Type 053 Jianghu Cass Frigates

Type 053 Jianghu-class frigates

The most numerous class of warships serving with the PLAN, Jianghu-class represents a modification of the Jiangdong-class with SSM in place of SAM. The frigates carry high-powered ant-aircraft guns, air and surface search radar and depth charges for anti-submarine warfare. The early variants of this small, obsolete frigate are now primarily useful for coastal patrol, given the absence of gunfire control radars and obsolete missiles.

As many as five variants have been produced, with considerable variation in armament and electronics among units.

Type 53 Jianghu I Xiamen - 1 dual 100 mm gun mounts and 4 37 mm guns

Type 53H Jianghu II Xiamen - 2 dual 100 mm gun mounts and 2 37 mm guns

Type 53HT Jianghu III Huangshi - 8 C-801/YJ-1 SSM replace 2 C-201/HY-2 SSM

Type 53HT-H Jianghu IV Siping - intended primarily for ASW, a helicopter facility replaces half the armament.

Type 53HT Jianghu V Zigong - the least expensive and least powerful variant feature a reduction in missiles and no helicopter facilities.

In early 1999 China deployed a pair of Jianghu-class frigates to the Mischief Reef area in the South China Sea. The two frigates were spotted moving around the Chinese-occupied Mischief, Fiery Cross and Johnson atolls. Although publicly expressing concern, the Phillipine government did not formally protest this deployment, since the presence of such warships is allowed by international law in high seas, even if they are within another country's exclusive economic zone. In November 1998 the Philippines protested China's intrusion into the Mischief Reef, a part of the Spratlys group of islands which is claimed in whole or in part by Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Brunei, the Philippines and China.

Thailand has purchased four Chinese Jianghu-class FFGs and two improved Type IV frigates. The frigates, four being of the Chinese-made F25T class, were designed and built by the China State Shipbuilding Corp in Shanghai. The frigates are HTMS Taksin (delivered in November 1995), HTMS Bang Pakong, HTMS Chao Phraya (delivered in 1991), HTMS Saiburi, and HTMS Naresuan. The ships were purchased at "friendship prices" of 2,000 million baht each, compared to the 8,000 million baht price tag for Western-built frigates.

Specifications
Builder	Jiangnan SY, Shanghai Hudong SY, Shanghai
Propulsion	diesel
Length	338.5 feet / 103.2 meters
Beam	33.4 feet / 10.2 meters
Draft	10.2 feet / 3 meters
Displacement	1,702 - 1,925 tons Full Load 1,425 tons Standard Load
Endurance	4,000 miles
Speed	28 knots
Crew	200
Armament	Jianghu I/II        Jianghu IV                                         Jianghu III        Jianghu V C-201/HY-2 SSM                        2                2        4 C-801/YJ-1 SSM                                8 100mm/56cal gun / dual                2        2                2 100mm/55cal gun / single                        1 dual 37 mm AA gun                2        4        4        4 triple 12.75 inch ASW torpedo                        2 ASW rocket launcher                2        2        2        2
Construction	Type 53/53H Jianghu I/II' Class 509 Chang De 510 Shaoxing 511 Nantong 512 Wuxi 513 Huayin 514 Zhenjiang 515 Xiamen 516 Jiujiang 517 Nanping 518 Jian 519 Changzai 520 Kaifeng 533 Ningpo 534 Jinhua 543 Dandong 545 Linfen 551 Maoming 552 Yibin 553 Shaoguan 554 Anshun 555 Zhaotang 556 Xiangtan 557 Jishou 558 Zigong 'Type 53HT Jianghu III' Class 535 Huangshi 536 Wuhu 537 Zhoushan 'Type 53 HT-H Jianghu IV' Class 544 Siping 'Type 53HT Jianghu V' Class Frigates 558 Zigong 559 Kangding 560 Dongguan 561 Shantou 562 unnamed 563 unnamed 23 Jianghu I/II were built, 3 being sold and others remain in service. 3 Jianghu III were built. 1 Jianghu IV was built as a test ship for the later Luda program. 6 Jianghu V ordered, with 2 awaiting delivery.