- Yes
- No
- Maybe/Unsure
I’ve seen a prior version of the Chinese naval line but unfortunately it was published six years ago and thus, outdated. As I haven’t seen any other people do a Chinese naval line since then, I figured that I might just as well create my own spin on it. What resulted is, in essence, a sort of necked down version of the original.
But why must China have a naval tree? I believe that other than the major nations that already have a naval tree in-game, China should have at least a working coastal tree. Like the Israeli and Swedish coastal lines, they have some very unique ships I hope will be added at some point.
It was originally meant to be majority-PLAN but then I decided to put a fair amount of ROCN ships into the mix (despite half of their ships being essentially copypaste U.S. ships).
Many thanks to R_nminbiY_n for posting the suggestions for many of these boats in the old forum and posting the original tree proposal, and hypilot for his suggestions for some of the boats as well and assistance with researching a few of the more obscure boats in this list! Without their posts the tree would be significantly more barebones than it is now.
Oh, and also a minor reminder that this tree WILL have anti-ship missiles, and may be the first dedicated AShM boat tree. For reference, compared to the Saetta’s measly 25 kg of explosive filler (only enough to ammorack unsuspecting targets), the YJ-83’s explosive filler may be ~60-90 kg (considering warhead weight =/= explosive filler). Thus, it means they would at least have an actually reliable second line of defense against those pesky Frank Knoxes common at toptier coastal matches.
Anyway let’s get right into it!
- Boats to the left of the tree are torpedo boats; those in the centre are gunboats and those to the right are frigates.
- Boats marked with an asterisk have already been covered in the forums at some point; thus I will only give the specifications for those. Exceptions will be marked with two asterisks.
- Sources will be listed individually per boat.
Update log
18 November 2024:
- Replaced Kuai with Fu Long (Poor armament)
- Lowered the BRs of Qin Ren and Yulin
- Added a North Korean event ship, No.531 and a premium boat (Tso-I)
10 December 2024:
- Added Lung Tuan
Rank I boats
Spoiler
Fu Long (Reserve boat)
The Fu Long was launched in early-mid 1886 in Germany, when it then proceeded to sail to China in June and was commissioned there in September.
It saw active service during the First Sino-Japanese War. During the Battle of the Yalu River in 1894, Fu Long, alongside the fellow torpedo boat Tso-I and two gunboats, arrived as part of a relief force for the struggling Chinese fleet. The Fu Long launched its torpedoes at the merchant ship Saikyo Maru but all three of them missed. They attempted to divert the attention of the Japanese fleet to them but ultimately failed in doing so due to them avoiding the threat of their guns and torpedoes. However, they prevented a full encirclement of the Chinese fleet.
The next year, the entire Chinese fleet was boxed in by the Combined Fleet in Weihaiwei. The Fu Long attempted to flee alongside another torpedo boat but was detected by two Japanese protected cruisers. The boats were chased down by them, which ended with them beaching themselves to avoid capture. Eventually, a Japanese torpedo boat towed the Fulong and it was eventually taken into their service, being named Fukuryū*.* From there, it led an uneventful life until it was finally scrapped in 1908.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 44 m x 4.2 m (Draft 2.2 m)
- Crew: 20 (according to Conway’s)
- Displacement: 120 tons
- Speed: 23 knots/42.6 km/h via a single boiler generating 1600 hp
- Armament: Two 37mm Hotchkiss guns on both ends of the ship and three 14 inch Schwartzkopff torpedoes
Source: The Chinese Steam Navy, 1862-1945 by Richard N.J. Wright, pages 91-92, 103 and 182, Conway’s All The World’s Fighting Ships 1860-1905, page 400
Yue-253 (Chinese Schnellboot)**
At least three export S-2-type Schnellboote were built for China in 1937 as Yue-22, Yue-253 and Yue-371. During the Sino-Japanese War the Yue-22 was sunk by Japanese aircraft on 1 August 1938 and Yue-371 was scuttled to avoid capture in August 1944, but it is unknown what it did beforehand. The Yue-253 was captured by the PLA in 1949 and served under their flag until 1963, when it was scrapped.
