Type 072 landing ship explained

The Type 072 (NATO reporting name: Yukan) is a class of tank landing ship in the People's Republic of China's People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). Seven were built and began entering service by the early-1980s. They replaced American-built LSTs from the Second World War.

Production may have occurred at the Wuhan Shipyard, with the first completed in 1980, or at the Zhonghua Shipyard, with ships entering service from 1978 to 1995.

The bow ramp handles a 50 ton load, and the rear ramp a 20 ton load. It carries two American LCVPs.

Supply ship

A class of supply or ammunition ship (NATO reporting name: Yantai) was developed from the Type 072. Changes include a shorter forecastle, a blunter bow without a door, and the addition of cranes fore and aft of the superstructure.

Three were built by Zhonghua and entered PLAN service in 1992.

Ships of the class

Name	Hull No.	Builder	Launched	Commissioned	Fleet	Status
Type 072
Yuntaishan	927				East Sea Fleet	Active
Wufengshan	928				East Sea Fleet	Active
Zijinshan	929				East Sea Fleet	Active
Lingyanshan	930				East Sea Fleet	Active
Dongtingshan	931				East Sea Fleet	Active
Helanshan	932				East Sea Fleet	Active
Liupanshan	933				East Sea Fleet	Active
Supply ship variant
	745				South Sea Fleet	Active
	757				East Sea Fleet	Active
	938				South Sea Fleet	Active

Sources

• Book: Saunders . Stephan . Jane's Fighting Ships 2015-2016 . Jane's Information Group . 2015 . 978-0710631435.
• 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.