052B-type Destroyer

    The 052B-type destroyer was designated the Luyang I Class by NATO. With the introduction of Russia’s Sovremenny-class destroyers, China began to develop new destroyers based on the Russia-made onboard weaponry system. Hence, many features of the Sovremenny-class destroyers can be found on the 052B destroyers, which were later dubbed the “Chinese Sovremenny”.

    Only two such destroyers were made: the Guangzhou and Wuhan, with the respective hull numbers of 168 and 169. The standard displacement is 5,200 tonnes. With an enclosed bridge design, the surfaces of the upper structures are slanted and integrated into the sides to reduce their visibility. They use a combined gas or diesel propulsion power system. Equipped with anti-air missile launchers, boasting a total of 44 missiles, at each end, they also have two eight-tube anti-ship YJ-83 missile launchers, a China-made 100-mm gun and two home-made close-range 730 guns. It was the first Chinese warship with small-caliber guns for close-range defense. The hangar and the flight deck are at the stern. The ship also carries an anti-submarine helicopter.

052B-type destroyer Guangzhou (hull number 168)

A bird’s eye view of 052B-type destroyer Wuhan (hull number 169)