*Note: What type the Schnellboote were is currently being debated. They were initially believed to be S-7 types but they may have well been export S-2s. From the above image of the ex-Yue-253 and the below drawing of the S-2 the portholes match up somewhat well.
Spoiler
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 28 m x 4.5 m (Draft 1.45 m)
- Crew: 12 men
- Displacement: 58 tons
- Speed: 33.8 knots/62.6 km/h via three gas engines generating 3690 hp and an auxiliary engine(?)
- Armament: A single Flak 38 in the rear and two 533mm torpedoes
Sources: s-boot.net and Naval Encyclopedia
Suggestion (by hypilot): C-1 type schnellboot
Yulin
Built in the 1960s, not much is known about them but as the 90s rolled in, they were increasingly phased out to other duties such as ferrying and port security, since their laughable top speed of 10 knots or 18.5 km/h was insufficient to catch up with smugglers’ speedboats.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 13 m x 2.9 m (Draft 1.1 m)
- Crew: 10 men
- Displacement: 10 tons
- Speed: 10 knots/18.5 km/h via a single diesel engine generating 300 hp
- Armament: Two DShK machine guns mounted on the bow and stern
It might just as well be the next Soukou-Tei.
Source: Wikipedia
Hai Ou (missiles omitted)
Based on a pair of Israeli Dvora-class torpedo boats purchased by Taiwan before 1980, around 50 were built from 1979 to 1981. All of them were assigned numbers, from FABG-1 to FABG-59. Their hulls were made of an aluminium alloy.
In 2005, Malawi requested four of the boats to be exported to them but after it severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan it instead sent them to the Gambia.
While it does sport a pair of Hsiung Feng I missiles in reality they would be too OP for their own good in-game (especially considering they have a warhead size almost equal to the Exocet) and thus will be omitted.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 22.8 m x 5.5 m (Draft 2.2 m)
- Crew: 10
- Displacement: 47 tons
- Speed: 36 knots/66.7 km/h via a single diesel engine generating 1582 hp
- Armament: A single 20mm mounted to the rear of the ship and a pair of M2 Brownings mounted on either side of it
Rank II boats
Spoiler
Type T-25*
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 18 m x 4.3 m (Draft 0.65 m)
- Crew: 7
- Displacement: 25 tons
- Speed: 26 knots/48 km/h via a single internal combustion engine
- Armament: A pair of 25mm Type 96s, and two 450mm torpedoes
More info can be found in hypilot’s suggestion for the boat
Type 6604
It’s a bummer that the MPK Pr.122bis is a very rare vehicle to come across, so why not slap it onto this tree as to make it readily available to everyone?
In 1955, the PLAN bought six ships of that type (all disassembled) where they were later reconstructed. Sixteen more ships were built with the help of Soviet engineers from that year to 1957. The only real difference between the Chinese and Soviet versions of the boat were that the former had a redesigned galley to fit the sailors’ culinary needs.
The specifications are the exact same as the MPK Pr.122bis in-game
Source: This forum post on Shipbucket’s Forum
Type 53A Huangpu (late)*
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 27 m x 4.1 m (Draft 1.2 m)
- Displacement: 42 tons standard/50 tons full
- Crew: 25
- Armament: A single 37mm 70-K, a single 20mm Oerlikon and a pair of 12.7mm DShKs
- Speed: 14 knots (26 km/h) powered by three diesel engines generating 1000 hp
More info can be found in R_nminbiY_n’s suggestion for the boat
Tai Ning (Welded version of Hai Ning)
Due to her short service life I will be going into detail more on her sisters than the ship itself.
The last of the eleven Hai Ning-class gunboats, she was built in 1936 but was scuttled to avoid being captured by Japanese forces in 1938, alongside four of her sisters. Six of her sisters were captured by Japanese forces but four of their fates remain unknown. Two of them, renamed Bunsei and Unsei, were much more fortunate. While both were recaptured by the allies, only the former was returned to the ROC, which she served under until the 1960s.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 43.5 m x 6.7 m (Draft 2 m)
- Crew: 44 men
- Displacement: 400 tons
- Speed: 10 knots/18.5 km/h via a single coal-fired boiler generating 600 hp
- Armament: Two single 57mm guns
Source: Conway’s All The World’s Fighting Ships 1922-1946, page 412, Ivan Gogin
Lung Tuan as designed
In Austro-Hungarian service as SMS Warasdiner
In 1911, the Qing Dynasty was seeking to renew its fleet after many humiliating defeats from the Japanese, so they ordered a group of new ships. Germany, Italy and Austria-Hungary were chosen to build these ships and among them was the Lung Tuan, which was built to the specifications of the pre-existing Huszár-class destroyer.
