Type 909 weapon trials ship

{{Short description|Type of naval ship}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

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{{Infobox ship class overview

|Builders= * Zhongua Shipyard

  • Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding

|Operators= {{navy|CHN}}

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|Built range= 1997 - 2014

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|Total ships completed= 4

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|Total ships active= 4

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{{Infobox ship characteristics

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|Ship type= * Oceanographic research ships

  • Weapon trial ships

|Ship displacement= 6,096 tonnes (full)

|Ship length= {{convert|130|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

|Ship beam= {{convert|17.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

|Ship draught= {{convert|7|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

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|Ship propulsion= * 2 diesel engines

  • 2 shafts

|Ship speed= {{convert|20|kn|lk=in}}

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|Ship complement= 80

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|Ship aircraft= 1 medium helicopter (891)

|Ship aircraft facilities= Helicopter pad (891)

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The Type 909 (NATO reporting name: Dahua) is a class of Chinese auxiliary ship. Four were built for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) as weapon trial and oceanographic research ships.{{cite book |editor-last=Saunders |editor-first=Stephan |title=Jane's Fighting Ships 2015-2016 |publisher=Jane's Information Group |date=2015 |isbn=978-0710631435 |page=158}}{{cite book| title=The Military Balance 2024| author1=International Institute for Strategic Studies| author-link1=International Institute for Strategic Studies| date=February 2024| publisher=Routledge| location=London| isbn=9781032780047 |page=258}}

History

The first ship, Bi Sheng, was completed as a weapons test range ship with Russian MR-90 "Front Dome" radar and electronic countermeasures. It operated as a electronic intelligence ship near Japan in February 2000 prior to PLAN exercises. Bi Sheng was converted into a weapon trial ship at the Wuhu shipyard, and received pennant number 891 in October 2002; while at the shipyard the hull was designated "Wuhu-B" by Western intelligence. Bi Sheng was equipped with "Top Plate" air search radar and "Front Dome" fire control radar and may have test fired the CJ-10 land-attack cruise missile in August 2012.

The design of the third ship, Zhan Tianyou, may have been a modified Type 636 hydrographic survey ship. It had a raised bow breakwater and an enclosed, instead of a lattice, foremast.

According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, by 2024 two were used as weapon trial ships and two were oceanographic research ships.

Designation

In 2015, Janes listed Zhan Tianyou and Li Siguang as Type 909s. By 2024, the United States Navy considered these ships to be Type 910 weapon trials ships.

Ships of class

class="wikitable"

! Pennant number

! Name

! Builder

! Laid down

! Launched

! Commissioned

! Fleet

! Status

! Notes

851{{cite web |author=United States Navy Office of Naval Intelligence |title=China People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN): 2024 Recognition and Identification Guide |url=https://www.oni.navy.mil/Portals/12/Intel%20agencies/China_Media/2024_Recce_Poster_PLAN_Navy__U__new2.jpg?ver=gLEmUaAtttQXpV9cL9g7YA%3d%3d |date=April 2024 |access-date=17 January 2025}}

| Bi Sheng{{cite book |editor-last=Saunders |editor-first=Stephan |title=Jane's Fighting Ships 2009-2010 |publisher=Jane's Information Group |date=2009 |isbn=978-0-7106-2888-6 |page=157}}

| Zhongua Shipyard

|

| March 9, 1997

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| North Sea Fleet

| Active

| Launched with pennant number 909 and completed as 970. Pennant changed to 891 in October 2002.{{cite web |last1=Bussert |first1=James C. |url=http://www.afcea.org/content/?q=china-employs-ships-weapon-test-platforms |title=China Employs Ships As Weapon Test Platforms |website=Afcea International |date=1 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150717112052/http://www.afcea.org/content/?q=china-employs-ships-weapon-test-platforms |archive-date=July 17, 2015 }}

852

| Hua Luogeng

| Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding

|

| March 30, 2006

|

| North Sea Fleet

| Active

| Former pennant number 892.

893

| Zhan Tianyou

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| November 12, 2011

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| North Sea Fleet

| Active

|

894{{cite web |last1=Rahmat |first1=Ridzwan |title=PLAN commissions fourth Dahua-class vessel |url=http://www.janes.com/article/44444/plan-commissions-fourth-dahua-class-vessel |website=IHS Jane's 360 |date=October 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018110832/http://www.janes.com/article/44444/plan-commissions-fourth-dahua-class-vessel |archive-date=18 October 2014}}

| Li Siguang

|

| 2012

| November 2013

| October 2014

| North Sea Fleet

| Active

|

References

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Ship classes of the Chinese Navy|state=uncollapsed}}

Category:Auxiliary ships of the People's Liberation Army Navy