Type 076 landing helicopter dock
{{short description|Class of amphibious assault ship}}
The Type 076 landing helicopter dock (NATO reporting name: Yulan-class landing helicopter assault{{Cite web |author=United States Navy Office of Naval Intelligence |author-link=Office of Naval Intelligence |date=April 2024 |title=PLA Navy Identification Guide 2024 |url=https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/24628046/2024_oni_plan_poster.pdf |access-date=1 May 2022 }}) is a class of drone-carrying amphibious assault ship for the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).{{cite news|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3094912/chinese-shipbuilder-planning-advanced-amphibious-assault-ship|title=Chinese shipbuilder planning advanced amphibious assault ship|first=Minnie |last=Chan |website=South China Morning Post|date=27 July 2020|access-date=5 January 2021}} Compared to the Type 075, the Type 076 is significantly larger in both displacement and flight deck dimensions; it also has a CATOBAR system of electromagnetic catapult and arresting gears for operating light fixed-wing aircraft, likely unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAV).{{cite web |first=Rick |last=Joe |title=Whispers of 076, China's Drone Carrying Assault Carrier |url=https://thediplomat.com/2020/08/whispers-of-076-chinas-drone-carrying-assault-carrier/ |website=The Diplomat|date=21 August 2020 |access-date=3 January 2021}}
Development
In mid-2020, official request for proposals (RFP) associated with the Type 076 were discovered on the Internet. Specifications from the RFPs were for a 21 MW gas turbine and diesel powerplants, a medium-voltage direct current integrated power system, and a well deck. The specified aviation equipment included a "UAV deck", a munition elevator, a 30-ton flight deck elevator, an electromagnetic CATOBAR system for light aircraft, most likely UCAVs.
The lead ship of this class was constructed at Shanghai-based Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard, with an estimated launch date of early 2025. The lead ship was launched on 27 December 2024, with pennant number 51 and name Sichuan.{{cite web|url=http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/CHINA_209163/TopStories_209189/16361355.html |title=China launches first Type 076 amphibious assault ship |website=China Military |date=27 December 2024 }}{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/27/china/china-type-076-amphibious-assault-ship-intl-hnk/index.html |title=China launches new amphibious assault ship in a race to rival US military |website=CNN |date=27 December 2024 |first1=Brad |last1=Lendon |first2=Nectar |last2=Gan }}{{cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/china-launches-new-generation-assault-ship-sichuan/a-71166860 |title=China launches new generation assault ship 'Sichuan' |website=DW |date=27 December 2024 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-12-27/china-launches-largest-amphibious-warship-in-show-of-naval-power |title=China Launches Largest Amphibious Warship in Show of Naval Power |website=Bloomberg News |date=27 December 2024 |first=Josh |last=Xiao }}
{{External media|title=Video released by CCTV of Sichuan's launch|video1=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utMO_tFdivU|model1=}}
Design
The Type 076 has a full-length flight deck, an internal hangar, two large elevators on both sides, and one small elevator at the front deck section.{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/hisutton/2020/07/23/stealth-uavs-could-arm-chinas-type-076-assault-carrier/?sh=7adb25c66f3d|title=Stealth UAVs Could Give China's Type-076 Assault Carrier More Firepower |first=H. I. |last=Sutton |website=Forbes|date=23 July 2020|access-date=3 January 2021}} The ship is intended to operate helicopters and UCAVs, or optionally manned aircraft. The aircraft, such as Guizhou WZ-7, Hongdu GJ-11, and Flying Dragon-2 UCAVs can be launched via an electromagnetic catapult similar in size to the one mounted on the Type 003 aircraft carrier. An arrestor is fitted on the flight deck to recover the aircraft.{{cite web|url=https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2024/12/27/china-unveils-amphibious-assault-ship-that-can-launch-fighter-jets/ |title=China unveils amphibious assault ship that can launch fighter jets |website=Defense News |date=27 December 2024 |first=Huizhong |last=Wu }} A floodable well deck is located at its stern, capable of launching amphibious vehicles for landing operations.{{cite web|url=https://www.twz.com/sea/chinas-monster-type-076-amphibious-assault-ship-seen-like-never-before-at-launch-ceremony |title=China’s Monster Type 076 Amphibious Assault Ship Seen Like Never Before At Launch Ceremony |website=The War Zone |date=27 December 2024 |first=Joseph |last=Trevithick }}
The main propulsion of the class appears to employ a gas-turbine setup; for this reason, the flight decks of the ships will have a twin-island configuration.{{Cite web |last=Newdick |first=Thomas |url=https://www.twz.com/sea/chinas-monster-amphibious-assault-ship-has-twin-island-superstructures-optimized-for-aviation-ops |title=China's Monster Amphibious Assault Ship Has Twin Island Superstructures Optimized For Aviation Ops |website=The War Zone |date=7 October 2024 |access-date=17 October 2024}} The twin island superstructures allow one island dedicated to navigation, while the other one focusing on flight operations. Multiple self-defense and countermeasure systems are mounted around the ship, including three Type 1130 close-in weapon system (CIWS) turrets, three HQ-10 short-range missile defense systems, and four countermeasure launchers loaded with flares, chaff, and active decoys.
Type 076 is larger than the previous class, the Type 075 amphibious assault ship. The overall tonnage of the ship was estimated as {{cvt|50000|t|LT|lk=on}} at full displacement by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, while Chinese state media state the ship has a displacement of "above {{cvt|40000|t|LT|lk=on}}".{{cite web |url=https://www.ft.com/content/147f4b4b-4bcf-41d5-85dc-cca16c4883ec |title=China launches biggest amphibious assault ship in projection of military power |website=Financial Times |date=27 December 2024 |first=Kathrin |last=Hille }}
List of ships
| class="wikitable"
!style="line-height:1.2em;"| Pennant number !! Name !! Namesake !! Builder !! Launched !! Commissioned !! Status |
| 51{{Cite web |title=China launches first Type 076 amphibious assault ship - China Military |url=http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/CHINA_209163/TopStories_209189/16361355.html |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=eng.chinamil.com.cn}}
| Sichuan / 四川 | Province of Sichuan | 2027 estimated | Fitting out |
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{Ship classes of the Chinese Navy|state=uncollapsed}}
Category:Helicopter carrier classes
Category:Amphibious warfare vessel classes
Category:Amphibious warfare vessels of the People's Liberation Army Navy