Type 071 amphibious transport dock

Design

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, 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 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. 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. 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 .

The Type 071 may operate as the flagship of a task force. The Type 071 may also conduct and support humanitarian, disaster relief, and counterpiracy missions, in addition to amphibious assaults.

Export

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.

The Royal Thai Navy ordered one export version, designated Type 071E, in 2019. In April 2023, the ship was delivered to the Royal Thai Navy.

Ships of the class

China

Thailand

References

References

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5. United States Navy Office of Naval Intelligence. (2015). "The PLA Navy: New Capabilities and Missions for the 21st Century".
6. Luck, Alex. (23 August 2024). "Chinese Navy Testing Laser Turret On Type 071 LPD".
7. (11 September 2019). "Thailand signs for variant of Type 071 amphibious assault ship".
8. (25 April 2023). "Thailand receives Chinese-made amphibious ship".
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11. O'Rourke, Ronald. (21 May 2018). "China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities—Background and Issues for Congress". [[Congressional Research Service]].
12. (October 2022). "The Type 075 LHD: Development, Missions, and Capabilities". United States Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute.
13. (22 January 2018). "China launches sixth Type 071 LPD".
14. https://new.qq.com/rain/a/20200725A0CUYX00; Archived on 21 March 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230321091052/https://new.qq.com/rain/a/20200725A0CUYX00
15. Rahmat, Ridzwan. (31 December 2018). "China launches seventh Type 071 LPD". Jane's 360.
16. Vavasseur, Xavier. (2019-08-05). "China: End of the Type 071 LPD Program, Start of the Type 075 LHD One ?".
17. (6 May 2021). "China's Newly Commissioned Type 071 LPD "Qilianshan" Joins Fleet Exercise".
18. admin. (2023-01-09). "Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Launches Royal Thai Navy Landing Platform Dock Chang (LPD-792)".
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20. "Royal Thai Navy - Detail Main".