There were however multiple problems to China’s aspirations. The recent Xinghai revolution and rampant corruption delayed progress on the ship, and soon after the new Republic of China decided to order more destroyers of the same type. It was meant to be the prototype for a new class of 12 ships, despite already being obsoloscent. Additionally, they had to cut down on costs despite seeking six modern destroyers from Vulcan-Stettin (the former cost just £16,500, whereas the latter cost £200,000 each) and the class had to be fully delivered by 1916.
By the time the First World War broke out, Lung Tuan had not been delivered and so it was pressed into service with the Austrians. Its original armament was completely replaced by six 65mm Škoda guns. It saw active service during the war, conducting frequent raids on various Italian ports throughout its duration. Eventually, it was ceded to Italy as a war reparation in 1920 and scrapped.
Specifications (as designed):
- Dimensions: 68.4 m x 6.3 m (Draft 1.8 m)
- Crew: 75
- Displacement: 400 tons
- Speed: 30 knots/55.6 km/h via two triple expansion steam engines generating 6000 hp
- Armament: Two single 76mm guns, four single 47mm 3-pounder guns, two 450mm torpedoes
Sources: Avalanche Press, Conway’s All The World’s Fighting Ships 1906-1921, pages 338 and 397
Rank III boats
Spoiler
Type 026 Huchuan (late)*
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 21.8 x 6.3 m (Draft 1.5 m, including hydrofoils)
- Crew: 11/16 men
- Displacement (full load): 46 tons
- Speed: 50 knots/92.6 km/h via three diesel engines generating 3300 hp
- Armament: Two dual 14.5mm KPV turrets and two 533mm torpedoes
More info can be found in R_nminbiY_n’s suggestion for the boat
Minjiang*
Specifications are the same as the Type K-7 No.4 in-game except with visual differences and two single Bofors 40mms on both ends of the ship in place of the 40mm Vickers gun
More info can be found in hypilot’s suggestion for the boat
Ning Hai
Not to be confused with the significantly more famous pair of cruisers, the Ning Hai-class were a group of eight PCLs (light patrol craft). They were designed by Vosper and built in 1990 for Taiwan. While the first two ships were named Ning Hai and An Hai, the other six remained unnamed and were simply called PCL-3 and PCL-5~9.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 32 m x 9 m (Draft 1.8 m)
- Crew: 18 men
- Displacement (full load): 143 tons
- Speed: 40 knots/74 km/h via two engines generating 4890 hp
- Armament: A single Bofors gun and a single 20mm gun
Source: This blog post by Steve Jiau
Swatow**
A very well-known boat class in Chinese naval research circles, the Shantou-class were a group of around 80 (according to Conway’s) gunboats based on the Pr.183 (called the Type 02 in Chinese service) built from 1955 to 1960. 50 (30 in 1958, 20 in 1960 to replace those lost in action) were sent over to Vietnam and a few may have even been involved in the infamous Gulf of Tonkin incident which led to American involvement in the Vietnam War.
From 1976 onwards, over half of them were gradually decommissioned and scrapped with the remainder being in limited service with police and coast guard units with those suffering the same fate until the last survivor was finally decommissioned in 1993.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 25.5 x 6 m (Draft 2 m)
- Crew: 17 men
- Displacement (full load): 67 tons
- Speed: 28 knots/52 km/h via four diesel engines generating 3000 hp
- Armament: Two dual 37mm turrets and two DShKs mounted on either side of the boat plus eight depth charges
Sources: Conway’s Fighting Ships, 1947-1995 p.67, Weapon Systems
Suggestion (by HRZQ): Type 55A, Shantou-class Gunboat: A planing boat that cannot plane
Fu Po
One of the very few images of the Fu Po
The Flower-class corvette Fu Po was originally HMS Petunia, a ship that served with distinction from the moment it was commissioned in January 1941. In July 1941, alongside two other corvettes, it spotted and heavily damaged the famous U-boat U-96, forcing it back to France for repairs. In April 1942, it was transferred to Sierra Leone where it rescued survivors from merchant ships that had been torpedoed in the area until December 1943, when it returned to Britain.
