Special Report:  China Marks 60th Anniversary of Navy

    QINGDAO, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao reviewed foreign vessels Thursday afternoon in waters off Qingdao, in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy.

U.S. navy missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald is seen during an international fleet review in waters off China's port city of Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, on April 23, 2009. A total of 21 visiting naval vessels from 14 countries took part in the review, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy. (Xinhua/Li Gang) Photo Gallery>>>

    A total of 21 visiting naval vessels from 14 countries took part in the review with the rhythms of "March of the Review," a Chinese melody usually played for formal occasions. All the foreign ships flew their flags at full-staff.

    The foreign vessels lined up in a row in the order of combatant ships, landing craft, auxiliary ships and a sailing ship for training. In each category, the order of placement was based on tonnages.

    President Hu, aboard the PLA Navy destroyer Shijiazhuang, first passed by the Russian cruiser CG-011 Varyag, a 11,500-tonne vessel which was commissioned in 1989 and carries 529 crew.

    Known for its sophisticated missile, torpedo and artillery systems, the Slava-class cruiser is the flagship of the Russian Navy's Pacific Fleet.

    Hu also reviewed other visiting vessels.

    The Japan-based USS Fitzgerald from the 7th fleet, a 6,800-tonne destroyer, represents the highest level of U.S. navy destroyers. It was the world's first missile destroyer equipped with a Zeus Shield system and invisibility design.

    Commissioned in October 1995, the USS Fitzgerald carries 280 soldiers and officers. It was also one of the two U.S. vessels to take part in the second-phase of the first China-U.S. search and rescue exercise in 2006 in the South China Sea.

    The Indian naval Delhi-class destroyer D62 Mumbai, commissioned in 2001, has a complement of 328 people and a tonnage of 6,700 tonnes.

    Another Indian warship the INS Ranvir, commissioned in 1986, is the fourth of the five Rajput-class destroyers built by India.

    The DDH-979 Gang Gam Chan, commissioned in 2007, is one of the Republic of Korea's new-generation destroyers. The Chungmugong Yi Sunshin class destroyer has a complement of 200 people and a tonnage of 5,500 tonnes.

    The PNS Badr 184, transferred to Pakistan from the United Kingdom Royal Navy in 1994, has a displacement of 3,641 tonnes. The ship's complement is 284 soldiers and officers.

    The Anzac-class frigate F111 Te Mana of New Zealand, commissioned in 1999, has a complement of 163 people and a tonnage of 3,600 tonnes.

    The Singaporean multi-role stealth frigate F68 Formidable has a displacement of 3,200 tonnes and a complement of 90 crew.

    The Thai frigate Taksin was made by China and sold to Thailand in 1995. The frigate has a complement of 299 people and a tonnage of 2,980 tonnes.

    The FFG-456 Bangpakong of Thailand was also purchased from China. The ship's displacement is 1,924 tonnes and its complement is 299 crew.

    The French Navy's light monitoring frigate F734 Vendemiaire, with a tonnage of 2,600, has visited China seven times, including a 2002 visit to Qingdao.

    The BNS F18 Osman, bought from China in 1989, is the Bangladesh Navy's first missile capable frigate. The ship has a tonnage of 1,700 and a complement of 300 crew.

    The Australian patrol boat HMAS Pirie carries 21 crew members and has a tonnage of 270 tonnes.

    The LPH-6111 Dokdo, a Dokdo-class amphibious assault ship with the ROK Navy, is the largest combatant ship in the fleet review. The ship's displacement is 19,000 tonnes and its complement is 400crew.

    Formerly the United Kingdom's Royal Fleet Auxiliary's Sir Galahad, the G29 Garcia D'Avila tank landing ship was commissioned into the Brazilian Navy in 2007. The landing ship has a complement of 49 people and a tonnage of 8,585 tonnes.

    The Canadian AOR-509 Protecteur is an auxiliary oil-refueling ship of the Canadian Forces Maritime Command. The ship's tonnage is 25,676 and its complement is 335 crew.

    The Royal Australian Navy's HMAS AOR-304 Success is the Durance-class multi-product oil-refueling ship, with a complement of 237 people and a displacement of 17,966 tonnes.

    The Pakistani PNS A47 Nasr, built by China's Dalian Shipyard in 1988, carries 319 crew. Its tonnage is 14,962. The ship visited Shanghai in 2003 and joined the first Sino-Pakistani maritime rescue exercise.

    The New Zealand's replenishment ship All Endeavour is the current fleet oiler for the Royal New Zealand Navy. It has a complement of 319 people and a tonnage of 12,390.

    The Russian auxiliary ship MB-99 carries 38 crew, with a displacement of 1,460 tonnes.

    The Mexican ARM Cuauhtemoc BE-01 was named after the last Aztec Emperor Cuauhtemoc, who was captured and executed in 1525. The sail training vessel has a complement of 263 people and a tonnage of 1,800.

    After reviewing the foreign vessels, the destroyer Shijiazhuang, with President Hu and senior military officers, headed back to the Qingdao port.

    Most of the visiting foreign vessels have raised their anchors and are sailing back home. Vessels from Australia, Bangladesh, New Zealand and Pakistan will stay longer in the Qingdao port.