Type 903 replenishment ship explained

The Type 903 (NATO reporting name: Fuchi) is a class of replenishment oiler (AOR) built for the People's Liberation Army Navy by the People's Republic of China. They resemble, an AOR built by China for Thailand and delivered in 1996.

Two Type 903s entered service in 2003. Construction of the Type 903A, a slightly modified design, began in 2010; the first Type 903As entered service in 2013.

Development

According to Zhang Gang, chief designer of Similan, China started development of a new AOR in 1988. Development was delayed due to cost, leading China to buy a Komandarm Fedko-class oiler, renamed Qinghaihu, from Ukraine in 1992. The new design was completed for Similan, which became the basis for the Type 903.

Design

The Type 903 is a flush-decked development of the Type 905 AOR resembling the French Durance.

There are two liquid and one sliding-stay solid transfer stations per side. Refuelling may also be conducted from the stern.

Ships of the class

Name	Hull No.	Builder	Launched	Commissioned	Fleet	Status
Type 903
千岛湖 / Qiandaohu (ex-Fuchi)	886	Hudong Shipyard	29 March 2003	30 April 2004	East Sea Fleet	Active
微山湖 / Weishanhu	887	Guangzhou Shipyard International	June 2003	2004	South Sea Fleet	Active
Type 903A
太湖 / Taihu	889	Guangzhou Shipyard International	22 March 2012	18 June 2013	North Sea Fleet	Active
巢湖 / Chaohu	890	Hudong Shipyard	6 May 2012	11 September 2013	East Sea Fleet	Active
东平湖 / Dongpinghu^[1]	960					Active
洪湖 / Honghu	963					Active
骆马湖 / Luomahu	964					Active
高邮湖 / Gaoyouhu	966					Active
可可西里湖 / Kekexilihu	968					Active

Sources

Book: Saunders . Stephan . Jane's Fighting Ships 2015-2016 . Jane's Information Group . 2015 . 978-0710631435.
Book: Sheldon-Duplaix, Alexandre . China's Evolving Surface Fleet . 2017 . CSMI Red Book . 14 . . China’s Auxiliary Fleet: Supporting a Blue-Water Navy in the Far Seas? . 978-1-935352-45-7.
Book: Wertheim, Eric . The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems . 2013 . 16 . Naval Institute Press . Annapolis, Maryland . 978-1591149545.

Notes and References

United States Navy Office of Naval Intelligence . Office of Naval Intelligence . 19 February 2020 . PLA Navy Identification Guide . 29 July 2020 . dmy-all . 27 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200227035831/https://www.oni.navy.mil/Portals/12/Intel%20agencies/China_Media/2020_China_Recce_Poster_UNCLAS.jpg?ver=2020-02-19-081430-327 . live .