Yunshu (class) / Type 073A

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The Yunshu-class of landing ships serving the modern People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of China encompasses ten named ships in the series - from "Mount Sheng" to "Mount Tai". The ships are known to the West under the name of "Type 073A" and were used by the PLAN to succeed the earlier Type 073III series. Commissioned service of the design began in 2000 and the vessels form parts of the East Sea and South Sea Fleets.

The ships are classified as "medium" vessels in the PLAN inventory, intended for the amphibious assault role, and have been consistent participants in the Chinese "show-of-force" when it comes to neighboring Taiwan. The hull series in the class (as of June 2022) are 941, 942, 943, 944, 945, 946, 947, 948, 949, and 950.

The ships displace 2,000 tons under full load and have a bow-to-stern length of 285 feet, a beam of 41 feet, and a draught of 7.4 feet. Power is from 2 x 6PA6L-380 marine diesel engines developing 4,750 horsepower to 2 x Shafts astern. The vessel can make headway at 17 knots in ideal conditions and range out to 1,500 nautical miles. The crew complement numbers seventy personnel. Armament is purely defensive in nature, made up of 2 x 37mm Type 76 series automatic cannons for the Anti-Aircraft (AA) role, these fitted to a turret emplacement at the forecastle. Also carried are 122mm Type 81H surface-to-surface rockets for the land assault.

The hull features a split door, "clam-shell" opening at the bow to release the cargo within once pressed up onto shorelines. The bridge superstructure sits aft of midships and is capped by various radar and communications sensors. The bridge section itself is given a commanding view over the bow of the vessel. The cargo hold has the capacity to house up to 250 tons of cargo. In lieu of this, the hull is designed to transport up to 5 x Combat tanks or 10 x Light vehicles or 500 x Combat-ready infantry.

Specifications

Service Year

2000

Origin

China

Status

COMMISSIONED
In Active Service.

Complement

70
PERSONNEL

State Shipyards - China

(View other Ship-Related Manufacturers)

Class

Yunshu-class (Type 073A)

Number-in-Class

10
VESSELS

Ships-in-Class

CNS Shengshan (941); CNS Lushan (942); CNS Mengshan (943); CNS Yushan (944); CNS Huashan (945); CNS Songshan (946); CNS Lushan (947); CNS Xueshan (948); CNS Hengshan (949); CNS Taishan (950)

China

(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)

✓ Amphibious Assault
A shallow draught, and other qualities, give this vessel the ability to support amphibious assault operations close-to-shore.

SHALLOW DRAUGHT

Vessel's hull design is such that it can operate in close-to-shore / shallow water environments.

PRIMARY TURRET(S)

Main armament is housed in primary turret(s) arrangement offering enhanced protection.

ANTI-AIRCRAFT

Onboard systems alert and protect the vessel from airborne, low-flying airborne threats through ballistic and / or missile weaponry.

SHIP-TO-SHORE

Onboard facilities provide for the launching of air and/or land elements for shore attack and infiltration.

Length

285.0 ft
86.87 m

Beam

41.0 ft
12.50 m

Draught

7.4 ft
2.26 m

Displacement

2,000
tons

Installed Power: 2 x 6PA6L-380 marine diesel engines developing 4,750 horsepower to 2 x Shafts astern.

Surface Speed

17.0 kts
(19.6 mph)

Range

1,477 nm
(1,700 mi | 2,736 km)

1 x 37mm Type 76 Anti-Aircraft (AA) automatic cannons in single twin-gunned turret over the bow.

1 x 122mm Type 81H land-attack rocket launcher.

Supported Types

Graphical image of an aircraft automatic cannon

Graphical image of aircraft aerial rockets

(Not all weapon types may be represented in the showcase above)

None.

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Image from the Chinese Ministry of Defense; Public Release.

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Naval Warfare

Yunshu (class) / Type 073A

Medium-class Landing Ship / Amphibious Assault Support Vessel [ 2000 ]

The Yunshu-class of landing ships would take center stage in an all-out Chinese invasion of neighboring Taiwan.

Specifications

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