China launches new warship for South Sea Fleet, threatening the East Sea

China's Global Times reported that China recently launched the Type 056 missile frigate named Tuc Thien with registration number 504.

China's new Type 056 frigate, expected to be deployed in the South China Sea


The ship was launched at the Huangpu Shipyard in Guangzhou. It is expected to be commissioned into the South Sea Fleet in early 2015.

The Chinese newspaper quoted "military experts" as saying: "The frigate Sutian can be deployed in the East Sea, with superior features to respond to the navies of countries bordering the East Sea. Sutian will allow the Chinese Navy to continue regular (illegal) patrols in the East Sea, continuously maintaining its military presence here."

Previously, in early June this year, the British defense magazine Jane's Defence Weekly reported that China continued to deploy two Type 056 frigates, Luzhou (592) and Qinyuan (589), to the South Sea Fleet.

Technical specifications of Type 056 missile frigate:

Total length: 88.9m

Width: 11.14m

Full load displacement: 1,300 tons

Maximum speed: 30 knots

Crew: 60 people

Weapons on board include: FL-3000N short-range air defense missile system; 76mm naval gun; 30mm naval gun, YJ-83 anti-ship missile and torpedoes.

The official website of the Chinese Navy said that the Type 056 corvette was the class of ship that China produced the most in 2013.

The stern of the new version of the Type 056 ship is designed with a large opening door.

According to the Beijing-based military website Sina Military Network, in 2013, China launched up to 10 Type 056 corvettes to replace the older Type 037 ships.
The stern of the new version of the Type 056 ship is designed with a large opening door.
The stern of the new version of the Type 056 ship is designed with a large opening door.

In January this year, Chinese defense websites recently posted many images of a strange version of the Type 056 corvette. Accordingly, the stern of the ship is designed with a large opening, which could be the place to install wire-pulling hydroacoustic equipment. This is said to help the Type 056 improve its ability to search and detect submarines.

In the context of the East Sea heating up due to China's recent aggressive policies, the country's increase in the number of Type 056 ships is a dangerous move that countries in the region need to be vigilant about.
According to Soha.net