Chinese destroyer Nanchang (101)

For other ships with the same name, see Chinese ship Nanchang.

Nanchang (101) is a Type 055 destroyer of the People's Liberation Army Navy. She was commissioned on 12 January 2020.

Nanchang underway on 26 March 2021
History
China
Name	Nanchang
Namesake	Nanchang (南昌)
Builder	Jiangnan Shipyard, Shanghai
Laid down	December 2014
Launched	28 June 2017
Commissioned	12 January 2020
Identification	Pennant number: 101
Status	Active
General characteristics
Class and type	Type 055 destroyer
Displacement	12-13,000 tonnes (full load)
Length	180 m (590 ft 7 in)
Beam	20 m (65 ft 7 in)
Draught	6.6 m (21 ft 8 in)
Installed power	6 × QD-50 turbine generators (5 MW (6,700 hp) each) Total: 30 MW (40,000 shp)
Propulsion	COGAG 4 × QC-280 gas turbines (28 MW (38,000 hp) each) Total: 112 MW (150,000 shp)
Speed	30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range	5,000 nmi (9,300 km)
Complement	300+
Sensors and processing systems	Type 346B (C/S-band) radar X-band radar
Electronic warfare & decoys	Electronic warfare system
Armament	1 × H/PJ-38 130 mm gun 1 × H/PJ-11 CIWS 1 × HQ-10 short-range SAM 24-cell launcher 112 VLS HHQ-9 surface-to-air missiles YJ-18 anti-ship cruise missiles CJ-10 land-attack cruise missiles Missile-launched anti-submarine torpedoes YJ-21 anti-ship ballistic missiles 2 x sets Yu-7 torpedoes
Aircraft carried	2 medium-lift helicopters Harbin Z-9 Changhe Z-18
Aviation facilities	Stern hangar Helicopter landing platform

Development and design

The People's Liberation Army Navy was interested in a large destroyer from as early as the late-1960s. A development program, code-named "055", initiated in 1976 was cancelled in 1983 after encountering insurmountable technical obstacles from industrial underdevelopment; for example, the required gas turbine power plants could neither be produced domestically, nor imported at acceptable prices.^[1] In April 2014, an image emerged of a full-scale mock-up of the Type 055 superstructure - with enclosed integrated mast for radar and other electronics at the Chinese naval electronic testing range in Wuhan.^[2][3]

The Type 055 is expected to undertake expeditionary missions and form the primary escort for Chinese aircraft carriers.^[4][5] The United States classifies these ships as cruisers.^[6] The United States Navy defines a cruiser as a large multi-mission surface combatant with flagship capabilities; this suggests the U.S. expects the Type 055 to fulfill a similar role as the Ticonderoga-class cruiser.^[4][7]

Construction and career

Nanchang is the lead ship of the class and laid down in December 2014 at the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai. She made her first public appearance preceding commissioning was during the PLAN's 70th anniversary parade on 23 April 2019.^[8][9] When launched, Nanchang was among the largest post-Second World War warships launched in East Asia.^[10][11][12] She was commissioned on 12 January 2020.^[13]

On 5 April 2021, Nanchang was the first Type 055 to be a part of an aircraft carrier group, which included the aircraft carrier Liaoning, Chengdu, Taiyuan, Huanggang, and Hulunhu. This group was spotted between Okinawa and Miyako Island.^[14]

On 22 May 2022, Nanchang conducted drills in the East China Sea as a part of the Liaoning Carrier Group; and they were sighted near Miyako Island by the JMSDF.^[15]

Gallery

• 
• 
•