On 12 January 1946, it would be transferred to the Republic of China and renamed Fu Po but its service would be short lived. In the early morning of 19 March 1947, it collided with the steamer Haimin and sank in three minutes, with the loss of almost all hands. Only one sailor survived.
Specifications are similar to that of the HMCS Brantford in-game, albeit with a different hull configuration
Sources: Wikipedia, Capitan Museum Group (in Chinese)
Ming Chuen as built
The Ming Chuen, alongside its sister Ming Sen, was essentially an upsized, better armed version of the preceding Hsien Ning-class gunboats. It fled to the mouth of the Yangtze during the Sino-Japanese War and remained in hiding until the end of the war. In 1949 it defected to the PLAN and lived out a rather uneventful life (of course, besides Mao Zedong boarding the ship in 1953 and giving it an honorary hull number, as well as it being renamed to Chang Chiang) before being decommissioned by the end of the 1970s and being preserved as a museum ship. In 1981, because of its association with Mao Zedong, it was broken up.
A full-scale replica was built using original drawings in 2021.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 60 x 7.9 m (Draft 2 m)
- Crew: 115 men
- Displacement: 460 tons
- Speed: 18 knots/33.4 km/h via a pair of boilers generating 3600 hp
- Armament: 1 x single 120mm gun, 1 x single 100mm Schneider gun, 2 x single 6-pounder Hotchkiss guns
Sources: Conway’s All The World’s Fighting Ships 1922-1947, p.413, Chinese Wikipedia
Rank IV boats
Spoiler
Type 027IIB*
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 28.4 x 6.3 m (Draft 1.7 m)
- Crew: 16 men
- Displacement (full load): 40 tons
- Speed: 34 knots/63 km/h via a pair of diesel engines generating 8000 hp
- Armament: Two dual 25mm 2M-3 turrets and four 533mm torpedoes
More info can be found in R_nminbiY_n’s suggestion for the boat
Type 037IS Haiqing*
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 65.4 m x 8.4 m (Draft 2.4 m)
- Crew: 47
- Displacement (full load): 490 tons
- Speed: 28 knots/52 km/h via four diesel engines generating 8,800 hp
- Armament: 2 x dual 37mm Type 76 anti-aircraft gun turrets, 2 x dual 14.5mm Type 69 (KPV) MG mounts, 2 x six-shot Type 87 anti-submarine rocket launchers
More info can be found in Admiral Aruon’s suggestion for the boat
Type 062 Shanghai I*
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 38.7 m x 5.3 m (Draft 1.5 m)
- Crew: 47
- Displacement (full load): 115 tons
- Speed: 30 knots/55.6 km/h via a four diesel engines generating 4800 hp in total
- Armament: 2 x dual 37mm Type 61 gun mounts, 2 x dual 25mm 2M-3 autocannons
More info can be found in JamesPond1200’s suggestion for the boat
Type 037 Hainan (Late)*
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 58.7 m x 7.2 m (Draft 2.2 m)
- Crew: 47
- Displacement (full load): 430 tons
- Speed: 30 knots/55.6 km/h via four diesel engines generating 8,800 hp
- Armament: 2 x dual 57mm AK-257 gun mounts, 2 x dual 25mm 2M-3 autocannons, 4 x five-shot Type 81 anti-submarine rockets (essentially larger caliber RBU-1200s)
More info can be found in Admiral Aruon’s suggestion for the boat
Hui An (ex-Shisaka), 1956
Shisaka underway, 1945
A Hiburi-class escort ship, the Shisaka was hurriedly laid down on 21 August 1944, launched on 31 October 1944 and completed by the end of the year. By the end of World War II it was on submarine patrol off Tokyo Bay. Subsequently it was decommissioned and made a repatriation ship until 1947, when it was ceded to the ROC as a war reparation.
