China Commissioned the 2nd Type 052D Destroyer Changsha (173) with PLAN South Sea Fleet
According to the official journal of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN or Chinese Navy) the Type 052D (NATO reporting name Luyang III class) destroyer Yangsha (hull number 173), was just commissioned on August 12 with China’s South Sea Fleet. The vessel is now homeported at Yulin Naval Base located in the Yalong Bay (city of Sanya) on Hainan island.
Changsha is the second Type 052D Destroyer to join the PLAN. It was launched just four months after head of the class Kunming (172) but was commissioned much later (Kunming was commissioned in March last year).
This could indicate that follow on ships of the class, starting with Changsha, have and will receive some modifications compared to head of class Kunming.
During Kunming commissioning, PLAN commander Wu Shengli said that: “weaponry and equipment are vital to the building of a strong navy and the Kunming warship will greatly enhance the navy’s fighting capacity.“
The Type 052D Kunming class (Nato designation: Luyang III) is the latest generation of guided-missile destroyer (DDG) of the Chinese Navy. It is based on its predecessor, the Type 052C DDG and likely shares the same hull. However the Type 052D incorporates many improvements in terms of design as well as sensors and weapons fit. This new class of vessel is considered as the Chinese equivalent to the American AEGIS destroyers.
