The Chinese naval fleet is one of the largest in the world ranking 1st overall in the Global Firepower annual index with some 730 total units available (including submarines). A critical component of surface operations is the guided-missile frigate of which the fleet operates over forty hulls. One of these designs is the Type 054A, known to NATO as Jiangkai II-class, and one this number is CNS Rizhao (598), and all-modern surface combatant.
Rizhao, launched on April 1st, 2017, is a 4,200-ton frigate commissioned on January 12th, 2018 and today (2023) serving as part of the North Sea Fleet in an active capacity. She has a running length of 440 feet with a beam measuring 52 feet. Power is through a COmbined Diesel-And-Diesel (CODAD) arrangement comprised of 4 x Shaanxi 16 PA6 STC marine diesels working in conjunction to promote exceptional ocean-going speeds and overall performance while preserving fuel stores for the long haul. The vessel makes headway at 27 knots and can reach out to a range of 8,025 nautical miles.
Aboard is a crew of 165 and the vessel is stocked with modern sensors and processing systems including the Type 382 series radar, the Type 344 radar fit, and the four Type 345 fire control radars. A complete Electronic Warfare (EW) suite is installed and decoys can be used to help protect the vessel.
Armament is a mix of ballistic, missile, and torpedo solutions: there is a 76mm PJ26 Dual-Purpose (DP) turreted deck gun, 1 x 32-cell Vertical Launching System (VLS), and 2 x 324mm triple torpedo tubes. Also installed are 2 x 4-cell C-803 anti-ship missiles, 2 x 30mm Type 730 series Close-in Weapon Systems (CIWSs), and several anti-submarine measures to put her on par with Western counterparts.
Like other modern fighting frigates, Rizhao is equipped to full support a navalized medium-lift helicopter from a stern-based helipad with combination hangar.
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(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Offshore Bombardment
Offshore bombardment / attack of surface targets / areas primarily through onboard ballistic weaponry.
✓Land-Attack
Offshore strike of surface targets primarily through onboard missile / rocket weaponry.
✓Maritime Patrol
Active patroling of vital waterways and maritime areas; can also serve as local deterrence against airborne and seaborne threats.
✓Airspace Denial / Deterrence
Neutralization or deterrence of airborne elements through onboard ballistic of missile weaponry.
✓Fleet Support
Serving in support (either firepower or material) of the main surface fleet in Blue Water environments.
ANTI-AIRCRAFT
Onboard systems alert and protect the vessel from airborne, low-flying airborne threats through ballistic and / or missile weaponry.
OVER-THE-HORIZON
An Over-the-Horizon operational capability is granted to the vessel, typically through launched fixed-wing / rotary-wing aircraft.
TORPEDOES
Ability to launch torpedoes against ocean-going targets.
ANTI-SUBMARINE ROCKETS
Ability to launch salvo of rockets against submarine threats.
Length
440.0 ft 134.11 m
Beam
52.0 ft 15.85 m
Displacement
4,055 tons
Installed Power:
COmbined Diesel-And-Diesel (CODAD): 4 x Shaanxi 16 PA6 STC marine diesels developing 7,600 horsepower each driving 2 x Shafts astern.
Surface Speed
27.0 kts (31.1 mph)
Range
8,025 nm (9,235 mi | 14,862 km)
kts = knots | mph = miles-per-hour | nm = nautical miles | mi = miles | km = kilometers
1 kts = 1.15 mph | 1 nm = 1.15 mi | 1 nm = 1.85 km
1 x 76mm PJ26 turreted deck gun.
1 x 32-cell Vertical Launch System (VLS) supporting HQ-16 Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) and Yu-8 Anti-Submarine ROCket (ASROC) launcher solutions.
2 x 4-cell C-803 Anti-Ship Missile (ASM) launchers.
2 x 30mm Gatling-style Type 730 series Close-in Weapon Systems (CIWSs).
2 x 324mm triple torpedo tubes (supporting the Yu-7 torpedo family).
2 x 240mm 6-tube Type 87 ASROC launchers (36 reloads).
2 x 18-tube Type 726-4 decoy launchers.
Supported Types
(Not all weapon types may be represented in the showcase above)
1 x Kamov Ka-28 OR Harbin Z-9C medium-lift navy helicopter supported from the stern helipad.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective naval campaigns / operations / periods.
Images Gallery
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Image from the Chinese Ministry of Defense; Public Release.
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