In 21 April 1949, the Shisaka, now the Hui An, was sent to the Yangtze River delta alongside 29 other ships. However by April 23, all surrounding fortifications including the nearby fortress at Jiangyin either defected or surrouned to the encroaching PLA. With the exception of five ships which decided to attempt a breakthrough to Taiwan, the rest of the fleet surrendered to the PLA forces, thus creating the first formal PLAN fleet. Not long after that on April 28 however it was sunk by ROC B-24s.
On 24 December 1953 it was salvaged and recommissioned two years later. It was refitted with two 100mm B-34 cannons, twelve 37mm 70-K autocannons and three dual 25mm 2M-3 cannons. When it was finally decommissioned in 1990 it was the oldest PLA ship in continuous service and one of only three IJN ships still afloat at the time, the other two being the Ukuru-class Shiga and the auxiliary ship Soya Maru.
Specifications are the exact same as the Syonan in-game with the following exceptions:
- The armament is to be changed to 2 x single 100 mm B-34 cannons, 12 x single 37mm 70-K AA guns, 3 x dual 2M-3 guns
- Visual differences, i.e. the superstructure and funnel location
- Will likely be slower than its Japanese counterpart due to it being recently salvaged
Source: Japanese Wikipedia
ROCS Tai Ping
Formerly the USS Decker, an Evarts-class destroyer escort, the Tai Ping was leased to the ROC on 28 August 1945. with it being transferred permanently on 7 January 1948. During this time on 6 November 1948, it claimed the largest of the Spratly Islands for the ROC alongside three other ships and named it Taiping Island, after itself. On 14 November 1954, it was torpedoed by four Pr.123s of the PLAN and sank whilst being towed, with the loss of life of 28 men.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 88.2 m x 10.7 m (Draft 3.3 m)
- Crew: 108-140
- Displacement (full load): 1430 tons
- Speed: 19 knots/35 km/h via four diesel engines generating 6000 hp
- Armament: 3 x single 3 inch/50 guns, A single quad 1.1 inch Chicago Piano mount, 9 x single 20mm Oerlikons, many depth charge projectors
Sources: Naval History & Heritage Command, Chinese Wikipedia
Rank V boats
Spoiler
Type 037IG Houxin*
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 62.8 m x 7.2 m (Draft 2.3 m)
- Crew: 60
- Displacement: 490 tons
- Speed: 32 knots/59 km/h via four diesel engines generating 13,000 hp
- Armament: 2 x dual 37mm Type 76 anti-aircraft gun turrets, 2 x dual 14.5mm Type 69 (KPV) MG mounts, 2 x triple YJ-8A anti-ship missile mounts
More info can be found in Admiral Aruon’s suggestion for the boat
Type 037II Houjian*
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 65.4 m x 8.4 m (Draft 2.4 m)
- Crew: 47
- Displacement: 320 tons
- Speed: 32 knots/59 km/h via a pair of diesel engines generating 15,840 hp
- Armament: 1 x dual 37mm Type 76 anti-aircraft guns, 2 x dual 30mm AK-230 CIWS mounts, 2 x triple YJ-8A anti-ship missile mounts
More info can be found in my suggestion for it
ROCS Tai Yuan, c. 1970
The ROCS Tai Yuan was the fomer Rudderow-class destroyer escort USS Riley, launched in 29 December 1943 and commissioned in 13 March 1944. Besides shielding troop transports heading to Lingayen Gulf from kamikaze attacks in January 1945 among other convoy escorting duties, her service was rather uneventful. She was decommissioned in 15 January 1947 and remained in reserve until 10 July 1968, when the ROC took her in.
