PLAN Orbat Update: 2nd Destroyer Flotilla, Southern Theater Command welcomes DDG 161 Hohhot

DDG 161 Hohhot was launched in December 26th 2016,  commissioned in June 30th 2018 and now assigned to the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla, Southern Theater Command.  She is the 12th Type052D DDG overall. 

With the introduction of DDG 161 Hohhot, the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla - the red-headed stepchild - of the Southern Theater Command finally has a modern long-range fleet air defense DDG under its command. Southern Theater Command's 9th Destroyer Flotilla - in contrast - commands 4xType052D, 2xType052C and 4xType054A FFG.  

2nd Destroyer Flotilla, July 7th, 2018
	Commissioned	Type
DDG168	2004	Type052B
DDG169	2004	Type052B
DDG167	1999	Type051B
DDG165	1989	Type051
DDG166	1991	Type051
DDG 161	2018	Type052D
FFG500	2018	Type054A
FFG536	2017	Type054A
FFG569	2010	Type054A
FFG571	2010	Type054A
FFG568	2008	Type054A
FFG570	2008	Type054A

Good ole Type 051 Luhu class still soldiering on with the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla

Type051B DDG167 Shenzhen after her 2015 refit

DDG168 Guangzhou, Type052B

Meet Wei Huixiao, PLAN's first female DDG skipper

 DDG Zhengzhou, a type 052C destroyer

http://en.people.cn/n3/2018/0705/c90000-9477754.html

The People's Liberation of Army (PLA) Navy is expected to have a female captain for the first time in history, the official PLA Daily reported.

Wei Huixiao, 40, will soon be assessed and "only one step closer to becoming the country's first female Navy captain," the newspaper said.

Wei hails from Baise, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and is an intern captain of a Zhengzhou missile destroyer under the East China Sea Fleet.

Reports from the PLA Daily, the China Youth Daily and PLA Life magazine say Wei is a member of the Communist Party of China and obtained her bachelor's degree from Nanjing University, one of China's leading universities, and majored in atmospheric sciences.

After graduating, she worked at telecommunications giant Huawei before pursuing her master's degree and doctorate at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangdong Province.

The reports said that her dream of joining the army became clear when she was in her doctoral program. She said she wrote a letter to the PLA navy chief in October 2010, expressing her wish to join the military.

Three days after she sent the letter, the navy called her and sent a team to inspect her two weeks later. Wei finally chose to join the formation of China's first aircraft carrier, Liaoning, in 2012. At the time, she was the marine department's first female deputy director.

Wei was appointed deputy captain of the Changchun destroyer in March 2016, the first female deputy captain in Navy history.

Type054 mod of the day: High speed law enforcement ship

This mini Type054A under construction in Guangzhou is powered by a quad of water jet propulsors, capable of reaching 40+ knots.  It is claimed to be a "high speed law enforcement ship"

More People's Armed Police (PAP) amphibious warfare training pics

Wednesday, July 04, 2018

Photos of the day: PAP training with PLA's amphibious unit

I suppose cross-training between PLA's amphibious unit and PAP's SpOs is bound to happen since both are now under the same CMC command.   Considering that the PAP has been focusing on counter-terror operations and urban riot control, it's value in pacifying a "runaway province"... say in Eastern China can be easily understood.

 No reason to stress PLA troopers with police work, especially after President Xi's now famous "mission accomplished" speech televised address onboard of the aircraft carrier CV16 Liaoling.  Lesson learned  -- let the police do police work.

Members of the PAP Guangzhou SpOs unit training with an amphibious unit, 125th Combined-Arms Brigade, 74th Group Army, Southern Theater Command

Monday, January 22, 2018

PR photos of the day: PAP, China's other ground force.

It would be unwise to ignore such an important element in any China related war scenario, especally they are now part of the CMC just like their Army counterpart.

From SCMP (here)

China brings People’s Armed Police under control of top military chiefs.  Paramilitary force will answer to body headed by President Xi Jinping

China will bring its paramilitary police force, the People’s Armed Police, under the direct control of the Central Military Commission, which controls the country’s armed forces, state media reported on Wednesday.

The 1.5 million-strong paramilitary police force previously came under a dual command structure of the CMC and the State Council, or cabinet, via the Ministry of Public Security. It serves as a backup for the military in times of war, and domestically has a role in putting down protests and counterterrorism – particularly in areas such as the restive far western Xinjiang region – as well as border defence and firefighting.

Fake news of the day: China's home-built aircraft carrier appears to be in crisis.

Certain questionable non-Chinese news outlet reported in June 18th 2018 that China's home-built aircraft carrier appears to be in crisis.

Quote "But it was returned to dry dock immediately after its first voyage to sea.
This is unusual.
It indicates technical issues requiring extensive work.
China’s state-run media has been silent on the issue for the past month." unquote.

Three things from knowledged members of the CDF beg the differ:

1. Dry-docking after the first sea trial is a standard procedure. Same happened with CV-16. Same questions asked i.e. why CV-16 dry dock etc.   This is an expected procedure.

