The Type 056 corvette (NATO reporting name: Jiangdao-class light frigate) is a class of littoral combat-oriented corvette deployed by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). The first ship entered service in March 2013. Later ships were completed with a towed array sonar; these are commonly designated as the Type 056A and entered service in November 2014. The last ship commissioned in February 2021. All of the 22 Type 056s were transferred to the China Coast Guard after removing missiles and torpedoes between mid 2021 and January 2023, with the PLAN retaining 50 Type 056A. Variants were produced for export too.
History and development
The Type 056 hull may have been based on the -class offshore patrol vessels, which were built in China for Thailand from 2005 to 2006.
In late 2012, four Chinese shipyards were producing the corvettes. They replaced older coastal patrol craft and some of the Type 053H frigates.
The Type 056A were in production by late 2013. The Type 056 series was constructed at a high production rate to enhance the PLAN's littoral warfare capabilities. The last ship commissioned in February 2021. 22 Type 056s and 50 Type 056As were produced.
Starting in mid 2021, the PLAN transferred the 22 original Type 056s to the China Coast Guard. The first 20 Type 056As received new pennant numbers in the new "600" series, which was also used for subsequent production.Jane's Fighting Ships, 2023-24 Edition, ISBN 978-0-7106-3428 3, page 148
Design
The Type 056 corvette fills the capability gap between the Type 022 missile boat and the Type 054A frigate. It is long with a gross displacement of 1500 tons, and incorporates anti-radar features. The Type 056 is suited for mid-range green-water missions and littoral duties, but not for major blue-water combat operations. The Type 056 corvette has a crew of 78 people with a top speed of , and a cruise range of at . Corvette
Surface armament is reported as an H/PJ-26 gun, two H/PJ-17 autocannons, and four pod-launched YJ-83 anti-ship missiles (AShM). HHQ-10 (or FL-3000N in foreign-operated vessels) surface-to-air missiles (SAM) are carried in a single eight-cell launcher. Finally, there are two triple-tube torpedo launchers, which may carry Yu-7 light anti-submarine (ASW) torpedoes.
The 30 mm autocannons can also be used for a de-mining purpose.
The basic Type 056 is equipped with Type 347G (LR66) radar and bow-mounted sonar. The Type 056A adds towed array and variable depth sonars (VDS); the towed body suggests the VDS is "not an exact copy" of either the Italian/US DE-1163 or the French DUBV-43. It is likely that the Chinese will have undertaken extensive trials and analysis of any imported equipment and built a nominally indigenous system using the knowledge gained.
The Type 056 has a helicopter deck for landing a Z-9-sized helicopter, but no hangar.
Other operators
Algeria The Algerian National Navy operates one of the F-15A corvette variant. El Moutassadi was ordered in 2020 and delivered in 2023. and arrived in Algeria in 2023. In 2024 Algeria announced plans to build Type 056s locally.
Bangladesh The Bangladesh Navy operates four of the C13B corvette variant, called Shadhinota-class in service. The C13B is long and displaces 1,330 tons. Armament includes a 76 mm gun, C-802 AShMs, and FL-3000N SAMs. The stern has a helicopter pad but no hangar. The first two ships have SR 60 radar, and the last two have a phased-array radar; none have ASW sensors or weapons. All were built by Wuchang Shipyard in Wuhan.
− the lead ship − and were ordered in October 2012 and commissioned in 2016. and were ordered in late-2015 and commissioned in 2020.
China Coast Guard A Type 056 variant for the China Coast Guard was under construction at Huangpu in late 2014. The forward superstructure was moved back to make for a raised structure ahead of the bridge. Large davits were installed ahead of the flight deck on both sides of the ships. It is not expected to be armed with the 76 mm gun, missiles, or other weapon systems.
Between mid-2021 and January 2023, China also transferred all 22 of the original Type 056 variant to the China Coast Guard.Jane's Fighting Ships, 2023-24 Edition, ISBN 978-0-7106-3428 3, page 167
Nigeria The Nigerian Navy operates two of the P18N offshore patrol vessel (OPV) variant. The P18N displaces 1,800 tons, is long, has an endurance of 20 days, a maximum speed of and a range of at . It has a crew of 75. Armament is reportedly a single NG-16-1 76 mm gun with a TR47 fire-control radar, two 30 mm guns, and two guns. The class has an Oil Support Recovery System to combat oil spills. Unlike the Type 056, the P18N has a helicopter hangar. Both were built at the Wuchang Shipyard.
Nigeria ordered the ships from CSOC in April 2012 for each. Centenary − the lead ship − commissioned in February 2015. Unity commissioned in December 2016.
The final 50–70% of the work on Unity was originally expected to be completed at the Nigerian Naval Shipyard in Port Harcourt; CSOC was contracted to upgrade the shipyard. Unity was ultimately completed at Wuchang.
