Type 056 corvette

The Type 056 corvette (NATO reporting name: Jiangdao-class corvette) is a class of littoral combat-oriented corvette (designated natively as "light frigate") deployed by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). They replace older coastal patrol craft and some of the Type 053H frigates.^[4]

Type 056 corvette Shangrao
Class overview
Builders	Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding Wuchang Shipyard Liaonan Shipyard
Operators	People's Liberation Army Navy  China Coast Guard  Bangladesh Navy (C13B)  Nigerian Navy (P18N)  Algerian National Navy (F-15A)  Royal Cambodian Navy (future)
Preceded by	Type 037
Built	2012–2021
In commission	2013–present
Completed	22 (Type 056) 50 (Type 056A)[1] 4 (C13B) 2 (P18N) 1 (F-15A)
Active	50 (PLAN) 22 (China Coast Guard)[2] 7 (Others)
General characteristics
Type	Corvette (per NATO)
Displacement	1,500 tons
Length	90 m (295 ft 3 in)
Beam	11.14 m (36 ft 7 in)
Draught	4 m (13 ft 1 in)
Propulsion	2 SEMT Pielstick PA6-STC diesel motors
Speed	25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Range	3,500 nmi (6,500 km; 4,000 mi) at 16 kn (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Complement	78
Sensors and processing systems	Type 360 air/surface search radar[3] Type 347G fire control radar Bow sonar Towed array and variable depth sonar (Type 056A)
Armament	1 × AK-176 76 mm (3.0 in) gun 2 × H/PJ-17 30 mm (1.2 in) autocannon 2× 2-cell YJ-83 anti-ship missiles, amidships 1 × 8-cell HHQ-10 SAM launcher 2 × triple 324 mm (12.8 in) torpedo tubes
Aviation facilities	Helipad for 1 medium-lift helicopter (Harbin Z-9)

The first Type 056 entered service in March 2013, and 22 ships were built for active service.^[5] An anti-submarine warfare (ASW) variant, commonly known as Type 056A, also entered service from 2014 onwards, with another 50 ships built to this variant.^[6]

Following construction of Aba (the 50th Type 056A) in December 2019, China ceased building Type 056A corvettes (it had earlier ceased building the original Type 056 model) to focus on procuring bigger bluewater warships for high sea missions.^[7] Between mid-2021 and January 2023,^[8] the PLAN transferred all 22 original Type 056s to the China Coast Guard while retaining the 50 Type 056As.^[2] The pennant numbers for the Type 056 class were thus deleted, while the pennant numbers for the first 20 ships of the Type 056A were altered from their previous "500" series to a new "600" series (the subsequent 30 ships of the Type 056A variant received pennant numbers in the "600" series from the start).^[9]

Export variants were delivered to the Algerian National Navy,^[10] the Bangladesh Navy^[11] and the Nigerian Navy.^[12]

History and development

The Type 056 hull may have been based on the Pattani-class offshore patrol vessels, which were built in China for Thailand from 2005 to 2006.^[13]

The first ship was launched by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding in May 2012.^[14] In late 2012, corvettes were being produced by four Chinese shipyards.^[15]

The Type 056A were in production by late 2013.^[16] The Type 056 series was constructed at a high production rate to enhance the PLAN's littoral warfare capabilities.^[2] By February 2021, the PLAN had commissioned the last ships of the class, for a total of 22 Type 056 and 50 Type 056A.^[1] This completed the entire production run for the class.^[2]

Starting in mid 2021, the PLAN transferred all 22 of the original Type 056 to the China Coast Guard.^[9] As a result, the PLAN fleet shrank in 2022.^[2]

