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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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.
1 x Kamov Ka-28 OR Harbin Z-9C medium-lift navy helicopter supported from the stern helipad.
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Image from the Chinese Ministry of Defense; Public Release.
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