China's largest amphibious assault ship sets off on maiden sea trial

China’s largest and most advanced amphibious assault ship, set sail from Shanghai on its maiden sea trial on Friday, according to the People’s Liberation Army Navy.

In a news release, the Navy said the vessel left Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, the Shanghai-based shipyard of China State Shipbuilding Corp, at around 9 am.

During the sea trial, engineers will check the ship’s reliability and performance of the electric and propulsion systems, it said, following the completion of mooring tests and hardware installation.

With a hull code of 51, CNS Sichuan is the first in the Type 076 class. The ship displaces more than 40,000 metric tons of water and can carry fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and amphibious landing craft once commissioned.

The ship boasts a unique configuration that features a dual-island superstructure, a first for Chinese naval ships, designed to better facilitate aviation operations.

The vessel is also equipped with an electromagnetic catapult system, which will be used to launch fixed-wing aircraft, making the Sichuan the first Chinese amphibious assault ship capable off launching fixed-wing drones and only the second Chinese vessel to use this world-class technology after the CNS Fujian aircraft carrier.

The PLA Navy currently operates four Type 075 amphibious assault ships, all built at Hudong-Zhonghua, each with a full displacement of nearly 40,000 tons and capacity to carry multiple helicopters, landing craft, dozens of tanks and armored vehicles.

chinadaily