Under the ROC, the Tai Yuan’s service was also rather uneventful besides routine patrols and rescue missions. In 1969, it was equipped with two triple Mk 32 homing torpedo tube mounts to replace her aging 533mm torpedo tubes and in 1983 she was equipped with a Sea Chaparral surface-to-air missile system. In 1989, due to her status as a fisheries patrol ship she was stripped bare to a single 40mm mount and was eventually decommissioned in 1992.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 93 m x 11 m (Draft 4.2 m)
- Crew: 186
- Displacement (full): 1780 tons
- Speed: 24 knots/44.4 km/h via a single steam turbine engine generating 12,000 hp
- Armament: 2 x single 5 inch/38 gun turrets, 2 x dual 40mm Bofors guns, 4 x single 20mm Oerlikons, 2 x triple Mk 32 torpedo mounts, eight depth charge projectors
Sources: Naval History and Heritage Command, Capitan Museum Group (in Chinese)
Type 053K Jiangdong, Zhongdong
The Zhongtong was the second of two Type 053K frigates built in China during the early 1970s. Unlike her sister Yingtan, she lacked the advanced radar systems and HQ-61 air defense missiles that the former had. She was decommissioned in June 1986 and sunk as a target ship.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 103.5 m x 10.8 m (Draft 3.1 m)
- Crew: 200
- Displacement (full load): 1924 tons
- Speed: 28 knots/51.9 km/h via a pair of diesel engines generating 14,800 hp
- Armament: 2 x dual 100mm Type 79 guns, 4 x 37mm Type 76A autocannons, 2 x five-shot Type 65 rocket launchers
Source: Military Dreamers’ Club (in Chinese)
Type 065 Jiangnan, Nanchong*
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 90 m x 10.2 m (Draft 2.9 m)
- Crew: 180
- Displacement: 1350 tons
- Speed: 23 knots/42.6 km/h via a pair of diesel engines generating 13,200 hp
- Armament: 3 x single 100mm B-34 guns, 4 x 37mm autocannons in single mounts (later replaced by dual mounts), 2 x dual 14,5mm machine guns
More info can be found in my forum suggestion for it
Type 053H2 Jianghu-III, Wuhu
The Wuhu was the second out of the three Type 053H2 frigates, being launched in 9 August 1986 and commissioned on 29 December 1897. She was decommissioned alongside her sister ship Huangshi in April 2013 and after some refurbishing they were transferred to the Bangladeshi Navy as BNS Ali Haider and Abu Bakr respectively in the following year.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 103.2 m x 10.8 m (Draft 3.1 m)
- Crew: 200
- Displacement: 1350 tons
- Speed: 23 knots/42.6 km/h via a pair of diesel engines generating 15,770 hp
- Armament: 2 x dual 100mm Type 79A guns, 4 x 37mm Type 76A autocannons, 2 x quadruple YJ-8 anti-ship missile launchers, 2 x five-shot type 81 anti-submarine rocket launchers
Premmie/Event boats
Spoiler
Rank I starter premium: Shi-223
Model of a Thronycroft 55-foot coastal motor boat
*Note: I should probably make a separate suggestion for this boat altogether.
In 1938, 14 Thronycroft 55-foot coastal motor boats were ordered by China to serve the coastal areas in the brink of the Sino-Japanese War. Other than the last two which were requisitioned by Britain to serve under the names of MTB-26 and MTB-27, twelve of the 14 boats were delivered.
Three squadrons were formed comprising of four boats each, with each squadron being named after three Chinese officials who refused to yield despite the end of their respective dynasties; Shi Kefa, Wen Tianxiang and Yan Gaoqing. Each boat in their respective squadrons bore the first name of their namesake followed by a set of numbers (i.e. Shi-181). The boats belonging to the Yan Gaoqing squadron were delivered late, so they had a different horsepower output (1060 HP) compared to the first two (1200 HP).
During the Sino-Japanese war, Shi-102 attacked the Japanese armoured cruiser Izumo but its torpedo missed and was abandoned afterwards. It was then refloated and studied, wherein the result of the studies was the Type T-1 currently in-game. Yan-92, another boat, was captured by the Japanese and renamed to “Miscellaneous Boat No.1149”. It was used to train torpedo boat crews during the war.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 16.8 m x 3.5 m (Draft 0.9 m)
- Crew: 5 men
- Displacement: 17 tons
- Speed: ~43 knots/79.6km/h via two diesel engines generating 1200 hp
- Armament: A dual Lewis gun mount atop the bridge and two 460mm torpedoes
Sources: uboat.net, Kure Maritime Museum archives, the below paper
Spoiler
Kuai (Reserve boat) Removed, kept for archival purposes
Formerly a pair of Italian MAS boats, the two Kuai-type torpedo boats were completed in 1918 and requisitioned to China in 1921. Unfortunately they didn’t see much service and both were scrapped in 1933. However two more boats were built from the plans of the Thronycroft 55-foot motor launch with the same armament.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 16.8 m x 3.5 m (Draft 0.9 m)
- Crew: 12 men
- Displacement: 13 tons
- Speed: 26 knots/48 km/h via a single petrol engine
- Armament: A dual 6.5mm Breda MG mount on the bow, two 460mm torpedoes and 4 depth charges
But why such a weak armament for a reserve boat? The VTB-8 has an identical same armament, so why does it still exist in-game?
