Ships of The People's Liberation Army Navy - Auxiliaries

Auxiliaries

Naval auxiliaries are the major constraints for the Chinese ambition of having a blue water navy. In order to have full blue water operation capability at any given time on its own (without the support of foreign ports), the tonnage ratio of auxiliaries to combatants alone should be 40%, i.e. for every five tons of displacement of combatants, there should be two tons of displacement of the auxiliaries. Not only do the Chinese lack the necessary tonnage ratio needed, most of its naval auxiliary force currently consists of aging ships that are near the end of their life.

Fleet replenishment has been an expanding element in PLAN auxiliaries. The PLAN view the need of replenishment ships as vital for blue water fleet operations. Since the 1970s, underway replenishment has been widely practised by destroyer and frigate combatants. In many overseas visits, a tanker has traditionally accompanied the visiting ship. The first replenishment ships built for the dedicated task of fleet refuelling was the Taikang class, of which two remain in service (one was sold to Pakistan and another converted to civilian duties). The next fleet replenishment vessel was purchased from Russia in the 1990s, being the single Nancang. This ship is significantly superior to the Taikang in terms of refueling systems and the storage capacity. Two new hulls of the indigenous Qiandaohu class were commissioned into service by 2005. With five ships (and possibly a sixth vessel), the PLAN's ability to operate further away from home has been significantly enhanced. The demands of modern day warfare has meant that logistic support ships in the navy are becoming vital. The PLAN operates a very large number and variety of auxiliary vessels that are capable of supporting fleet and military operations both in a coastal and ocean theatres of war. PLAN auxiliary vessels are present in all three fleets, stationed in many naval bases and have increasingly exercised frequently alongside combatants. PLAN auxiliaries include tugs, fleet replenishment ships, freighters, tankers, submarine tenders, research, survey ships, space event/monitoring platforms, ice breakers, repair and communications, electronic warfare and monitoring, transport and training ships.

There are several classes of submarine support ship, including the Dajiang and Hudong class. With such a large submarine fleet, it remains quite important for the PLAN to field a large number of coastal and ocean submarine support assets. The Hudong in particular is a rescue ship built during the 1960s, accommodating a rescue bell device. The larger Dajiangs can perform a wider range of support tasks, as well as carrying the Chinese designed DSRV for deep sea rescue operations. The PLAN is known to operate two dedicated training platforms. The first is the single Zheng He, a converted liner fitted with armaments to train PLAN cadets. The other training ship is the Shichang. It was designed with a double helicopter deck to operate as an aviation training ship. It has proven its usefulness as a multi-role platform though, capable of freighting operations due to the large amount of space on the helicopter deck. Sichang is very versatile, similar to the British Argus concept. It can perform aviation training, aviation operations, act as a freighter, hospital ship and military transport, and can carry small ships on its deck, in addition to regular cadet training operations.

Replenishment oilers

• 2 Fuchi (Qiandaohu) class (2 more under construction)
• 2 Fuqing (Taikang) class
• 1 Fusu (Nancang) class

Replenishment ship

• 1 Qinghaihu class

Coastal/Fuel/Garrison Replenishment/Tankers

• 8 Fulin class (coastal/garrison replenishment)
• 2 Shengli Class (coastal/garrison replenishment)
• 7 Fuzhou class
• 5 Guangzhou class
• ? Fujian class (new class)
• ? Fubei class (new class)
• ? Fuchang class (new class)

Fleet support

• 2 Dayun class (supply ship)
• 2 Yantai class

Freight support

• 13 Danlin class
• 3 Dandao class
• 5 Hongqi class
• 9 Leizhou class

Troop ferry/transport

• 4 Qiongsha class

Hospital ship

• 1 Daishandao class (#866, 岱山岛)
• 2 Qiongsha class

Icebreakers

• 1 Yanbing class
• 3 Yanha class

Submarine support

• 3 Type 925 Dajiang class
• 5 Dalang-II class
• 5 Dalang-III class
• 2 Dazhou class
• ? Type 648
• 1 Dadong class
• 1 Yudong class
• 1 Dazhi class
• 2 Dazhou class
• 4 Daliang class

Submersibles

• 4 Type 7103 DSRVs
• 2 Osprey class submersibles
• 1 (+ 1) Sea Pole class bathyscaphe
• 1 (+ ?) Dragon class bathyscaphe
• 1 (+ ?) Harmony class bathyscaphe
• ? Mobile diving bell
• ? QSZ-II submersible
• Unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs)
  • Remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROUVs)
    • 2 8A4 ROUVs
    • ? RECON-IV ROUVs
    • ? 7B8 ROUVs
    • ? Goldfish class ROUVs
    • 1 HR-01 ROUV
    • 1 HR-02 ROUV
    • ? JH-01 ROUVs
    • ? SJT-5 ROUVs
    • ? SJT-10 ROUVs
    • ? SJT-40 ROUVs
    • 1 Sea Dragon-I ROUV
    • 1+ Sea Dragon-II ROUV
  • Autonomous underwater vehicle (AUVs)
    • 1 Arctic class ARV
    • 1 Explorer AUV
    • 1 WZODA AUV
    • 1 CR-01 AUV
    • 1 CR-01A AUV
    • 1+ CR-02 AUV
    • 2+ Intelligent Water class AUV

Electronic tracking ships

• 1 Shiyan class

Training/Test ships

• 1 Shichang class
• 1 Zheng He class
• 2 Dahua class (used for testing weapons, sensors, electronics)

Space Event Ships

• 1 Yuanwang-6 Class
• 1 Yuanwang-5 Class
• 1 Yuanwang-3 Class
• 1 Yuanwang-2 Class
• 1 Yuanwang-1 Class
• 1 Dadie class
• 2 Type 625C
• 3 Type 645
• 3 Type 643
• 3 Type 813
• 1 Dongdiao 232
• 1 Shiyan class

Survey Craft

• 1 Ganzhu class
• 5 Yenlai class
• 6 Yannan class

Tugs

• 4 Tuzhong class
• 1 Daozha class
• 17 Gromovoy class
• 9 Hujiu class
• 19 Roslavl class