Design

Type 056A corvette Huangshi

YJ-83 ASM launchers

HHQ-10 SAM launcher

Type 360 radar

The Type 056 corvette fills the capability gap between the Type 022 missile boat and the Type 054A frigate.^[17] It is 90 m (300 ft) long with a gross displacement of 1500 tons,^[18] and incorporates anti-radar features.^[19] The Type 056 is suited for mid-range green-water missions and littoral duties, but not for major blue-water combat operations;^[4] it is built with a 15-day endurance for combat missions such as patrol, escort and protection of exclusive economic zone maritime interests within 200 nmi (370 km; 230 mi) from the coast, freeing up larger warships for open sea deployment.^[20] The Type 056 corvette has a crew of 78 people with a top speed of 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph), and a cruise range of 3,500 nautical miles (6,500 km; 4,000 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph).^[21][22]

Surface armament is reported as an AK-176 76-millimetre (3.0 in) naval gun,^[21] two H/PJ-17 30 mm (1.2 in) autocannons,^[3] and four pod-launched YJ-83 anti-ship missiles (AShM).^[18] HHQ-10 (or FL-3000N in foreign-operated vessels) surface-to-air missiles (SAM) are carried in a single eight-cell launcher.^[21] Finally, there are two triple-tube 324 mm (12.8 in) torpedo launchers,^[18] which may carry Yu-7 light anti-submarine (ASW) torpedoes.^[21]

The basic Type 056 is equipped with Type 347G (LR66) radar and bow-mounted sonar.^[21] The Type 056A adds towed array and variable depth sonars (VDS);^[18] the towed body suggests the VDS is "not an exact copy" of either the Italian/US DE-1163 or the French DUBV-43. It is likely that the Chinese will have undertaken extensive trials and analysis of any imported equipment and built a nominally indigenous system using the knowledge gained.^[16]

The Type 056 has a helicopter deck for landing a Z-9-sized helicopter, but no hangar.^[18]

Other operators

Algeria

The Algerian National Navy operates one^[10] of the F-15A corvette variant.^{[23][additional citation(s) needed]} El Moutassadi was ordered in 2020 and delivered in 2023.^[24] and arrived in Algeria in 2023.^[23]

Bangladesh

The Bangladesh Navy operates four of the C13B^[25] corvette variant, called Shadhinota-class in service.^[26] The C13B is 90 metres (295 ft 3 in) long and displaces 1,330 tons.^[11] Armament includes a 76 mm gun, C-802 AShMs, and FL-3000N SAMs.^[25] The stern has a helicopter pad but no hangar.^[12] The first two ships have SR 60 radar,^[11] and the last two have a phased-array radar; none have ASW sensors or weapons.^[27] All were built by Wuchang Shipyard in Wuhan.^[11][27]

Shadhinota − the lead ship − and Prottoy were ordered in October 2012^[12] and commissioned in 2016.^[26][28] Sangram and Prottasha were ordered in late-2015^[27] and commissioned in 2020.^[26]

China Coast Guard

A Type 056 variant for the China Coast Guard was under construction at Huangpu in late 2014. The forward superstructure was moved back to make for a raised structure ahead of the bridge. Large davits were installed ahead of the flight deck on both sides of the ships. It is not expected to be armed with the 76 mm. gun, missiles, or other weapon systems.^[29]

Between mid 2021 and January 2023, China also transferred all 22 of the original Type 056 variant to the China Coast Guard.^[2]

Nigeria

The Nigerian Navy operates two of the P18N offshore patrol vessel (OPV) variant. The P18N displaces 1,800 tons, is 95 m (311 ft 8 in) long, has an endurance of 20 days,^[30] a maximum speed of 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph)^[31] and a range of 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph).^[30] It has a crew of 75. Armament is reportedly a single NG-16-1 76 mm gun with a TR47 fire-control radar, two 30 mm guns, and two 20 mm (0.79 in) guns.^[31] The class has an Oil Support Recovery System to combat oil spills.^[32] Unlike the Type 056, the P18N has a helicopter hangar. Both were built at the Wuchang Shipyard.^[30]

Nigeria ordered the ships from CSOC in April 2012^[33] for US$42 million each.^[34] Centenary − the lead ship − commissioned in February 2015.^[32] Unity commissioned in December 2016.^[35]

The final 50–70% of the work on Unity was originally expected to be completed at the Nigerian Naval Shipyard in Port Harcourt; CSOC was contracted to upgrade the shipyard.^[33] Unity was ultimately completed at Wuchang.^[30]

