Chinese destroyer Kunming
{{short description|Type 052D destroyer of the PLA Navy}}
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{{Infobox ship image |Ship image=File:CNS Kunming (DDG-172).jpg |Ship caption= Kunming docked at Jiangnan Shipyard on 6 April 2014 }} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header= |Ship country=China |Ship flag= {{shipboxflag|China|naval}} |Ship name= Kunming |Ship namesake= *Kunming
|Ship ordered= |Ship awarded= |Ship builder= Jiangnan Shipyard, Shanghai |Ship original cost= |Ship yard number= |Ship way number= |Ship laid down= 16 February 2012 |Ship launched= 29 August 2012 |Ship sponsor= |Ship christened= |Ship completed= |Ship acquired= |Ship commissioned= 21 March 2014 |Ship recommissioned= |Ship decommissioned= |Ship maiden voyage= |Ship in service= |Ship out of service= |Ship renamed= |Ship reclassified= |Ship refit= |Ship struck= |Ship reinstated= |Ship homeport= |Ship identification=Pennant number: 172 |Ship motto= |Ship nickname= |Ship honours= |Ship honors= |Ship captured= |Ship fate= |Ship status= Active |Ship notes= |Ship badge= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship class= Type 052D destroyer | Ship displacement = 7,500 tons (full load) | Ship length = {{convert|157|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = {{convert|17|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship height = | Ship draught = {{convert|6|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship draft = | Ship power = | Ship propulsion = *Combined diesel or gas | Ship speed = | Ship range = | Ship endurance = | Ship complement = | Ship sensors = *Type 346 radar
| Ship EW = | Ship armament = *1 x 130 mm gun | Ship armour = | Ship armor = | Ship aircraft = Helicopter | Ship aircraft facilities = * Hangar
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Kunming (172) is a Type 052D destroyer of the People's Liberation Army Navy. She was commissioned on 21 March 2014.{{cite web |url=http://eng.mod.gov.cn/DefenseNews/2015-12/14/content_4632673.htm |title=New missile destroyer joins South China Sea Fleet |website=eng.mod.gov.cn |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811134656/http://eng.mod.gov.cn/DefenseNews/2015-12/14/content_4632673.htm |archive-date=2016-08-11}}
Development and design
The basic ship type and layout of the Type 052D guided-missile destroyer is the same as that of the Type 052C destroyer, but compared to the earlier Type 052C destroyer, the Type 052D superstructure has a larger inclination angle and provides better stealth performance. At the same time, the Type 052C helicopter hangar is located on the left side of the hull axis. This was changed to the center axis of the ship on the Type 052D; a pair of small boat storage compartments were added on both sides of the hangar, similar to the design on the Type 054A frigate.
The close-in weapon system is composed of a H/PJ-12 short-range defense weapon system located in front of the bridge and a 24 Hongqi-10 air defense missile system located on the top of the hangar, which is combined to form a ladder interception. The original French 100 mm naval gun was replaced by a higher height and better stealth model H/PJ45 naval gun. On 13 May 2019, the extended version of the Type 052DL was exposed. The hull of the Type 052DL is basically the same as the Type 052D, but the helicopter deck is lengthened to prepare for the Zhi-20 to board the ship.{{Cite web|last=Releases|first=DP Press|title=China Launches 23rd And 24th Type 052D Guided-Missile Destroyers|url=https://defpost.com/china-launches-23rd-and-24th-type-052d-guided-missile-destroyers/|access-date=2020-11-14|website=DefPost|language=en-GB|archive-date=2020-12-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204051022/https://defpost.com/china-launches-23rd-and-24th-type-052d-guided-missile-destroyers/|url-status=dead}}
The Type 052D is the first Chinese surface combatant to use canister-based universal vertical launch system (VLS), as opposed to the concentric type VLS carried aboard earlier vessels. 64 cells are carried; 32 forward and 32 aft.Li: page 44 The VLS is reportedly an implementation of the GJB 5860-2006 standard.{{cite web|date=4 September 2012|editor-last=Wang|editor-first=Weixing|title=谜一样的战舰 从052D驱逐舰看中舰艇系统|trans-title=A Ship of Mystery: The Shipborne Systems of Type 052D|url=http://news.inewsweek.cn/news-32022-p-3.html|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011231629/http://news.inewsweek.cn/news-32022-p-3.html|archivedate=2012-10-11|language=zh}} The VLS may fire the extended-range variant of the HHQ-9 surface-to-air missile, YJ-18 anti-ship cruise missiles,{{Cite report|url=https://www.dia.mil/Portals/27/Documents/News/Military%20Power%20Publications/China_Military_Power_FINAL_5MB_20190103.pdf|title=China Military Power: Modernizing a Force to Fight and Win|date=2019|publisher=United States Defense Intelligence Agency|page=70|accessdate=28 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511175030/https://www.dia.mil/Portals/27/Documents/News/Military%20Power%20Publications/China_Military_Power_FINAL_5MB_20190103.pdf|archivedate=11 May 2019|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} and CY-5 anti-submarine missiles.{{Cite report|url=https://www.janes.com/images/assets/911/72911/Undersea_dragon_Chinese_ASW_capabilities_advance.pdf|title=Undersea dragon: Chinese ASW capabilities advance|last1=Wong|first1=Kelvin|date=2017|publisher=Jane's 360|accessdate=28 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181026064743/https://www.janes.com/images/assets/911/72911/Undersea_dragon_Chinese_ASW_capabilities_advance.pdf|archivedate=26 October 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}
Construction and career
Kunming is the lead ship of the class and was laid down on 16 February 2012 at the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai. She was launched on 29 August 2012 and commissioned on 21 March 2014.{{cite web |url=http://eng.mod.gov.cn/DefenseNews/2015-12/14/content_4632673.htm |title=New missile destroyer joins South China Sea Fleet |website=eng.mod.gov.cn |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811134656/http://eng.mod.gov.cn/DefenseNews/2015-12/14/content_4632673.htm |archive-date=2016-08-11}}
On 26 October 2015, a United States Navy destroyer approached within {{convert|12|nmi}} of Chinese islands and reefs in the South China Sea. Kunming was sent to surveil the American ship.
See also
References
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{{Type 052 destroyer}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kunming}}