Source: Naval Encyclopedia
Rank I premium: Tso-I
An enigmatic torpedo boat. What is known about it is that it was built in Yarrow, was closely related to the British torpedo boat HMS No.79, it fought alongside Fu Long during the Battle of the Yalu River and was renamed to Choi Ti beforehand but otherwise details are very sparse.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 39 m x 4 m (Draft 1.4 m)
- Crew: 28
- Displacement (full load): 108 tons
- Speed: almost 23 knots/42.5 km/h via a single boiler generating 1000 hp
- Armament: Two 37mm Hotchkiss guns on both ends of the ship(?), three Gatling guns and three 18 inch Schwartzkopff torpedoes
Source: The Chinese Steam Navy, 1862-1945 by Richard N.J. Wright, pages 182 and 184
Rank II premium: No.414 “Hero Boat of Toumenshan”
Another very well-known boat in Chinese naval research circles, this ex-Japanese 25-ton gunboat was the definition of “the little boat that could” for the Chinese. It was one of 35 captured by the ROC after World War II but 17 of those were captured by the PLA in 1949.
On the night of June 23, 1951, the gunboat encountered four ROCN mixed-propulsion (sail and motor) ships near the eponymous Toumenshan Island. Three other ships were initially accompanying No.414 but two had engine breakdowns and one was deployed elsewhere. Despite being outnumbered the boat sank one of the ROCN ships (a three masted one) and damaged another, forcing them to retreat.
For this reason the boat was eventually displayed at the Military Museum of the Chinese People’s Revolution at Beijing.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 18 m x 3.5 m (Draft 1.5 m)
- Crew: 17 men
- Displacement: 25 tons
- Speed: 12 knots/22 km/h via two diesel engines generating 300 hp
- Armament: A single 25mm Type 96 and one or two 13,2mm Type 93 HMGs
Sources: hypilot’s suggestion for the boat and this BaiKe post
Rank II premium: Fei Yuen/Tung An*
…Yes, that is a destroyer at 2.3. Its armament is simply too weak to compete with those at 3.3 (i.e. the Litchfield or Turbine). It could get a boat spawn because of its size and even a boat damage model…
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 60.5 m x 6.5 m (Draft 1.8 m)
- Crew: 69
- Displacement: 390 tons
- Speed: 32 knots/59 km/h via two triple expansion steam engines generating 6500 hp
- Armament: Two single 76mm guns, four single 47mm 3-pounder guns, two 450mm torpedoes
More info can be found in hypilot’s suggestion for the destroyer (rather its class as a whole)
Rank III premium: Type 025 Huchuan (early)*
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 21.5 x 6.7 m (Draft 1.5 m, including hydrofoils)
- Crew: 11 men
- Displacement (full load): 40 tons
- Speed: 55 knots/102 km/h via three diesel engines generating 3600 hp
- Armament: Two dual 14.5mm KPV turrets and two 450mm torpedoes
More info can be found in R_nminbiY_n’s suggestion for the boat
Rank III premium: Yalong
Specifications are to be the exact same as the Type K-8 No.13 late with the following exceptions
- A single American 76mm gun (same as the Candid?) will replace the old Japanese one and a single 40mm Bofors gun will be added
- Visual differences
More info can be found in hypilot’s suggestion for the boat
Rank IV premium: Zhongshan
The Zhongshan should be a familiar name in Chinese naval research circles. As the lead ship of the four Yongfeng-class gunboats built in China, it was launched in 1912 and commissioned the following year. In 1922, it transferred Sun Yat-sen and Chiang Kai-shek from the cruiser Hai Qi at Guangzhou and fought its way past Pearl River to Hong Kong. It was renamed to Zhongshan after one of Sun Yat-sen’s names in 13 April 1925, a month after he died.