Cambodia

China has donated two Type 56 corvettes which are under construction.^[36]

Ships in class

China Coast Guard

#	Former Pennant Number	Name	Builder	Laid Down	Launched	Commissioned	Former Fleet	Current Status
Type 056
1	582 [37][38]	蚌埠 / Bengbu [37]	Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding	2010 [8]	23 May 2012 [8]	12 March 2013 [8][38]	East Sea Fleet	Transferred to China Coast Guard
2	596 [37][39]	惠州 / Huizhou [37][39]	Huangpu, Guangzhou	2010 [8]	3 June 2012 [8]	1 July 2013 [8][40]	Hong Kong Garrison[39]	Transferred to China Coast Guard
3	584 [37][41]	梅州 / Meizhou [37][41]	Wuchang Shipyard[8]	2010 [8]	31 July 2012 [8]	29 July 2013 [8][41]	South Sea Fleet[41]	Transferred to China Coast Guard
4	580 [37][42]	大同 / Datong [42]	Liaonan Shipyard[8]	2011[8]	10 August 2012[8]	18 May 2013[8][42]	North Sea Fleet	Transferred to China Coast Guard
5	583 [37]	上饶 / Shangrao [37]	Hudong-Zhonghua [8]	2011 [8]	19 August 2012 [8]	10 June 2013 [8]	East Sea Fleet	Transferred to China Coast Guard
6	597 [37][39]	钦州 / Qinzhou [37][39]	Huangpu, Guangzhou [8]	2011 [8]	30 August 2012 [8]	1 July 2013 [8][40]	Hong Kong Garrison [39]	Transferred to China Coast Guard
7	585 [37]	百色/ Baise [37]	Wuchang Shipyard [8]	2011 [8]	25 October 2012 [8]	19 October 2013 [8]	South Sea Fleet [8]	Transferred to China Coast Guard
8	581 [37][43]	营口 / Yingkou [43]	Liaonan Shipyard [8]	2011 [8]	18 November 2012 [8]	1 August 2013 [8][43]	North Sea Fleet [43]	Transferred to China Coast Guard
9	586 [37]	吉安 / Ji'an [37]	Hudong-Zhonghua [8]	2012 [8]	25 February 2013 [8]	8 January 2014 [8]	East Sea Fleet [8]	Transferred to China Coast Guard
10	587 [37][44]	揭阳 / Jieyang [37][44]	Huangpu, Guangzhou [8]	2012 [8]	26 January 2013 [8]	26 January 2014 [8][44]	East Sea Fleet [8]	Transferred to China Coast Guard
11	588 [37][45]	泉州 / Quanzhou [45]	Hudong-Zhonghua [8]	2012 [8]	25 June 2013 [8]	8 August 2014 [8][45]	East Sea Fleet[45]	Transferred to China Coast Guard
12	589 [37][46]	清远 / Qingyuan [46]	Huangpu, Guangzhou [46]	2012 [8]	30 May 2013	11 June 2014 [46]	South Sea Fleet [46]	Transferred to China Coast Guard
13	590 [37]	威海 / Weihai [47]	Liaonan Shipyard [8]	2012 [8]	1 August 2013 [8]	15 March 2014 [8]	North Sea Fleet [8]	Transferred to China Coast Guard
14	591 [37]	抚顺 / Fushun	Liaonan Shipyard [8]	2012 [8]	1 August 2013 [8]	12 July 2014 [8]	North Sea Fleet [8]	Transferred to China Coast Guard
15	592 [37][46]	泸州 / Luzhou [46]	Wuchang Shipyard [46]	2012 [8]	16 July 2013 [8]	7 June 2014 [8][46]	South Sea Fleet[46]	Transferred to China Coast Guard
16	595 [37]	潮州 / Chaozhou	Wuchang Shipyard [8]	2012 [8]	14 November 2013 [8]	28 November 2014 [8]	East Sea Fleet [8]	Transferred to China Coast Guard
17	501 [48]	信阳 / Xinyang [48]		2013 [8]		March 2015 [48]	North Sea Fleet [48]	Transferred to China Coast Guard
18	503 [37]	宿州 / Suzhou	Wuchang Shipyard [8]	2013 [8]	17 May 2014 [8]	11 February 2015 [8]	East Sea Fleet [8]	Transferred to China Coast Guard
19	509	淮安 / Huaian	Hudong-Zhonghua [8]	2014 [8]	15 August 2015 [8]	11 August 2016 [8]	East Sea Fleet [8]	Transferred to China Coast Guard
20	510	宁德 / Ningde	Huangpu, Guangzhou [8]	2014 [8]	24 October 2015 [8]	28 December 2016 [8]	East Sea Fleet [8]	Transferred to China Coast Guard
21	511 [49]	保定 / Baoding [49]	Wuchang Shipyard [8]	2014 [8]	22 October 2015 [8]	12 December 2016 [8]	East Sea Fleet [8]	Transferred to China Coast Guard
22	512 [49]	菏泽 / Heze [49]	Liaonan Shipyard [8]	2014 [8]	7 July 2015 [8]	12 December 2016 [8]	East Sea Fleet [8]	Transferred to China Coast Guard

