Type 726 LCAC

The Type 726 LCAC (with NATO reporting name Yuyi class), also known as the Wild Horse class LCAC(Chinese: 野马型气垫船) 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 the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), with the first one (3320) being seen at the end of 2007. It is thought that the vessels were delivered in two batches, with the first three LCACs reportedly powered by Ukrainian UGT 6000 engines, while the other subsequent production models are believed to use indigenous QC-70 gas turbines. Up to four Yuyi-class LCACs can be carried in the well deck of the Yuzhao-class landing platform dock (LPD) and Yushen-class landing helicopter dock (LHD).

Class overview
Builders	Jiangnan Shipyard
Operators	PLA Navy Surface Force
Preceded by	Type 724 LCAC
In commission	2010–present
Building	5[1]
Active	40+[2]
General characteristics
Type	Air-cushioned landing craft
Displacement	150 tons (normal) 160 tons (full load)
Length	33 metres
Beam	16.8 metres
Propulsion	2 gas turbine engines
Speed	80 knots[3]
Range	320 km[3]
Complement	5 crew 60 - 70 troops 1 Type 96 main battle tank or 2 ZBD-05 infantry fighting vehicles
Armament	2 x 14.5 mm machine guns 2 x 7.62 mm light machine gun

The Type 726 LCAC is greater in size than the US LCACs in service, but smaller than the Zubr-class LCAC and can carry only one main battle tank (e.g., Type 96) or four armored vehicles.

The early variant, the Type 726, have encountered a number of technical problems that temporarily halted production of the class. This forced the four Type 071 LPDs to limit their projection capabilities to landing craft, amphibious IFVs and helicopters exclusively (not main battle tanks). However, recent commercial satellite imagery of China’s Jiangnan Shipyard near Shanghai shows that the country is producing additional Yuyi-class LCACs. Eight Type 726As that appeared to be nearly completed could be seen at the yard on 14 October 2020.

Eight Type 726s were seen at a Chinese at Damiao Naval Base on Nansan Island on 26 September 2020.

Ships of the class

Pennant Number	Builder	Launched	Commissioned	Fleet	Status
Type 726
3320	Jiangnan Shipyard		2011	South Sea Fleet	Active
3321	Jiangnan Shipyard		2013	South Sea Fleet	Active
3322	Jiangnan Shipyard		2013	South Sea Fleet	Active
Type 726A
3330	Jiangnan Shipyard		2016	South Sea Fleet	Active
3331	Jiangnan Shipyard		2016	South Sea Fleet	Active
3332	Jiangnan Shipyard		2016	South Sea Fleet	Active
3236	Jiangnan Shipyard		10 January 2018[4]	East Sea Fleet	Active
3237	Jiangnan Shipyard		10 January 2018[4]	East Sea Fleet	Active
3238	Jiangnan Shipyard		10 January 2018[4]	East Sea Fleet	Active
3239	Jiangnan Shipyard		10 January 2018[4]	East Sea Fleet	Active
3333	Jiangnan Shipyard		2019	South Sea Fleet	Active[5]
3334	Jiangnan Shipyard		2019	South Sea Fleet	Active
3335	Jiangnan Shipyard		2019	South Sea Fleet	Active[5]
3336	Jiangnan Shipyard		2019	South Sea Fleet	Active[5]
3337	Jiangnan Shipyard		2019	South Sea Fleet	Active[5]

Operators

 China

• People's Liberation Army Navy (40+ units)

See also

• Landing Craft Air Cushion
• Engin de débarquement amphibie rapide
• Lebed-class LCAC
• LSF-II 631
• Tsaplya-class LCAC – Three in service with ROKN
• Zubr-class LCAC