- First two vessels of the class, named Hainan and Guangxi, complete training tests, including live-fire shooting
- It is believed the ships, which can carry 30 helicopters and 1,000 marines, would play vital role in potential military campaign against Taiwan
China’s Type 075 amphibious assault ships have quickly become combat ready, the Chinese navy announced on Sunday.
The first two ships of the class, named Hainan and Guangxi, have completed full-course training tests, including live-fire shooting, according to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s social media accounts.
Footage posted on the Chinese navy’s Weibo account showed the two ships carrying out exercises at sea, including crew emergency response, close-in missile interception, on-deck helicopter operations and air-cushioned landing craft delivery.
The ship became fully operational in less than a year – a relatively speedy progression, considering the 40,000-tonne Type 075 is a new class with significant upgrades compared to its predecessor, the 25,000-tonne Type 071 amphibious assault ships.
Together with 10 Type 071 ships – eight of which are in service, with two under construction – the PLA Navy would have a strong fleet for transporting its forces across the Taiwan Strait.
The PLA Navy’s unparalleled shipbuilding spree in recent years has made it the world’s largest navy by number of ships, and training and combat preparation have accelerated following orders by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
SOURCE: https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3201299/chinas-type-075-amphibious-assault-ships-ready-combat-pla-navy-says?module=perpetual_scroll_0&pgtype=article&campaign=3201299
