Chinese landing ship Yimeng Shan

Yimeng Shan (988) is a Type 071 amphibious transport dock of the People's Liberation Army Navy.

Yimeng Shan in Shanghai on 28 July 2015
History
China
Name
  • Yimeng Shan
  • (沂蒙山)
NamesakeYimeng Mountains
BuilderHudong-Zhonghua Shipyard, Shanghai
Launched22 January 2015
Commissioned1 February 2016
IdentificationPennant number: 988
StatusActive
General characteristics
Class and typeType 901 fast combat support ship
Displacement25,000 tons full load.[1]
Length210 m (689 ft 0 in)[1]
Beam28 m (91 ft 10 in)[1]
Draft7 m (23 ft 0 in)[1]
Speed25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)[1]
Range10,000 nmi (19,000 km) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)[1]
Boats & landing
craft carried
CapacityVehicles[2]
Troops600–800 troops[2]
Armament
Aircraft carried4 × Z-8 Super Frelon[2]
Aviation facilitiesHangar and helipad

Development and design edit

Type 071 integrated landing ship (NATO code name: Yuzhao-class) is a large dock landing ship of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy. It can be used as the mother ship of the air cushion landing craft to transport soldiers, infantry fighting vehicles, main battle tanks, etc. for landing operations. It can also carry amphibious vehicles, the hangar can accommodate 4 helicopters, and the deck can be used for two helicopters to take off and land.

The amphibious warfare ship features a vehicle deck, well-deck, landing deck and a hangar. It can carry a combination of marines, vehicles, landing craft and helicopters. The ship may embark 600 to 800 troops. The stern helicopter deck offers two landing spots for supporting the operations of two Z-8 (SA 321 Super Frelon) transport helicopters. The twin-door cantilever hangar can house up to four Z-8 helicopters. The well deck houses up to four Type 726 air-cushioned landing craft,[2] which can transfer vehicles or marines to the shore at high speed. The LCAC are launched by flooding of the docking area. The vessel can also carry landing craft on port / starboard davits. The vehicle deck can house amphibious assault vehicles including the ZBD05 amphibious IFV and the ZTD-05 amphibious light tank.[3] The stern ramp, two side doors and ramps allow rapid loading of the vehicles and equipment.

The ship is armed with one 76 mm gun and four 30 mm close-in weapon systems.[4]

The Type 071 may operate as the flagship of a task force.[4] the Type 071 may also conduct and support humanitarian, disaster relief, and counterpiracy missions, in addition to amphibious assaults.[3]

Construction and career edit

She was launched on 22 January 2015 at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai and commissioned on 1 February 2016 into the East Sea Fleet.[5][6]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f "沪东中华:为中国海军打造"靓丽名片"". cssc.net.cn. China State Shipbuilding Corporation. 28 August 2014. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Tate, Andrew (16 June 2017). "China launches fifth LPD for PLAN". IHS Jane's 360. Archived from the original on 18 June 2017. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  3. ^ a b United States Navy Office of Naval Intelligence (2015). The PLA Navy: New Capabilities and Missions for the 21st Century (PDF) (Report). p. 17. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  4. ^ a b "Type 071 Landing Platform Dock". globalsecurity.com. 11 June 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  5. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20170901202657/http://www.msa.gov.cn/html/xinxichaxungongkai/gkml/HXTG/SHHSJ/20150119/5a4ce936-1284-428e-976b-c65d7e4d20a9.html. Archived from the original on 1 September 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2021. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)[dead link]
  6. ^ "[新闻直播间]海军:新型两栖船坞登陆舰沂蒙山舰入列". tv.cctv.com. Retrieved 18 April 2021.