 People's Liberation Army Navy

#	Pennant Number	Name	Builder	Laid Down	Launched	Commissioned	Fleet	Status
Type 056A
23	638 (ex 593) [6][37]	三门峡 / Sanmenxia [6]	Hudong-Zhonghua [21]	2012 [9]	30 November 2013 [9][16]	13 November 2014 [9][6]	East Sea Fleet [6]	Active
24	639 (ex 594) [37][50]	株洲 / Zhuzhou [50]	Huangpu, Guangzhou [9]	2012 [9]	30 November 2013 [9]	28 November 2014 [9][50]	East Sea Fleet [9]	Active
25	655 (ex 502) [18]	黄石 / Huangshi [18]	Hudong-Zhonghua [18]	2013 [9]	16 May 2014 [9]	6 May 2015 [9]	North Sea Fleet [18]	Active
26	666 (ex 504)	宿迁 / Suqian	Huangpu, Guangzhou [9]	2013 [9]	29 June 2014 [9]	20 July 2015 [9]	South Sea Fleet [9]	Active
27	656 (ex 505)[51]	秦皇岛 / Qinhuangdao [51]	Hudong-Zhonghua [51]	2013 [9]	11 October 2014 [9][51]	16 October 2015 [9][51]	North Sea Fleet [51]	Active
28	667 (ex 506)	荆门 / Jingmen	Huangpu, Guangzhou [9]	2014 [9]	25 December 2014 [9]	25 January 2016 [9]	South Sea Fleet [9]	Active
29	664 (ex 507)	铜仁 / Tongren	Hudong-Zhonghua [9]	2014 [9]	19 March 2015 [9]	20 February 2016 [9]	East Sea Fleet [9]	Active
30	668 (ex 508)	曲靖 / Qujing	Huangpu, Guangzhou [9]	2014 [9]	16 July 2015 [9]	8 June 2016 [9]	South Sea Fleet [9]	Active
31	640 (ex 513)	鄂州 / Ezhou	Hudong-Zhonghua [9]	2014 [9]	25 December 2015 [9]	18 January 2017 [9]	East Sea Fleet [9]	Active
32	669 (ex 514)	六盘水 / Liupanshui	Huangpu, Guangzhou [9]	2015 [9]	31 March 2016 [9]	31 May 2017 [9]	South Sea Fleet [9]	Active
33	641 (ex 518)	义乌 / Yiwu	Hudong-Zhonghua [9]	2015 [9]	20 May 2016 [9]	21 July 2017 [9]	East Sea Fleet	Active
34	648 (ex 520)	汉中 / Hanzhong	Huangpu, Guangzhou [9]	2015 [9]	22 July 2016 [9]	11 July 2017 [9]	South Sea Fleet	Active
35	645 (ex 535)	宣城 / Xuancheng	Wuchang Shipyard [9]	2015 [9]	19 August 2016 [9]	25 September 2017 [9]	East Sea Fleet	Active
36	643 (ex 556)	宜春 / Yichun	Hudong-Zhonghua [9]	2015 [9]	7 September 2016 [9]	16 October 2017 [9]	East Sea Fleet	Active
37	650 (ex 540)	乌海 / Wuhai	Liaonan Shipyard [9]	2015 [9]	14 September 2016 [9]	15 January 2018 [9]	North Sea Fleet	Active
38	646 (ex 551)	遂宁 / Suining	Wuchang Shipyard [9]	2015 [9]	3 October 2016 [9]	28 November 2017 [9]	South Sea Fleet	Active
39	649 (ex 552)	广元 / Guangyuan	Huangpu, Guangzhou [9]	2015 [9]	28 October 2016 [9]	16 November 2017 [9]	South Sea Fleet	Active
40	642 (ex 554)	德阳 / Deyang	Hudong-Zhonghua [9]	2015 [9]	29 December 2016 [9]	19 January 2018 [9]	East Sea Fleet	Active
41	654 (ex 541)	张掖 / Zhangye	Liaonan Shipyard [9]	2015 [9]	7 December 2016 [9]	March 2018 [9]	North Sea Fleet	Active
42	647 (ex 557)	南充 / Nanchong	Wuchang Shipyard [9]	2016 [9]	2 February 2017 [9]	1 June 2018 [9]	South Sea Fleet	Active
43	610	朔州 / Shuozhou	Hudong-Zhonghua [9]	2016 [9]	26 July 2017 [9]	10 December 2019 [9]	East Sea Fleet	Active
44	608	聊城 / Liaocheng	Hudong-Zhonghua [9]	2017 [9]	21 December 2017 [9]	19 January 2020 [9]	East Sea Fleet	Active
45	625	巴中 / Bazhong	Huangpu, Guangzhou [9]	2017 [9]	2 March 2018 [9]	5 November 2019 [9]	South Sea Fleet	Active
