Chinese frigate Zaozhuang

	Zaozhuang underway on 28 April 2020
History
China
Name	Zaozhuang
Namesake	Zaozhuang; (棗莊);
Builder	Huangpu, Shanghai
Laid down	22 December 2015
Launched	30 June 2018
Commissioned	22 February 2019
Homeport	Lüshunkou
Identification	Pennant number: 542
Status	Active
General characteristics
Class & type	Type 054A frigate
Displacement	4,053 tonnes (full)
Length	134.1 m (440 ft)
Beam	16 m (52 ft)
Propulsion	CODAD, 4 × Shaanxi 16 PA6 STC diesels, 5700 kW (7600+ hp @ 1084 rpm) each
Speed	27 knots estimated
Range	8,025 nautical miles (9,235 mi; 14,862 km) estimated
Complement	165
Sensors &; processing systems	Type 382 Radar; Type 344 Radar (Mineral-ME Band Stand) OTH target acquisition and SSM fire control radar; 4 × Type 345 Radar(MR-90 Front Dome) SAM fire control radars; MR-36A surface search radar, I-band; Type 347G 76 mm gun fire control radar; 2 × Racal RM-1290 navigation radars, I-band; MGK-335 medium frequency active/passive sonar system; H/SJG-206 towed array sonar; ZKJ-4B/6 (developed from Thomson-CSF TAVITAC) combat data system; HN-900 Data link (Chinese equivalent of Link 11A/B, to be upgraded); SNTI-240 SATCOM; AKD5000S Ku band SATCOM;
Electronic warfare; & decoys	Type 922-1 radar warning receiver; HZ-100 ECM & ELINT system; Kashtan-3 missile jamming system;
Armament	1 × 32-cell VLS; HQ-16 SAM; Yu-8 anti submarine rocket launcher; 2 × 4 C-803 anti-ship / land attack cruise missiles; 1 × PJ26 76 mm dual-purpose gun; 2 × Type 730 7-barrel 30 mm CIWS guns or Type 1130; 2 × 3 324mm Yu-7 ASW torpedo launchers; 2 × 6 Type 87 240mm anti-submarine rocket launcher (36 rockets carried); 2 × Type 726-4 18-tube decoy rocket launchers;
Aircraft carried	1 Kamov Ka-28 'Helix' or Harbin Z-9C
Aviation facilities	hangar

Zaozhuang (542) is a Type 054A frigate of the People's Liberation Army Navy. She was commissioned on 22 February 2019.

Development and design

The Type 054A carries HQ-16 medium-range air defence missiles and anti-submarine missiles in a vertical launching system (VLS) system. The HQ-16 has a range of up to 50 km, with superior range and engagement angles to the Type 054's HQ-7. The Type 054A's VLS uses a hot launch method; a shared common exhaust system is sited between the two rows of rectangular launching tubes.^[2]

The four AK-630 close-in weapon systems (CIWS) of the Type 054 were replaced with two Type 730 CIWS on the Type 054A. The autonomous Type 730 provides improved reaction time against close-in threats.^[3]

Construction and career

Zaozhuang was commissioned on 22 February 2019.^[1] In March 2020, Chinese media reported the ship was combat ready.^[4]

The Singapore Navy ships RSS Intrepid and RSS Sovereignty conducted a joint naval exercise with Guiyang and Zaozhuang in the South China Sea on 24 February 2021.^[5]

References

^ ^a ^b Jane's Fighting Ships, 2023-24 Edition, ISBN 978-0-7106-3428 3, page 146.
^ 舰载武器SHIPBORNE WEAPONS 2013 AUGUST ISSUE
^ "Chinese Navy". Archived from the original on 7 January 2007. Retrieved 27 March 2009.
^ Gady, Franz-Stefan (10 March 2020). "China Declares Latest Type 052D Destroyer and Type 054A Frigate 'Combat Ready'". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on 12 March 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
^ "Global Times: China and SG conduct joint naval exercise in South China Sea to 'address risks'". The Online Citizen Asia. 2021-02-28. Archived from the original on 2021-02-28. Retrieved 2021-03-07.

[JFS_2023-24-1] Jane's Fighting Ships, 2023-24 Edition, ISBN 978-0-7106-3428 3, page 146.

[2] 舰载武器SHIPBORNE WEAPONS 2013 AUGUST ISSUE

[3] "Chinese Navy". Archived from the original on 7 January 2007. Retrieved 27 March 2009.

[dip_gady_2020-4] Gady, Franz-Stefan (10 March 2020). "China Declares Latest Type 052D Destroyer and Type 054A Frigate 'Combat Ready'". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on 12 March 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2025.

[5] "Global Times: China and SG conduct joint naval exercise in South China Sea to 'address risks'". The Online Citizen Asia. 2021-02-28. Archived from the original on 2021-02-28. Retrieved 2021-03-07.

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