In 24 October 1938, it was bombed and sunk by Japanese aircraft while defending Wuhan. It was salvaged in 28 January 1997 and by 2001 it was fully restored to its 1925 appearance though the damage that sank the ship wasn’t repaired. It now resides in a museum in Wuhan.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 65.9 m x 8.8m (Draft 3 m)
- Crew: 108-140
- Displacement: 47 tons
- Speed: 36 knots/66.7 km/h via a single triple expansion steam engine generating 1352 hp
- Armament: 1 x 10,5 cm SK L/40 gun at the bow, 4 x 47mm 3-pounder Hotchkiss guns along the sides, 1 x 40mm pom-pom at the rear, 2 x Maxim guns
Source: Dawlish Chronicles, Wikipedia
Rank IV premium: Type 037 Hainan (early)
No images of the early version of the Hainan equipped with American 76mm guns exist
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 58.7 m x 7.2 m (Draft 2.2 m)
- Crew: 47
- Displacement: 430 tons
- Speed: 30 knots/55.6 km/h via four diesel engines generating 8,800 hp
- Armament: 2 x single 76mm Mk 26 guns, 2 x dual 25mm 2M-3 autocannons, 4 x RBU-1200 anti-submarine rocket launchers
More info can be found in Admiral Aruon’s suggestion for the boat
Rank IV event: Qin Ren*
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 59.4 m x 8.8 m (Draft 0.9 m)
- Crew: 90
- Displacement: 430 tons
- Speed: 13 knots/24 km/h via a pair of diesel engines generating 800 hp
- Armament: 1 x dual and 1 x single 120mm 10th year gun, 3 x dual 13.2mm Type 93 machine guns
More info can be found on R_nminbiY_n’s suggestion for the boat
Rank V premium: Jinhua
The Jinhua was one of ten Type 053 Jianghu-II frigates, launched in 21 May 1983 and commissioned on 13 December of that year. She was decommissioned in 13 July 2019 and currently resides in Hengdian, Zhejiang as a museum ship as of 5 July 2021.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 103.2 m x 10.8 m (Draft 3.1 m)
- Crew: 200
- Displacement: 1350 tons
- Speed: 23 knots/42.6 km/h via a pair of diesel engines generating 15,770 hp
- Armament: 2 x dual 100mm Type 79A guns, 4 x 37mm Type 76A autocannons, 2 x dual SY-1 anti-ship missile launchers, 2 x five-shot Type 81 anti-submarine rocket launchers
Sources: Military Dreamers’ Club (in Chinese), ZJNews (in Chinese)
Rank V squadron: Lianjiang, as built**
The fifth ship of the Type 037II Houjian-class, its service would be a very unfortunate one as it would experience a fatal collision just 5 years after being commissioned in 2001. On an early morning in June 2006, it would collide with a freighter from Hong Kong and sank, killing 13 sailors and injuring four. It would eventually be salvaged, repaired and recommissioned in 2008, with its 76mm gun being replaced with the dual 37mm found on its sisters.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 65.4 m x 8.4 m (Draft 2.4 m)
- Crew: 47
- Displacement: 320 tons
- Speed: 32 knots/59 km/h via a pair of diesel engines generating 15,840 hp
- Armament: 1 x 76mm AK-176M, 2 x dual 30mm AK-230 CIWS mounts, 2 x triple YJ-8A anti-ship missile mounts
Source: My forum suggestion for the Type 037II, in turn derived from Military Dreamers’ Club: China’s Previous Generation of Patrol Boats/Missile Vessels (in Chinese)
Rank V event: No.531*
Specifications:
- Dimensions: ~100 m x ~10 m (Draft ~2.7 m) (Jane’s 1982-83, p.280)
- Crew: ~180
- Displacement: God knows (~1500 tons according to Jane’s)
- Speed: 28 knots/48.2 km/h via a pair of diesel engines generating 15,000 hp
- Armament: 2 x single 100mm B-34 cannons, 2 x dual 57mm ZiF-31 autocannon mounts, 2 x dual 30mm AK-230 CIWS mounts, 6 x dual 25mm 2M-3 turrets, 2 x single P-15 Termit/SS-2 Styx anti-ship missile mounts
More info can be found in ChieftainWarrior’s suggestion for the ship