46	611	六安 / Luan	Hudong-Zhonghua [9]	2017 [9]	17 March 2018 [9]	18 January 2020 [9]	East Sea Fleet	Active
47	603	定州 / Dingzhou	Liaonan Shipyard [9]	2017 [9]	29 April 2018 [9]	2020 [9]	North Sea Fleet	Active
48	604	牡丹江 / Mudanjiang	Liaonan Shipyard [9]	2017 [9]	29 April 2018 [9]	May 2020 [9]	North Sea Fleet	Active
49	615	孝感 / Xiaogan	Hudong-Zhonghua [9]	2017 [9]	16 May 2018 [9]	March 2020 [9]	East Sea Fleet	Active
50	626	梧州 / Wuzhou	Huangpu, Guangzhou [9]	2017 [9]	8 August 2018 [9]	29 December 2019 [9]	South Sea Fleet	Active
51	622	广安 / Guangan	Wuchang Shipyard [9]	2017 [9]	August 2018 [9]	31 December 2019 [9]	South Sea Fleet	Active
52	621	攀枝花 / Panzhihua	Wuchang Shipyard [9]	2017 [9]	27 August 2018 [9]	10 January 2020 [9]	South Sea Fleet	Active
53	617	景德镇 / Jingdezhen	Hudong-Zhonghua [9]	2018 [9]	12 September 2018 [9]	17 June 2020 [9]	East Sea Fleet	Active
54	623	文山 / Wenshan	Huangpu, Guangzhou [9]	2018 [9]	11 December 2018 [9]	31 December 2019 [9]	South Sea Fleet	Active
55	605 [52]	张家口 / Zhanhjiakou [52]	Liaonan Shipyard [9]	2018 [9]	15 January 2019 [9]	April 2020 [9]	North Sea Fleet[52]	Active
56	606	辛集 / Xinji	Liaonan Shipyard [9]	2018 [9]	15 January 2019 [9]	2020 [9]	North Sea Fleet	Active
57	627	恩施 / Enshi	Huangpu, Guangzhou [9]	2018 [9]	7 March 2019 [9]	April 2020 [9]	South Sea Fleet	Active
58	620	赣州 / Ganzhou	Wuchang Shipyard [9]	2018 [9]	11 January 2019 [9]	10 January 2020 [9]	South Sea Fleet	Active
59	616	泰安 / Taian	Hudong-Zhonghua [9]	2018 [9]	19 March 2019 [9]	August 2020 [9]	East Sea Fleet	Active
60	628	永州 / Yongzhou	Huangpu, Guangzhou [9]	2018 [9]	9 May 2019 [9]	January 2020 [9]	South Sea Fleet	Active
61	618	商丘 / Shangqiu	Hudong-Zhonghua [9]	2018 [9]	5 July 2019 [9]	February 2021 [9]	East Sea Fleet	Active
62	624	随州 / Suizhou	Huangpu, Guangzhou [9]	2019 [9]	15 July 2019 [9]	2020 [9]	South Sea Fleet	Active
63	637	十堰 / Shiyan	Hudong-Zhonghua [9]	2019 [9]	21 August 2019 [9]	4 February 2021 [9]	East Sea Fleet	Active
64	600	松原 / Songyuan	Liaonan Shipyard [9]	2019 [9]	17 September 2019 [9]	28 October 2020 [9]	North Sea Fleet	Active
65	602	平顶山 / Pingdingshan	Liaonan Shipyard [9]	2019 [9]	17 September 2019 [9]	28 October 2020 [9]	North Sea Fleet	Active
66	607	东营 / Dongying (or Laiwu [9])	Huangpu, Guangzhou [9]	2019 [9]	17 October 2019 [9]	January 2021 [9]	North Sea Fleet	Active
67	636	济宁 / Jining	Wuchang Shipyard [9]	2019 [9]	8 November 2019 [9]	2021 [9]	East Sea Fleet	Active
68	631	天门 / Tianmen	Wuchang Shipyard [9]	2019 [9]	14 November 2019 [9]	January 2021 [9]	South Sea Fleet	Active
69	629	铜陵 / Tongling	Huangpu, Guangzhou [9]	2019 [9]	November 2019 [9]	January 2021 [9]	South Sea Fleet	Active
70	609	石嘴山 / Shizuishan	Hudong-Zhonghua [9]	2019 [9]	25 December 2019 [9]	January 2021 [9]	East Sea Fleet	Active
71	619	南阳 / Nanyang	Wuchang Shipyard [9]	2019 [9]	December 2019 [9]	30 January 2021 [9]	East Sea Fleet	Active
72	630	阿坝 / Aba	Huangpu, Guangzhou [9]	2019 [9]	30 December 2019 [9]	January 2021 [9]	South Sea Fleet	Active

