New PLAN Stealth/Catamaran Fast Attack Craft in Series Production

JEFFHEAD.COM ^ | June 17, 2005 | Jeff Head

[Jeff Head]

New Red Chinese (PLAN) Stealth/Catamaran Fast Attack Craft (FAC)
Now in serial production

By: Jeff Head
June 2005

The People's Republic of China has gone into serial production on their new, stealthy Fast Attack Craft which are based on a wave-piercing catamaran hull design.

The first craft, designated 2208, was launched in APirlof 2004 and commissioned later that year. Since that time, three more vessels have been produced in a year's time, 2209, 2210 and 2211.

The vessels are armed with foru surface to surface anti-shipping missiles, probably the C-801 or C-802 with ranges from 60-100 miles), and one AK-630 30mm cannon, Close in weapons system. The fire control system includes an apparent datalink mask which can be used to receive target information from other airborne or shipborne sensors. Here are some recent pictures:


Camo paint scheme of the first in sereis, the 2208, side view


Camo Painting of the 2208, rear view.


Camo paint scheme of the 2208, front view


2nd in series, the 2209


3rd in series, the 2210


4th in series, the 2211

These Fast Attack Craft are another representation of the rapid buildup of the PLAN across the board, from large surface combatants in several new classes of DDG's and FFG's, to several new classes of Amohibious assault ships, to new clases of diesel electric and nuclear attack submarines, to litoral craft like these new FACs. Further documentation on all of this can be found at the following sites:

The Rising Sea Dragon in Asia

Chinese Defense Today - Navy

...and the following raw material (pictures and discussions) from the Keypublishing Naval Forum:

PLAN Thread

PLAN Thread II

[Jeff Head]

Another small addition regarding the Chinese naval buildup (to go along with their three new classes of DDGs, their two new classes of FFGs, their two new classes of Amphibious Assault Ships, their two new classes of diesel electric subs, their two new classes of nuclear subs, etc...all being built at the same time).

Browse those Keypublishing threads. The shear volume of the naval shipbuilding going on right now in China as evidenced by the scores of pictures on those threads, is daunting.

[Jeff Head]

FYI

[tje]

They look like they're out of a James Bond movie...

[Husker24]

Amazing, the Chinese actually made something that looks cool.

[spetznaz]

Hate to say this but they look really good.

[Jeff Head]

Except these are real and they represent a very small part of a very large buildup.

[Eaker]

I am sure they will only be used for defensive purposes to prevent China from being taken over by Sweden.

Why else would they need a blue water navy?

That damned Sweden again!

[Jeff Head]

They are preparing across the board, litoral waters clear out to blue waters. With four anti-ship cruise missiles each, ranging out to 100 miles, they are not something to be taken lightly, particularly cloise in to their own coasts and air coverage where they are designed to fight...ie Formosa Straits, etc.

[jim macomber]

Any 'modular conversions', yet, Jeff?

[Jeff Head]

Like their newly announced plans to build carriers...purely for defensive purposes.

[BookaT]

shallow draft so it can scream through the panama canal after it has sunk all the ships in it. Whatever. They better put some anti aircraft missiles on it too with a range of a few hundred miles.

[Jeff Head]

Lots of container ships out there and they are now the 3rd largest in the world. I expect if they go after Tawian, they will use them .. but only if they can gain and then maintain air dominance.

[Jeff Head]

All these have is a CIWS...they will have to depend on other assets (other ships and aircraft) for air protection.

[Red Badger]

Long way from these...............

[PAR35]

Hard to tell from the pictures - are those about 110 feet x 40 feet?

[GOP_1900AD]

Jeff, any idea where those photos were taken?

Also, a comment. One of the things that concerned me greatly about the HK handoff was that it was inevitable that all the excellent high speed cat, hovercraft, and hydrofoil technology would be combined withe Soviet ehkranoplane (sp?) technology as well as general indigenous standard naval technology. Now, I think that is exactly what has happened and will continue to happen.

[Eaker]

There ya go!!

Finally getting with the program!

;<)

[Jeff Head]

LOL...yes they are.

[Jeff Head]

I have taken the photos off of various forums site where people in China are taking the pics and putting them out. Some of those people are chinese, others are tourists, business people, etc.

I do not know the exact location of many of the photos, but I expeect the FAC pictures are somewhere in the vicinity of the Qingxin Shipyards in Shanghai as well as and Huangou Shipyard in Guangzhou where these are being built.

[GOP_1900AD]

RE: Huangou Shipyard in Guangzhou

They in particular would have benefitted from all the HK / Macao ferry technology. I rode a high speed cat from HK to Shekou once and was suitably impressed. But of course, the HK Macao hydrofoil took the cake.