The Chinese Navy has one of the largest and most powerful array of warships in the world. This fleet is only equaled or barely surpassed by its American or Russian counterpart. It was created in 1949 by the Chinese Communist Party when Mao Tse-Tung took power after a long civil war against the Chang Kai Shek's nationalist forces. During the first two decades, China was almost fully dependent on the Soviet Navy for assistance and supply of warships and weapons, but it never had a nuclear-powered vessel until the 1980s, when the Type 091 nuclear attack submarines were introduced.
The People's Liberation Army Navy began to modernize and expand its fleet in earnest in the 1990s, developing its own advanced shipbuilding industry. In this decade the surface vessel fleet was considerably expanded, with the introduction of the destroyer class Type 052 and 956E, along with the frigate class Type 53 and new nuclear attack submarines. Thus, China developed a powerful navy. This was a consequence of the fall of the Soviet Union and the need to have its own ship designs, and the production of higher quality steel.
Surface and submersible warships of the Chinese Navy
Submarines- The Chinese Navy has in its arsenal a total of 65 active submersible boats: 8 nuclear-powered (Type 094 and 94A) and 1 conventional (Type 032) ballistic missile submarines, totaling 9 nuclear deterring boats; 10 nuclear attack submarines (Type 091, 093, and 093A); and 45 high-tech conventional attack boats armed with anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles (Type 039, 039A, 039B, 039C, 39G, 035, as well as Russian designed Project 636M/Improved Kilo class).
Aircraft Carriers- China has a force of 4 active carriers: one Type 001 (a Soviet-made Kuznetsov class capable of carrying up to 50 aircraft); one Type 002, which was domestically designed and built; and two Type 003 (Fujian) super carriers, fitted with electromagnetic catapults and capable of transporting up to 70 combat aircraft.
Destroyers- There are 52 modern destroyers: Type 052, 052B, 052C, 052D, 051B, 051C, as well as Type 956E and 956EM, which are Soviet designs. They are all equipped with advanced sonars and other modern detection means to hunt enemy submarines.
Frigates- 47 modern and fully updated ones, armed with anti-ship, land-attack, and surface-to-air missiles.
Corvettes- 52 advanced fast ships also equipped with anti-ship missiles. These have been commissioned between 2017 and 2025.
Missile Boats- China has a powerful armada of 110 coastal missile boats armed with two torpedoes and 4 anti-ship missiles.
Source: People's Liberation Army military magazine, which is published yearly.
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| Type 003/Fujian aircraft carrier during trials in the China Sea. |
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