One of the most critical aspects of fighting a modern war is control of the seas and part of this control lies in the ability to mine / counter-mine strategic and tactical areas. For this reason, the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of China operates a fairly sizeable force dedicated to the role. One of the classes dedicated to such actions is the Type 081A (Wochi-class) which includes CNS Renhuai (732) commissioned in 2018 and assigned to the North Sea Fleet.
She remains in active service as of this writing (2023).
The 1,200 ton warship's design is an extension of the earlier Chinese Type 081 design, arriving through a follow-up batch with improvements for enhanced capabilities in the minesweeping role. Additionally, the new generation is heavier by nearly 200 tons and longer by several feet. Armament is also modernized. Design work on the new lot was undertaken by Quixin Shipyard (as part of the Jiangnan Shipyard of Shanghai). The class began formal operations in 2007 making these ships relatively new additions to the Chinese fleet.
The class is led by CNS Xiaoyi (841) commissioned in February of 2012. The group operates across all major Chinese waters: North Sea Fleet, the East Sea Fleet, and the South Sea Fleet.
Power is through conventional means driving a twin-shaft arrangement under the stern. The ship's running length reaches around 222 feet. Armament is strictly self-defensive in nature, made up of a single-barreled H/PJ-14 series 30mm autocannon seated over the forecastle.
The bridge takes its usual spot over and aft of the forecastle and atop the hull superstructure is the main mast seating all manner of communications, sensors, and processing systems. The smoke funnels are combined in an enclosed structure amidships and of a low-profile design. The hull is stepped down towards the stern. There is no helicopter support on the modestly sized vessels, the rear section of the ship reserved for mine/countermine equipment. The ships-in-class do, however, support the launching and retrieval of unmanned submersibles.
As of November 2023, CNS Renhuai maintains an active presence in the Chinese fleet and has undertaken various exercises since commissioned service began.
Power & Performance Those special qualities that separate one sea-going vessel design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for CNS Renhuai (732 / 847).
Conventional drive arrangement with 2 x Shafts astern. Propulsion
15.0 kts 17.3 mph Surface Speed
Structure The bow-to-stern, port-to-starboard physical qualities of CNS Renhuai (732 / 847).
30 Personnel Complement
222.0 ft 67.67 meters O/A Length
38.0 ft 11.58 meters Beam
14.0 ft 4.27 meters Draught
1,200 tons Displacement
Armament Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of CNS Renhuai (732 / 847).
1 x 30mm H/JP-14 single-barreled autocannon over forecastle.
Ships-in-Class (10) Notable series variants as part of the CNS Renhuai (732 / 847) family line as relating to the Type 081A (Wochi-class) group.
Operators Global operator(s) of the CNS Renhuai (732 / 847). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national naval warfare listing.
Shipbuilder(s): Jiangnan Shipyard (Shanghai) - China
[ China ]
1 / 1
Image from the Chinese Ministry of Defense; Public Release.
Going Further... CNS Renhuai (732 / 847) Mine / Countermine Vessel appears in the following collections:
The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.
