Chinese Navy Type 56 Jiangdao Class corvette Huizhou conducts live firing exercise in South China Sea


According to information released by the Chinese MoD (Ministry of Defense), The Type 56 Jiangdao Class guided-missile corvette Huizhou (Hull 596) attached to a naval group under the Hong Kong Garrison of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) recently conducted multi-subject maritime military training in the waters of South China Sea.
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Russian Vyborg Shipyard laid the Purga ice class coastguard ship of project 23550 925 001 Chinese Navy Type 56 Jiangdao Class guided-missile corvette Huizhou (Hull 596). (Picture source China MoD)


The training this time focused on more than ten subjects including jamming bomb launching, main-gun firing, light weapons shooting, helicopter deck-landing, rescue drill, etc., making a comprehensive inspect on the coordinated commanding and combat capabilities of the garrison.

The Huizhou 596 is a Type 56 Jiangdao Class corvette deployed by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). They replace older patrol craft and some of the Type 053H frigates. The first Type 056 entered service in February 2013. Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) variant, commonly known as Type 056A, has also entered service. Following the construction of the Aba in December 2019, China ceased building of Type 056 corvettes to focus on procuring bigger warships for high sea missions.

Type 56 is a modular type vessel that has an offshore patrol vessel or a multi-role frigate. The vessel has a length of 90 meters long, displaces 1500 tons, and incorporates anti-radar features. She is suited for mid-range green-water missions and littoral duties, but not for major blue-water combat operations; it is built with a 15-day endurance for combat missions such as patrol, escort and protection of EEZ maritime interests within 200 nmi (230 mi; 370 km) from the coast, freeing up larger warships for open ocean deployment. The Type 056 corvette has a crew of 78 people with a top speed of 25 knots (46 km/h), and a range of 3,500 nautical miles (6,500 km) at 16 knots (30 km/h).

Type 56 corvette is armed with one  AK-176 76 mm. gun, two 30 mm. cannon, 2× 2-cell YJ-83 anti-ship missiles, amidships, 1 × 8-cell FL-3000N SAM air-to-air missile launcher, and two triple 324 mm. torpedo tubes. She also incorporates a Type 360 air/surface search radar, Type 760 navigation radar, Type LR-66 fire control radar, Type 754 helicopter control and approach radar and a hull-mounted sonar.

The deck of the Type 56 corvette can accommodate one rigid hull inflatable boat and four inflatable life-rafts packed in hard-shelled canisters. The helicopter deck at the stern can support a Harbin Z-9C light utility helicopter.