(China Armed Forces No.22)
On a tranquil midsummer day, the offshore training formation of China’s North Sea Fleet glided over an ocean of blue silk reflecting warships and white clouds.
At noon, a comprehensive maritime supply drill began. On the command, the Hongzehu supply vessel began strategic deployment alongside the Qingdao.
A heaving line was thrown on to the deck of the Qingdao. Minutes later with the hard work of 20 crew members, a cable connected the two vessels. Under the control of Chief Master Sergeant Wang Yuhai, on the Hongzehu, an oil-water pipe was hauled over to the Qingdao. The pipe head, weighing nearly 100 kg, was inserted into the oil tank, and fuel was pumped in a steady flow.
This happened in the western Pacific. For the Hongzehu crew, it was routine. This year they have completed supply drills in offshore training missions, such as the China-Russia joint drill, "Joint Sea-2013.”
The Hongzehu is the first comprehensive supply vessel to serve in China’s navy. Under the command of a support vessel formation of the North China Sea Fleet, it is 180 meters long, 27 meters wide, and 36.2 meters high. Its displacement is 22,000 tonnes. It was first named Taicang when it entered service. In July 2002, the name was changed to Hongzehu, hull number 881. Its main duties include providing fuel, barrel lubricant, soft water and refrigerated food. It lives up to its reputation as a “floating base at sea.”
The Hongzehu has completed more than 10 supply missions to the Nansha islands in the South China Sea. It has joined many important drills and visited 25 countries. From May to September 2002, it completed the Chinese navy’s first voyage around the world in 132 days, covering more than 33,000 nautical miles and setting 16 Chinese naval records, including the first to sail on the Panama Canal.
On March 16, 2004, it took part in the first joint drill between navies of China and France in the Yellow Sea. Three months later, it participated in the first joint drill between the Chinese and British navies in the non-traditional security domain. In October 2004, it took part in the first joint drill between the Chinese and Australian navies. In September 2006, it successfully completed a joint ocean rescue drill with U.S. vessels in the northwest sea area of San Diego. In October 2007, it participated in a joint drill in the Tasman Sea between navies of China, Australia and New Zealand. It was the first multi-lateral oceanic rescue drill initiated by China and also the first time the Chinese navy completed supply operations with foreign navies outside China’s territorial waters. During the drill, China’s new generation of rescue helicopters made their public debut. In 2009, the Hongzehu sailed 25,000 nautical miles in 92 days to visit three countries in South America, setting record for the longest voyage time and distance on a single mission in Chinese naval history.
The first supply vessel in the Chinese navy, the Hongzehu has 30 years of glorious history, and is known as China’s No.1 Supply Vessel.
