The Type 071 (NATO reporting name: Yuzhao) is a class of Chinese amphibious transport dock ships in service with the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). The Type 071 provides the PLAN with capabilities and flexibility not found in its previous landing ships.[1]
The amphibious warfare ship features a vehicle deck, well-deck, landing deck and a hangar. It can carry a combination of marines, vehicles, landing craft and helicopters. The ship may embark 600 to 800 troops. The stern helicopter deck has two landing spots, each supporting a Harbin Z-8 (SA 321 Super Frelon variant) transport helicopter. The twin-door cantilever hangar can house up to four Z-8 helicopters. The well deck houses up to four Type 726 air-cushioned landing craft,[2] which can transfer vehicles or marines to the shore at high speed. The LCAC are launched by flooding of the docking area. The vessel can also carry landing craft on port / starboard davits. The vehicle deck can house amphibious assault vehicles including the ZBD05 amphibious IFV and the ZTD-05 amphibious light tank.[3] The stern ramp, two side doors and ramps allow rapid loading of the vehicles and equipment.
The ship is armed with one 76 mm gun and four 30 mm close-in weapon systems.[4] A Type 071 hull (986) was modified with a laser-based directed energy weapon added to the vessel's forward superstructure in 2024, reflecting the configuration of a similar weapon installed on the ship .[5]
The Type 071 may operate as the flagship of a task force.[4] The Type 071 may also conduct and support humanitarian, disaster relief, and counterpiracy missions, in addition to amphibious assaults.[3]
The China State Shipbuilding and Trading Corp. consortium offered to build a modified Type 071 for the Royal Malaysian Navy. The Malaysians had a requirement for a 13,000-ton LPD; the Type 071 would cost a third of the similar US-built San Antonio-class LPD.[4]
The Royal Thai Navy ordered one export version, designated Type 071E, in 2019.[6] On April 17, 2023, the ship was delivered to the Royal Thai Navy and arrived to Thailand on April 25, 2023.[7]
| Pennant Number | Name | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Fleet | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 998[8] | 昆仑山 / Kunlun Shan | Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding | 2006 [9] | 21 December 2006 | 13 November 2007 [10] | South Sea Fleet[11] | Active | |
| 999 | 井冈山 / Jinggang Shan | Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding | 2009 | 16 November 2010 | 30 October 2011 | South Sea Fleet | Active | |
| 989 | 长白山 / Changbai Shan | Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding | 2010 | 26 September 2011 | 23 September 2012 | South Sea Fleet | Active | |
| 988 | 沂蒙山 / Yimeng Shan | Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding | 2014 | 22 January 2015 | 1 February 2016 | East Sea Fleet | Active | |
| 980 | 龙虎山 / Longshu Shan | Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding | 2016 | 15 June 2017 | 19 September 2018 | East Sea Fleet | Active | |
| 987 | 五指山 / Wuzhi Shan | Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding [12] | 2017 | 20 January 2018 | 12 January 2019 | South Sea Fleet | Active | |
| 986 | Wanyang Shan | Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding[13] | 2017 | 28 December 2018 | 2020 | East Sea Fleet | Active | |
| 985 | 祁连山 / Qilian Shan | Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding | 2018 | 6 June 2019 [14] | November 2020 [15] | South Sea Fleet | Active |