 Bangladesh Navy

Pennant Number	Name	Builder	Launched	Commissioned	Status
C13B
F111[11]	Shadhinota[11]	Wuchang[11]	30 November 2014[53]	19 March 2016[28]	Active[28]
F112[11]	Prottoy[11]	Wuchang[11]	30 December 2014[53]	19 March 2016[28]	Active[28]
F113	Sangram	Wuchang	February 2018[27]	18 June 2020[54]	Active[54]
F114	Prottasha	Wuchang	8 April 2018[55]	5 November 2020[56]	Active

 Nigerian Navy

Pennant Number	Name	Builder	Launched	Commissioned	Status
P18N
F91[30]	Centenary[30]	Wuchang[31]	January 2014[31]	February 2015[32]	Active
F92[30]	Unity[30]	Wuchang[30]	29 November 2014[57]	15 December 2016[35]	Active

 Algerian National Navy

Pennant Number	Name	Builder	Launched	Commissioned	Status
F-15A
940[23][additional citation(s) needed]	El Moutassadi[10]	Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Group[24]		2023	Active

See also

Ships of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Bung Tomo-class corvette
• Buyan-class corvette
• Diponegoro-class corvette
• Kora-class corvette
• Project 22160 patrol ship
• Sa'ar 5-class corvette

Related lists

• List of active People's Liberation Army Navy ships