The Type 056 corvette (NATO reporting name: Jiangdao-class corvette) is a class of warship deployed by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). They replace older patrol craft and some of the Type 053H frigates. The first Type 056 entered service in February 2013. An anti-submarine warfare (ASW) variant, commonly known as Type 056A, has also entered service. Following construction of Aba in December 2019, China ceased building Type 056 corvettes to focus on procuring bigger warships for high sea missions. In 2021, the PLAN transferred all 22 Type 056 to the China Coast Guard while retaining the Type 056A.
Two 1,800-ton patrol variants, P18N have been delivered to the Nigerian Navy and four C13B 1,300-ton corvette variants have been sold to Bangladesh Navy.
History and development
The Type 056 hull may have been based on the -class offshore patrol vessels, which were built in China for Thailand from 2005 to 2006.
The first ship was launched by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding in May 2012. In late 2012, corvettes were being produced by four Chinese shipyards.
The Type 056A were in production by late 2013. The Type 056 series was constructed at a high production rate to enhance the PLAN's littoral warfare capabilities. By February 2021, the PLAN had commissioned the last ships of the class, for a total of 22 Type 056 and 50 Type 056A. This reportedly completed the entire production run for the class.
In 2021, the PLAN transferred a batch of Type 056 to the China Coast Guard, likely the original 22 Type 056 class. As a result, the PLAN fleet shrank in 2022.
Design
The Type 056 corvette fills the capability gap between the Type 022 missile boat and the Type 054A frigate. It is 90 metres long, displaces 1500 tons, and incorporates anti-radar features. The Type 056 is suited for mid-range green-water missions and littoral duties, but not for major blue-water combat operations; it is built with a 15-day endurance for combat missions such as patrol, escort and protection of exclusive economic zone maritime interests within from the coast, freeing up larger warships for open ocean deployment. The Type 056 corvette has a crew of 78 people with a top speed of , and a range of at .
Surface armament is reported as an AK-176 naval gun, two H/PJ-17 autocannons, and four YJ-83 anti-ship missiles. FL-3000N surface-to-air missiles are carried in a single eight-cell launcher. Finally, there are two triple-tube torpedo launchers, which may carry Yu-7 light anti-submarine (ASW) torpedoes.
The basic Type 056 is equipped with Type 347G (LR66) radar and bow-mounted sonar. The Type 056A adds towed array and variable depth sonars (VDS); the towed body suggests the VDS is "not an exact copy" of either the Italian/US DE-1163 or the French DUBV-43. It is likely that the Chinese will have undertaken extensive trials and analysis of any imported equipment and built a nominally indigenous system using the knowledge gained.
The Type 056 has a helicopter deck for a Z-9-sized helicopter, but no hangar.
Variants
The P18 corvette is the export version of Type 056. The P18 is advertised as displacing 1,800 tons, with a length and a beam; the power plant is two MTU 20V 4000M diesel engines, for a maximum speed of ; armament may include a 76 mm. gun, two 30 mm. cannon, up to eight anti-ship missiles, and two triple torpedo launchers; a medium-sized helicopter may be carried.
In 2014, the P18 was reportedly considered by Kazakhstan to fill a requirement for up to nine ships.
In late 2014, Argentina reportedly agreed to purchase five P18s, two to be built in China, and the remainder to be co-produced in Argentina. The ships would be called the Malvinas class, and have towed array sonar and an enlarged landing deck to handle Sea King helicopters. Each ship may cost .
Bangladesh
C13B is the surface warfare variant of Type 056 corvette for Bangladesh Navy. The corvettes are in length and displace 1,330 tons. Each warship is armed with a H/PJ-26 76 mm gun, C-802A anti-ship missiles, FL-3000N SAMs and two H/PJ-17-1 30 mm remote controlled gun turrets and two Type 87 ASW rocket launchers. Like the Type 056, there is a helicopter pad but no hangar. The corvette has a reported speed of .
The first batch of two corvettes was ordered from Wuchang Shipyard in Wuhan, reportedly in October 2012. The ships were laid down on 8 January 2013. Shadhinota (F111), the lead ship, was launched on 30 November 2014. The second ship, Prottoy (F112) was launched on 30 December 2014. Shadhinota and Prottoy were commissioned on 19 March 2016.