Chinese frigate Ma'anshan (525) explained

Ma'anshan (525) is a Type 054 frigate of the People's Liberation Army Navy. She was commissioned on 18 February 2005.

Development and design

See main article: Type 054 frigate. The Type 054 has a stealthy hull design with sloped surfaces, radar absorbent materials, and a reduced superstructure clutter.

The main anti-ship armament were YJ-83 sea-skimming anti-ship cruise missiles in two four-cell launchers. It retained the HQ-7 SAM, an improved version of the French Crotale, from the preceding Type 053H3; the HQ-7 had a ready-to-fire 8-cell launcher, with 16 stored in the automatic reloader. Short range defence was improved with four AK-630 CIWS turrets. A 100 mm main gun, also based on a French design, was mounted.

Construction and career

Ma'anshan was launched on 11 September 2003 at the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai. Commissioned on 18 February 2005.[1]

On November 28, 2012, Ma'anshan, Zhoushan, Hangzhou, Ningbo and Poyanghu integrated supply ship formed a naval open sea training fleet, Passing through the Miyako Strait in batches and entering the waters of the Western Pacific to carry out routine training.[2]

On September 25, 2013, Ma'anshan and Changzhou conducted an anti-submarine exercise organized by the East China Sea Fleet in the South China Sea. During the exercise, Ma'anshan and Changzhou ship-borne helicopters dropped several war mines and successfully destroyed the target.

In April 2014, Ma'anshan and other destroyers of the PLA Navy's East China Sea Fleet conducted formation anti-submarine and anti-missile training.

During mid 2019, Ma'anshan was docked for overhaul.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2016-03-04. 人民海军新一代战舰"马鞍山舰"今天命名授旗-歌舞-中安在线-安徽新闻. 2020-12-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304093424/http://ah.anhuinews.com/system/2005/02/18/001136068.shtml. 2016-03-04.
  2. Web site: 中国海军编队通过宫古海峡进入西太平洋训练-中新网. 2020-12-21. www.chinanews.com.
  3. Web site: 2009-12-28. 中国海军舰艇编队访问俄罗斯. 2020-12-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20091228115746/http://www.chinamil.com.cn/site1/xwpdxw/2008-10/16/content_1511740.htm. 2009-12-28.