Type 072A Landing Ship Tank (LST)

History of the Type 072A Landing Ship Tank (LST)

The modern Chinese navy (People's Liberation Army Navy - PLAN) places great emphasis on amphibious operations, especially since it is constantly concerned about the detached island of Taiwan only one distance from its coast Arrow away. Various ship types are dedicated to costly and large-scale operations, including landing ships such as the Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD), Amphibious Transport Dock (ATD) and Landing Ship Tank (LST). The Type 072A LST is a first-class landing ship of 15 ships operating in the Navy's North Sea, Baltic and South Sea fleets.

It is called "Yuting III" by NATO.

These are amphibious warfare support ships that carry personnel, machinery, and supplies from ships to shore. The boats have a shallow draft of only 10.5 feet, which allows them to operate close to shore, and dimensions include an overall 394-foot hull and 53.8-foot beam.

Displacement ranges from 3,770 tonnes at standard load to 4,800 tonnes at full load. The hull can accommodate a variety of mission support items from combat vehicles to combat troops and associated supplies, allowing for the reinforcement/enhancement of beachheads as the Army establishes their presence. Her upper deck supports at least two medium Navy helicopters that assist in transporting personnel and supplies from the ship to the coastline and beyond.

The vehicle deck extends the full length of the boat (bows to stern) and features an openable bow access door and stern ramp providing full access to the interior of the boat. Each ship can transport up to 250 combat readiness personnel along with vehicles, helicopters and supplies - in addition to the approximately 120 combat personnel.

Power is conventional and consists of a pair of marine diesel engines driving two axles. This arrangement gives the vessel a maximum forward speed of 17 knots under ideal conditions. At 14 knots, the range is up to 3,455 miles.

The vehicle carries a purely defensive weapon in the form of a 2 x 37mm automatic cannon mounted on a single dual cannon mount. Later batches replaced this unit with a 30mm H/PJ-17 automatic cannon for more effective point defense fire.

In either case, the weapon can provide minor air attack/threat protection, forcing ships to rely on accompanying air and sea elements for enhanced protection.

As of August 2021, all 15 ships are in active service, operating in divisions of the Chinese Navy's North Sea, Baltic and South China Sea Fleet and are considered to be part of various amphibious assault exercises that have taken over from active duty forces important players in recent years. The ships were built in Dalian, Fujian, Central Asia and Wuhan shipyards.

In service, they were used as successors to the aging line of the 072III series of landing craft (actually the Type 072A represented an evolution of the base design).

The newer 072A series entered service in 2003.

Specification

Base

Years in Service

2003

Origins

China

Status

In service

supplement

120

staff

SHIPBUILDER

Dalian / Fujian / Wuhan / Zhonghua - China

Class information

Class

Type 072A LST

Class Size

15

ships

Class

Central Tianzhu Mountain (911); Central Nervous Mountain Daqing Mountain (912); Central Baxian Mountain (913); Ship No. 4 (914); Ship No. 5 (915); Central Tianmu Mountain (916); Ship No. 7 ( 917); Central Nervous System Dabie Mountain (981); Central Nervous System Taihan Mountain (982); Central Huading Mountain (992); Central Nervous System Louxiao Mountain (993); Central Nervous System Daiyun Mountain (994); Central Nervous System Wanyang Mountain (995); Central Nervous System Nervous System Laotieshan (996); Central Cloud and Mist Mountain (997)

Carrier

China

Rolling

Amphibious Assault

Shallow draft and other characteristics enable the ship to support nearshore amphibious assault operations.

Distinctive Features

Flatten

The hull of the vessel is designed to operate in coastal/shallow water environments.

Air Defense

Airborne systems warn and protect ships from airborne and low-altitude ballistic and/or missile threats.

On the horizon

The ship is granted over-the-horizon combat capability, usually provided by a launched fixed-wing/rotary-wing aircraft.

Ship to shore

Airborne facilities allow the launch of air and/or land elements for land attack and penetration.

Dimensions and Weight

Length

393. 7 feet

120.00m

Ray

53. 8 feet

16.40m

Draft

10.5 feet

3. 20m

Shift

4,000 t

Power and Performance

Installed Power:

2 x marine diesel engines of traditional design drive power to 2 x stern shafts.

Surface Velocity

17. 0 nodes

(19.6 km/h)

Area

2,998nm

(3,450 miles | 5,552 kilometers)

Weapons

First batch (2003-2005): 2 x 37mm automatic cannons, double gun mount, single mount. Second batch (from 2015): 1 x 30mm automatic cannon, single seat single gun.

Aircraft

1 or 2 medium naval helicopters.