Read on Twitter
This seems to be a common formation in 
PLA Navy strategy. Type 052D destroyer & Type 054A frigate with supply ship.
The following deployments have included this grouping:
Strait of Hormuz Feb. 2021
SCS/"south of the equator" Feb. 2021
Crossing International Dateline Feb. 2020
PLA Navy strategy. Type 052D destroyer & Type 054A frigate with supply ship.The following deployments have included this grouping:
Strait of Hormuz Feb. 2021
SCS/"south of the equator" Feb. 2021
Crossing International Dateline Feb. 2020
Yet another example of the PLA Navy base formation consisting of a Type 052D destroyer & Type 054A frigate, this time paired with a PLA Navy Sovremenny class destroyer, a type some may consider antiquated despite being the Russian word for "modern". https://twitter.com/CavasShips/status/1370440455347961856?s=20
PLA Navy base formation consisting of a Type 052D destroyer & Type 054A frigate, this time paired with a PLA Navy Sovremenny class destroyer, a type some may consider antiquated despite being the Russian word for "modern". https://twitter.com/CavasShips/status/1370440455347961856?s=20
Considering how much this formation has been adopted in the past 15 months, it may be worth considering that the PLA Navy has either found a formation it believes in, or rather, platforms themselves that are worth fielding and investing in.
Ah! Just as soon as I had presumed a pattern, a deviation!
Stills from a @CGTNOfficial video of a live-fire exercise March 14th involving Type 052C DDG Jinan (152) & Type 054A FFG Changzhou (549) from East Sea Fleet & at least one other surface combatant. Essentially a PLAN SAG.
Stills from a @CGTNOfficial video of a live-fire exercise March 14th involving Type 052C DDG Jinan (152) & Type 054A FFG Changzhou (549) from East Sea Fleet & at least one other surface combatant. Essentially a PLAN SAG.
Source to tweet above: https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-03-15/PLA-destroyers-carry-out-actual-combat-drill-to-improve-capabilities--YE3vxscFVe/index.html
Additionally, the Chinese publication @globaltimesnews mentions a wargame in the Yellow Sea "recently" involving the Type 056 corvettes Datong (580) & Yingkou (581) along with the Type 056A corvette Wuhai (540).
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202103/1218437.shtml
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202103/1218437.shtml
Aaaaand... we are right back to the base formation of Type 052D DDG & Type 054A FFG, sailing this time with the addition of a Type 055 DDG/CG. This North Sea Fleet SAG out of Qingdao marks the first passage of a Type 055 thru Tsushima Strait. https://twitter.com/ryankakiuchan/status/1372964154902937601
In other formations... South Sea Fleet exercise from January 22-25 involving Type 056 corvette Qingyun (589), Type 056A corvette Jingmen (506) & Type 053H1 frigate Zhaotong (555).
Source: http://eng.chinamil.com.cn
South Sea Fleet exercise from January 22-25 involving Type 056 corvette Qingyun (589), Type 056A corvette Jingmen (506) & Type 053H1 frigate Zhaotong (555).Source: http://eng.chinamil.com.cn
High-res image of 175 Task Group noted at the beginning of this thread. Ships involved are (left to right):
Type 052D DDG Yinchuan (175)
Type 901 AOE Chaganhu (967)
Type 075 LPD Wuzhishan (987)
Type 815A AGER (ELINT) Tianshuxing (855)
Not pictured is Type 054A FFG Hengyang (568)
Type 052D DDG Yinchuan (175)
Type 901 AOE Chaganhu (967)
Type 075 LPD Wuzhishan (987)
Type 815A AGER (ELINT) Tianshuxing (855)
Not pictured is Type 054A FFG Hengyang (568)
Type 054A FFG Hengyang (568). This and the image above cited as being taken while 175 Task Group sailed "8000 miles over 30 days".
Both images found at: http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/view/2021-03/26/content_10010857.htm
Both images found at: http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/view/2021-03/26/content_10010857.htm
Solid analysis of this formation (and it's noted lack of ASW focus) was written by @lu_lishih for the @Diplomat_APAC yesterday.
Definitely liked the part where he notes the Type 052D DDG/Type 054A FFG high-low naval formation as well! https://thediplomat.com/2021/03/decoding-the-chinese-navys-annual-high-sea-joint-training-exercises/
Definitely liked the part where he notes the Type 052D DDG/Type 054A FFG high-low naval formation as well! https://thediplomat.com/2021/03/decoding-the-chinese-navys-annual-high-sea-joint-training-exercises/
February 19th, 2021 @maxar / @googleearth pass over PLA Navy's Yulin Submarine Base on Hainan Island. Four Type 094 Jin-class SSBNs and Two Type 093 Shang-class SSNs are visible. The Shangs measure 110m while the Jins are 130m in length.
PLA Navy's Yulin Submarine Base on Hainan Island. Four Type 094 Jin-class SSBNs and Two Type 093 Shang-class SSNs are visible. The Shangs measure 110m while the Jins are 130m in length.
Just weeks prior on January 26th, 2021 Four Jin-class SSBNs & Four Shang-class SSNs were spotted at the same piers at Yulin.
There are supposedly six Jins & six Shangs in service.
There are supposedly six Jins & six Shangs in service.
