi II), a slightly modified design, began in 2010; the first Type 903As entered service in 2013,^[1] and a total of eight ships are currently in service.

Development

According to Zhang Gang, chief designer of Similan, China started development of a new AOR in 1988. Development was delayed due to cost, leading China to buy a Komandarm Fedko-class oiler, renamed Qinghaihu, from Ukraine in 1992. The new design was completed for Similan, which became the basis for the Type 903.^[4]

Design

The Type 903 is a flush-decked development of the Type 905 AOR resembling the French Durance.^[5]

There are two liquid and one sliding-stay solid transfer stations per side. Refuelling may also be conducted from the stern.^[5]

Ships of the class

Name	Hull No.	Builder	Launched	Commissioned	Fleet	Status
Type 903
千岛湖 / Qiandaohu (ex-Fuchi)[1]	886[1]	Hudong Shipyard[1]	29 March 2003[1]	30 April 2004[1]	East Sea Fleet[1]	Active[1]
微山湖 / Weishanhu[1]	887[1]	Guangzhou Shipyard International[1]	June 2003[1]	2004[1]	South Sea Fleet[1]	Active[1]
Type 903A
太湖 / Taihu[1]	889[1]	Guangzhou Shipyard International	22 March 2012[1]	18 June 2013[1]	North Sea Fleet[1]	Active[1]
巢湖 / Chaohu[1]	890[1]	Hudong Shipyard[1]	6 May 2012[1]	11 September 2013[1]	East Sea Fleet[1]	Active[1]
东平湖 / Dongpinghu[6]	902(Ex-960)[6][7]					Active[6]
洪湖 / Honghu[6]	906(Ex-963)[6][8]					Active[6]
骆马湖 / Luomahu[6]	907(Ex-964)[6][9]					Active[6]
高邮湖 / Gaoyouhu[6]	904(Ex-966)[6][10]					Active[6]
可可西里湖 / Kekexilihu[6]	903(Ex-968)[6][11]					Active[6]

Gallery

• 
  Taihu at Victoria, Canada.
• 
  Flight deck of Taihu.