2. The arrested is not the project manager for 002, but rather supposedly Sun Bo, the general manager of CSIC (China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation)

3.  And...she is ready to her 2nd sea trial, so much for "It indicates technical issues requiring extensive work" and "appears to be in crisis"

China-built aircraft carrier to embark on 2nd sea trial

http://www.ecns.cn/news/military/2018-07-06/detail-ifyvvuhv1810387.shtml
2018-07-06 08:10:13Global Times Editor : Li Yan ECNS App Download

Outfitting work was completed on China's first domestically built aircraft carrier, Type 001A, on Thursday, making the ship ready for its second sea trial.

The carrier's first sea trial was from May 13 to 18. A military expert said this proves the first sea trial was successful, and that the process could be accelerated.

After a five-day sea trial, the carrier returned on May 23 to the Dalian Shipyard, Northeast China's Liaoning Province, to finish its remaining outfitting work.

A report from wenweipo.com said the carrier has been moved out from the dock and is ready for its second sea trial.

"The carrier's surface doesn't show any big changes, and the outfitting work is primarily for inspection and maintenance. After the first sea trial, the ship's instruments collected data and information, so its equipment must be adjusted based on the data," said Song Zhongping, a military expert and TV commentator. "The carrier can be delivered to the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy as soon as possible," Song added.

Although China already has one aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, in service, it doesn't mean the second one can skip steps during the sea trials, Song told the Global Times. "The Liaoning helps China gain experience in testing a huge warship like an aircraft carrier, so it can accelerate the progress for the next one, but progress has to be made step by step."

The first sea trial results for the ship, known as the Type 001A, have been successful, China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC) Chairman Hu Wenming said on June 21, according to the company's official website.

The PLA used to lack air supremacy in the South China Sea and on the high seas, Song said, adding that the aircraft carrier could help overcome the shortcoming. The ship is China's second aircraft carrier after the Liaoning, and its construction began in 2013, People's Daily website people.cn reported.

Picture of CV 17 ready to head out again (taken from July 4th)

Photos of the day: PAP training with PLA's amphibious unit

I suppose cross-training between PLA's amphibious unit and PAP's SpOs is bound to happen since both are now under the same CMC command.   Considering that the PAP has been focusing on counter-terror operations and urban riot control, it's value in pacifying a "runaway province"... say in Eastern China can be easily understood. 

 No reason to stress PLA troopers with police work, especially after President Xi's now famous "mission accomplished" speech televised address onboard of the aircraft carrier CV16 Liaoling.  Lesson learned  -- let the police do police work. 

Members of the PAP Guangzhou SpOs unit training with an amphibious unit, 125th Combined-Arms Brigade, 74th Group Army, Southern Theater Command

Monday, January 22, 2018

PR photos of the day: PAP, China's other ground force.

It would be unwise to ignore such an important element in any China related war scenario, especally they are now part of the CMC just like their Army counterpart.

From SCMP (here)

China brings People’s Armed Police under control of top military chiefs.  Paramilitary force will answer to body headed by President Xi Jinping

China will bring its paramilitary police force, the People’s Armed Police, under the direct control of the Central Military Commission, which controls the country’s armed forces, state media reported on Wednesday.

The 1.5 million-strong paramilitary police force previously came under a dual command structure of the CMC and the State Council, or cabinet, via the Ministry of Public Security. It serves as a backup for the military in times of war, and domestically has a role in putting down protests and counterterrorism – particularly in areas such as the restive far western Xinjiang region – as well as border defence and firefighting.

Two Type 055 guided-missile destroyers launched in one day

Source: China Daily
Editor:  Yao Jianing

Time
    2018-07-03

China launched two Type 055 guided-missile destroyers on Tuesday morning, according to witnesses outside a shipyard in Dalian, Liaoning province.

Chinese naval enthusiasts published pictures taken near Dalian Shipbuilding Industry and accounts of the launch on online military forums.

Water started to be pumped into the dry docks where the next-generation destroyers were built around 7 am before the docks' gates were opened, witnesses said.

Pictures showed a small launch ceremony at the shipyard, with hundreds of workers standing in formation in front of the two destroyers, each decorated with a huge national flag, ceremonial banners and colorful streamers.

The warships were then pushed into open water by tugboats, pictures posted online show.

China has now launched four Type 055 vessels; the first in June last year. They have yet to begin sea trials.

The Type 055 has a full displacement of more than 10,000 metric tons and will be equipped with new types of air-defense, missile-defense, anti-ship and anti-submarine weapons, according to the Chinese Navy.

It has 112 vertical launching cells capable of firing various kinds of missiles, including China's long-range, land-attack cruise missile. Its firepower is believed to be double that of the Type 052D guided-missile destroyer, currently China's largest and most powerful surface combatant in service.

Monday, June 04, 2018

Photos of the day: Dalian shipyard June 2018

Photo credit goes to Longshi

Visible here are 4xType052D DDG and 2x055DDG (NATO Renhai-class cruisers).  When all of them are commissioned, the PLAN will have 17xType052D and 6xType055 in service.  Both classes are being constructed two yards, Shanghai and Dalian

Sunday, August 28, 2016

Photos of the day: Dalian shipyard 2006 vs 2016

Note the second-hand, Ukrainian Riga class floating casino in the background.  Not sure what will they do with that rusty bucket.  I am telling you, Chong Lot Travel Agency's US$20 million investment is a complete waste -- as of 2016, not a single slot machine is found there generating gambling income.

 2006, DDG115 Shenyang under construction

Aug 2016

2x Type 051C (DDG115 and DDG116)