China launches fifth Type 055 Renhai-class large guided missile destroyer

One of the Type 055 ships during launch. Photo c/o Popular Mechanics.

China’s Jiangnan Changxingdao Shipyard has launched the fifth Type 055 Renhai-class cruiser for the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) on 12 September 2019.

Despite considered by the PLAN as a destroyer, its massive size at 180 meters long and around 13,000 tons full load displacement made the US Navy consider it as a guided missile cruiser. It is even larger and heavier than the US Navy’s Ticonderoga-class cruisers.

The Type 055 Renhai-class cruisers are designed to provide escort and protection to the PLAN’s future carrier battle groups, and is armed with 128 VLS cells for a variety of medium and long range surface-to-air missiles and anti-ship cruise missiles, while also armed with an assortment of medium and small calibre naval guns, close-in weapon systems, and torpedoes.

It is powered by gas turbine engines in a Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) configuration allowing it to reach a maximum speed of more than 30 knots and a range of 5,000 nautical miles at 18 knots.

Observers reported that a 6th ship of the class is under construction, while plans for two more are being considered by the PLAN.


[1] Jane’s Defence Weekly
[2] Naval Technology