China Defense Blog: What does a Coast Guard need a landing craft for?

Thursday, September 10, 2026

What does a Coast Guard need a landing craft for?

Here's a fairly clear photo of China Coast Guard cutter 34607, a Type 271-II 500-ton Landing Ship Medium (LSM).

And yes, that immediately raises an obvious question: what does a coast guard need a landing craft for?

Cutter 34607 appears to be a hand-me-down from either the PLA Navy or the PLA Ground Force, both of which have operated the Type 271-II in various forms. The Chinese seem reluctant to throw away a perfectly serviceable hull, and one more transfer to the Coast Guard probably wasn't going to change that.

As far as I can tell, China is the only country whose coast guard operates anything resembling a landing craft capable of limited ocean going. Most coast guards are content with patrol vessels, rescue ships, and the occasional buoy tender. Apparently someone in China looked at a landing ship and thought, "Sure, paint it white."

To be fair, there are practical uses. A shallow-draft landing craft is well suited for hauling personnel, vehicles, construction materials, and supplies to remote outposts or civilian facilities. Using a Coast Guard cutter for those missions can also look a bit less provocative than dispatching a gray-hulled naval ship, particularly in front of nervous South China Sea neighbors.

Beyond that, I wouldn't read too much into it. Not every unusual vessel transfer is evidence of a master plan. Sometimes an old ship gets a new paint job and a second career. Still, it's an amusing little oddity of the Chinese maritime fleet and one of those details that makes you stop scrolling and say, "Wait, why does the Coast Guard have a landing ship?"

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Photo Of The Day: China Coast Guard is now amphibious?

Like the PAP, it seems that the China Coast Guard is also getting (Type 067 III) landing craft into her fleet

Saturday, April 19, 2025

Video Of The Day: Peoeple's Armed Police is now amphibious?

In April 16th 2025, the People's Armed Police (PAP) commissioned a LCU (Type 067 III) into its fleet, you can watch the entire video (here). While the PAP is known to command small river crafts for security and law enforcement purposes, particularly in inland waters, this is the first time of it commanding an amphibious asset.

Here are some screen captures of the same video

Friday, April 04, 2025

Photo of the day: China Coast Guard Type 701 Support Ro-Ro Ship

There are all sorts of Ro-Ro ships in China that can use a Mulberry-style harbor with barges to offload their cargo, including the China Coast Guard Type 701 Support Ro-Ro Ship. It was first sighted on December 5, 2023, shortly after her commissioning. Below is the most recent photo of her as of April 4th, 2025.