Type 052B Guangzhou Class Destroyer

The Type 052B or Guangzhou class destroyer (NATO reporting name: Luyang I class) is a class of multirole missile destroyers built by the People's Republic of China. Two ships have been built, with Guangzhou (168) and Wuhan (169) both being commissioned into the PLAN in July 2004. This class features a stealthy hull and significantly improved air defence systems, an area that had been a major weakness on previous ships designed by China. These ships represent a major improvement over the older generation vessels and reflects PLAN's need to have a modern destroyer.

The Type 052B (Guangzhou class) multirole missile destroyer was the first Chinese-built warship capable of area air defence. The Type 052B is built with considerable Russian technology including the Russian-made 9M38 Buk-M1-2 (NATO codename: SA-N-12 Grizzly) air defence missile system, an extremely effective air defence system with a range of 38 km. Most military analysts expect the Guangzhou class to be similar to the Russian Sovremenny class destroyer in terms of general performance. The chief designer of this class is the academician Mr. Pan Jingfu, who is also the designer of the previous two classes.

Class overview
Builders:	Jiangnan Shipyard
Operators:	People's Liberation Army Navy
Preceded by:	Type 051B
Succeeded by:	Type 052C
In service:	July 2004
Completed:	2
Active:	Guangzhou Wuhan
General characteristics
Displacement:	5,850 tons
Length:	154 m
Beam:	17 m
Draught:	6 m
Propulsion:	CODOG 57,000 shp
Speed:	30 knots
Complement:	280
Armament:	16 YJ-83 anti-ship missiles 48 SA-N-12 Grizzly surface-to-air missiles 1 dual purpose gun 2 Type 730 CIWS 2 anti-submarine mortars 6 torpedo tubes
Aircraft carried:	1 helicopter: Kamov Ka-27
Aviation facilities:	Single helicopter hangar

The modern capabilities of this vessel demonstrate the Chinese desire to build up their blue-water navy and ability to project force into deeper waters. This shows a strong internationally-influencing naval force is being developed and will be a force to contend with in the future.

he Type 052B uses either a Fregat-MAE-5 (Top Plate) 3D search radar or a Type 382 Radar (Upgraded version from Type 381 Radar "Sea Eagle S/C") 3D air/surface search radar , mounted at the top of the forward mast. Four MR90 Front-Dome radars provide fire control for the SA-N-12 missiles. A Type 344 fire control radar controls the main gun. A bandstand radar provides fire control for the YJ-83 ASCM missile.

The displacement of the Type 052B is 5850 tons (revealed by an official news on Jul 24, 2007, slightly less than the previously estimated 6500 tons). The ship features a "low point" design and combines this with radar absorbing paint to reduce radar signature. The ship's funnel incorporates cooling devices to reduce infrared signatures. The stern flight deck can host a Kamov Ka-28 ASW helicopter.

The Type 052Bs incorporate an extensive array of weapons systems. She is equipped with two missile launchers, one forward and one aft on the ship. These launchers can launch the SA-N-12 Grizzly Surface-to-Air Missile. Each launcher has two dedicated MR-90 Front Dome fire control radars and carries a total of 48 missiles. She also has 4 quad YJ-83 Anti-Ship Cruise Missile launchers located amidships. For guns she has a 100mm cannon in 'A' position and this was also the first PLAN vessel to be equipped with a Close-In Weapons System, or CIWS. For sub-surface threats, she is armed with 2 triple 324mm Yu-7 Anti-Submarine torpedo tubes and two Type 75 twelve-barrel 240mm antisubmarine rocket launchers. The Type 052B is equipped with four 18-barrel Type 724 chaff launchers for part of its self-defense suite.