Cambodia China has donated two Type 056 corvettes which are under construction.
Ships of class China Coast Guard #Pennant Number Name Namesake Builder LaidDown Launched Commissioned Fleet Current Status NotesType 0561582 (In navy service)21616 (In Coast Guard Service)蚌埠 / Bengbu (In navy service)南澳 / Nan'ao (In Coast Guard Service)Bengbu (In navy service) Nan'ao County (In Coast Guard Service)Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding2010 23 May 2012 12 March 2013 East Sea Fleet (In Navy Service)Guangdong Provincial Coast Guard Bureau (In coast guard service)Transferred to China Coast GuardOn January 3, 2024, Nan'ao intercepted cigarette smugglers, seizing a total of 100,000 smuggled cigarettes worth 14 Million RMB and arresting 7 suspects.2596 惠州 / Huizhou HuizhouHuangpu, Guangzhou2010 3 June 2012 1 July 2013 Hong Kong GarrisonTransferred to China Coast Guard3584 梅州 / Meizhou MeizhouWuchang Shipyard2010 31 July 2012 29 July 2013 South Sea FleetTransferred to China Coast Guard4580 大同 / Datong DatongLiaonan Shipyard201110 August 201218 May 2013North Sea FleetTransferred to China Coast Guard5583 上饶 / Shangrao ShangraoHudong-Zhonghua 2011 19 August 2012 10 June 2013 East Sea FleetTransferred to China Coast Guard6597 钦州 / Qinzhou QinzhouHuangpu, Guangzhou 2011 30 August 2012 1 July 2013 Hong Kong Garrison Transferred to China Coast Guard7585 百色 / Baise BaiseWuchang Shipyard 2011 25 October 2012 19 October 2013 South Sea Fleet Transferred to China Coast Guard8581 营口 / Yingkou YingkouLiaonan Shipyard 2011 18 November 2012 1 August 2013 North Sea Fleet Transferred to China Coast Guard9586 吉安 / Ji'an Ji'anHudong-Zhonghua 2012 25 February 2013 8 January 2014 East Sea Fleet Transferred to China Coast Guard10587 揭阳 / Jieyang JieyangHuangpu, Guangzhou 2012 26 January 2013 26 January 2014 East Sea Fleet Transferred to China Coast Guard11588 泉州 / Quanzhou QuanzhouHudong-Zhonghua 2012 25 June 2013 8 August 2014 East Sea FleetTransferred to China Coast Guard12589 清远 / Qingyuan QingyuanHuangpu, Guangzhou 2012 30 May 201311 June 2014 South Sea Fleet Transferred to China Coast Guard13590 (In navy service)
4103 (In coast guard service)威海 / Weihai (in Navy service)
飞鱼 / Feiyu (in Coast Guard Service)Weihai (in navy service)
Flying fish (in Coast Guard service)Liaonan Shipyard 2012 1 August 2013 15 March 2014 North Sea Fleet(in navy service)4th Bureau of the China Coast Guard (in Coast Guard Service)Transferred to China Coast Guard in 2021Rammed and water cannoned BFAR vessel BRP Datu Sunday on August 25, 2024; two dents were visible14591 抚顺 / FushunFushunLiaonan Shipyard 2012 1 August 2013 12 July 2014 North Sea Fleet Transferred to China Coast Guard15592 泸州 / Luzhou LuzhouWuchang Shipyard 2012 16 July 2013 7 June 2014 South Sea FleetTransferred to China Coast Guard16595 潮州 / ChaozhouChaozhouWuchang Shipyard 2012 14 November 2013 28 November 2014 East Sea Fleet Transferred to China Coast Guard17501 信阳 / Xinyang Xinyang2013 March 2015 North Sea Fleet Transferred to China Coast GuardAll crew of the ship were made honorary citizens of Xinyang in December 2017. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the crew of Xinyang raised 10600 RMB to assist virus control in Xinyang.18503宿州 / SuzhouSuzhouWuchang Shipyard 2013 17 May 2014 11 February 2015 East Sea Fleet Transferred to China Coast Guard19509淮安 / Huai’anHuai‘anHudong-Zhonghua 2014 15 August 2015 11 August 2016 East Sea Fleet Transferred to China Coast Guard20510宁德 / NingdeNingdeHuangpu, Guangzhou 2014 24 October 2015 28 December 2016 East Sea Fleet Transferred to China Coast Guard21511 (In navy service)1108 (In coast guard service) 保定 / Baoding (In navy service)海警1108 / Haijing 1108BaodingWuchang Shipyard 2014 22 October 2015 12 December 2016 East Sea Fleet (In navy service)1st Bureau of the China Coast Guard (In coast guard service)Transferred to China Coast Guard22512 菏泽 / Heze HezeLiaonan Shipyard 2014 7 July 2015 12 December 2016 East Sea Fleet Transferred to China Coast Guard