Type 075 landing helicopter dock

The Type 075 landing helicopter dock (NATO reporting name: Yushen-class landing helicopter assault^[10]) is a class of Chinese amphibious assault ships built by Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).^[1] It has a full-length flight deck for helicopter operations^[11] and features a floodable well deck from which to disembark hovercraft and armored amphibious assault vehicles.^[12]

lead ship Hainan in Hong Kong on 2024.
Class overview
Builders	Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding
Operators	People's Liberation Army Navy
Preceded by	Type 071 amphibious transport dock
Succeeded by	Type 076 landing helicopter dock
Built	2018–present[1]
In service	2021–present[2]
Planned	8[3]
Building	1[4]
Completed	4
Active	3[5]
General characteristics
Type	Amphibious assault ship
Displacement	35,000 to 40,000 t (34,000 to 39,000 long tons)[6]
Length	232 m (761 ft 2 in)[7]
Beam	36.8 m (120 ft 9 in)[7]
Boats & landing craft carried	2 × Type 726 Yuyi-class LCAC[8]
Capacity	60 armoured fighting vehicle[8]
Troops	800 troops[8]
Armament	2 × H/PJ-14 30 mm (1.2 in) CIWS[9] 2 × HQ-10 SAM[9]
Aircraft carried	28 helicopters[8]
Aviation facilities	Hangar deck

History

The Marine Design and Research Institute of China (708 Institute) of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation began design work in 2011.^[13] Debate over the desired result may have continued into 2016. Reportedly, the Central Military Commission Equipment Development Department favored a smaller design than the final Type 075, effectively an enlarged Type 071 amphibious transport dock, possibly due to concerns that the existing propulsion plant was insufficient for a larger ship. Ultimately, the PLAN's desire for an LHA prevailed.^[14] Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding received the contract in 2018 and construction began that year.^[1]

Images of Hainan, the first ship,^[15] under construction in drydock appeared by June 2019.^[16] She suffered a minor fire while fitting out in April 2020 which did not slow construction.^[17] Hainan commissioned on 23 April 2021^[2] and reached initial operating capability in March 2022.^[5]

In November 2022, the PLAN announced that the first two ships were combat ready.^[18]

Design

Guangxi sailing past Ōsumi Strait off Kagoshima prefecture in Japan, 2023

The flight deck is 226 meters (741 ft 6 in) long and 36 m (118 ft 1 in) wide. There are seven flight spots - six along the port side and one aft of the island.^[19] The forward aircraft elevator can carry one medium helicopter with rotors folded; the stern elevator is larger and can carry Changhe Z-8 helicopters with rotors folded.^[20] Two weapons elevators are located on the forward flight deck.^[21] The hangar may be 150 m (492 ft 2 in) long, 20 m (65 ft 7 in) wide, and 6 m (19 ft 8 in) high. The ship may operate 20 to 35 aircraft.^[20]

The well deck and vehicle deck are one continuous space.^[22] The well deck has a 20-meter (66 ft) wide gate and may be 80–90 m (262 ft 6 in – 295 ft 3 in) long, sufficient for two or three Type 726 LCACs.^[23] The vehicle deck is large enough for a PLAN Marine Corps amphibious mechanized infantry company plus additional platoon-sized tank or artillery elements. An opening on each side allows roll-on/roll-off access to the vehicle deck.^[24] The ship has an estimated displacement between 35,000 to 40,000 t (34,000 to 39,000 long tons),^[6] or more than 40,000 t (39,000 long tons) at full displacement.^[25]

List of ships

Pennant number	Name	Namesake	Builder	Launched	Commissioned	Fleet	Status
31[2]	Hainan[2]	Province of Hainan	Hudong-Zhonghua, Shanghai[1]	25 September 2019[2]	23 April 2021[2]	South Sea Fleet[26]	Active
32[2]	Guangxi[2]	Autonomous Region of Guangxi		22 April 2020[2]	April 2022[2]	East Sea Fleet[26]	Active
33[2]	Anhui [zh][2]	Province of Anhui		29 January 2021[27]	1 October 2022[28][5]		Active
34	TBD			14 December 2023[29]			Fitting out[4]

See also

• People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force
• List of ships of the People's Liberation Army Navy