Surface Forces: China Recycles

Archives

July 22, 2008: China appears to be having more success with using some of its older 053H (Jianghu class) missile frigates as coast guard patrol ships, then it ever had using them as warships. Two of these three decade old warships, instead of being scrapped, converted to coast guard ships. The frigates had their two 100 mm guns and six anti-ship missiles removed. This made room for smaller patrol boats to be mounted on deck, along with winches to lower them into the water. Additional fuel stowage was also added, and crew accommodations were improved, since only about half as many sailors (about a hundred) were now needed to run the ship.

The Chinese apparently also did a lot of repairs and rebuilding inside these ships, which have a long history of shoddy construction and frequent equipment breakdowns. The coast guard has said they would prefer new ships, but this is China, and you take what you can get and make the most of it.

 

X

ad

Help Keep Us From Drying Up

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling.

Each month we count on your contribute. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage.
Subscribe   contribute   Close