The Type 071 (NATO reporting name: Yuzhao) is a class of Chinese amphibious transport dock ships in service with the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). The Type 071 provides the PLAN with capabilities and flexibility not found in its previous landing ships.
Design The amphibious warfare ship features a vehicle deck, well-deck, landing deck and a hangar. It can carry a combination of marines, vehicles, landing craft and helicopters. The ship may embark 600 to 800 troops. The stern helicopter deck has two landing spots, each supporting a Harbin Z-8 (SA 321 Super Frelon variant) transport helicopter. The twin-door cantilever hangar can house up to four Z-8 helicopters. The well deck houses up to four Type 726 air-cushioned landing craft, which can transfer vehicles or marines to the shore at high speed.
The LCAC are launched by flooding of the docking area. The vessel can carry landing craft on port / starboard davits. The vehicle deck can house amphibious assault vehicles including the ZBD05 amphibious IFV and the ZTD-05 amphibious light tank. The stern ramp, two side doors and ramps allow rapid loading of the vehicles and equipment.
The ship is armed with one 76 mm gun and four 30 mm close-in weapon systems. A Type 071 hull (986) was modified with a laser-based directed energy weapon added to the vessel's forward superstructure in 2024, reflecting the configuration of a similar weapon installed on the ship .
The Type 071 may operate as the flagship of a task force. The Type 071 may also conduct and support humanitarian, disaster relief, and counterpiracy missions, in addition to amphibious assaults.
Export The China State Shipbuilding and Trading Corp. consortium offered to build a modified Type 071 for the Royal Malaysian Navy. The Malaysians had a requirement for a 13,000-ton LPD; the Type 071 would cost a third of the similar US-built San Antonio-class LPD.
The Royal Thai Navy ordered one export version, designated Type 071E, in 2019. In April 2023, the ship was delivered to the Royal Thai Navy.
Ships of the class
China PennantNumber NameNamesake Builder Laiddown Launched Commissioned Fleet Status 998 昆仑山 / Kunlun ShanKunlun Mountains Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding 2006 Jane's Fighting Ships, 2023-24 Edition, ISBN 978-0-7106-3428 3, page 153 21 December 2006 13 November 2007 South Sea Fleet Active 999 井冈山 / Jinggang ShanJinggang Mountains Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding 2009 16 November 2010 30 October 2011 South Sea Fleet Active 989 长白山 / Changbai ShanChangbai Mountains Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding 2010 26 September 2011 23 September 2012 South Sea Fleet Active 988 沂蒙山 / Yimeng Shan Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding 2014 22 January 2015 1 February 2016 East Sea Fleet Active 980 Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding 2016 15 June 2017 19 September 2018 East Sea Fleet Active 987 Wuzhi Mountain Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding 2017 20 January 2018 12 January 2019 South Sea Fleet Active 986 https://new.qq.com/rain/a/20200725A0CUYX00; Archived on 21 March 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230321091052/https://new.qq.com/rain/a/20200725A0CUYX00 Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding 2017 28 December 2018 2020 East Sea Fleet Active 985 Qilian Mountains Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding 2018 6 June 2019 November 2020 South Sea Fleet Active
Thailand
PennantNumber NameNamesake BuilderLaid down Launched Commissioned Fleet Status 792 Ko Chang district Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding 18 April 2023 Active
See also
People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force LY-1
References
External links IDEX 2007 Showcases China’s Productive Weapons Sector Type 071 Yuzhao class Amphibious Transport Dock (LPD)