Introduction
This thread is for discussing the history, development, performance and capabilities of modern PLAN surface combatants, primarily focusing on missile-armed surface warships.
Other PLAN ships, including the Type 001, 002, 003, 004 aircraft carriers and Type 075/076 LHDs , are also welcome for discussion, but the primary focus will remain on missile-armed surface combatants.
Introduction to the PLAN’s Missile Age
The PLAN’s early surface fleet was primarily focused on coastal defense , consisting largely of gunboats, torpedo boats and other small combatants.
The introduction of anti-ship missiles changed this significantly. Beginning with the adoption of missile technology and the conversion of early ships such as the Anshan class , the PLAN began developing a force increasingly centered around missile-armed vessels.
Missile Fast Attack Craft
Type 021Huangfeng-class
History
China first received a single unit of Soviet Osa-class missile boat in January 1965, and four more in 1966 through 1967 and the last two in 1968. The Hudong Shipyard built the Chinese version as Type 021-class missile boat at a rate of ten boats per year with several different versions.
Specification
Speed: 35 knots
Sensors & processing systems: 1× Type 352 Square Tie 1× Fire control radar in aft radome (some)
Armament: 4 × HY-1 subsonic anti-ship missiles
4× AK-230 (2x2) or 4x Type 61 25mm gun (2x2)
Type 024 Heku-class
History
This class is the Chinese steel-hulled improvement over the original wooden-hulled Soviet Komar-class missile boat. The boat was designed by the 701st Institute at Wuhu while the missile launcher was designed by the 713th Institute. Since the delivery of the first unit by Wuhu Shipyard, around 80 were built in total, including export units.
Specification
Speed: 37.5 knots
Sensors & processing systems: 1 × Type 352 Square Tie Surface search radar
Armament: 2 ×HY-1 subsonic anti-ship missiles or 2 × YJ-1 supersonic anti-ship missiles
2 × Type 61 25 mm guns (2 x 2)
YJ-1 being tested on 024
Type 037 Missile Variants
History
The Type 037 corvette is a series 400–500 ton corvette type classes in service with the People’s Liberation Army Navy. Unlike western navies, the People’s Liberation Army Navy does not have dedicated patrol boats in its inventory. Instead, a large variety of corvette type classes, in the form of missile boats and submarine chasers fulfill the tasks of patrolling China’s territorial waters.
Type 037IG Houxin-class
History
The Type 037IG missile boat were first built by Qiuxing and Huangpu Shipyard from 1991 through 1999 for the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). This boat is the anti-ship version of the Type 037 submarine chasers, armed with missiles rather than torpedoes. It was also used as a cheaper alternative to the Type 037II class.
Specification
Speed: 28 knots
Sensors & processing systems: 1 × I-band Type 352 (Square Tie) 1x I-band Type 723 1 × I-band Type 347 (Rice Lamp)
Armament: 4x YJ-8/A 4x type 76A 37mm gun (2x2) 4 × Type 69 14.5 mm heavy machine guns (2 x 2)
Type 037II Houjian-class
History
The **Type 037II ** is a missile-equipped corvette developed for the PLAN as a simplified version of an originally Western-influenced design. The original concept featured Harpoon missiles, an OTO Melara 76 mm gun, gas turbines, and waterjets, but China redesigned it around YJ-8A anti-ship missiles, diesel engines, and conventional propellers after Western cooperation ended following 1989. The first vessel was built in 1990 as a technology demonstrator, followed by several more vessels in the 1990s and 2001. However, technical problems with the license-built SEMT engines, high cost, and the design’s complexity led to very limited production. Its main armament consisted of YJ-8A anti-ship missiles and a 76 mm gun.
Specifications
Speed: 30+ knots
Sensors & processor systems: Type 348G tracking radar Type 348S search radar Type 765 (I-band) Type 88C EOTS
Armament: 1 x Type 76 twin 37 mm naval gun (Only on Lianjiang) 4 x Type 69 30 mm (2x2) 6 x YJ-8A
Type 022 Houbei-class
History
The Type 022 is a class of Chinese catamaran missile boat. It entered service with the People’s Liberation Army Navy in 2004. In the 1980s, Chinese naval strategy shifted from coastal to offshore operations (“near-seas active defense”). By the late-1990s, the PLAN wanted fast attack craft with greater range and seakeeping. The Type 022 was likely a response to the requirement. The prototype launched from Qiuxin Shipyard in Shanghai in April 2004. Production occurred from at least six shipyards before ending in 2009.
Specification
Speed: 40 knots
Sensors & processor systems: Type 348 (LR66) surface search radar Navigation radar (I band) EOTS director
Armament: 8 x YJ-83 anti-ship missiles 1 x FLS-1 MANPADS launcher 1 × 30 mm AK-630 CIWS
Corvettes
Type 056 Jiangdao-class
- Type 056
- Type 056A
Frigates
Type 053 Family
- Type 053 Jianghu
- Type 053K Jiangdong
- Type 053H Jianghu I
- Type 053H1Jianghu II
- Type 053H2 Jianghu III
- Type 053H2G Jianghu IV
- Type 053H3 Jianghu V
Type 054 Family
- Type 054 Jiangkai-class
- Type 054A Jiangkai I
- Type 054B Jiangkai II
Destroyers
Anshan-class
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Type 051 Family
- Type 051 Luda I
- Type 051DT Luda I
- Type 051Z Luda I
- Type 051G Luda I
- Type 051B Luhai
- Type 051C Luzhou
Type 052 Family
- Type 052 Luhu
- Type 052B Luyang I
- Type 052C Luyang II
- Type 052D Luyang III
Type 055 Renhai-class
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DISCLAIMER
- This is currently unfinished but feel free to discuss the topic
- I mainly use Wikipedia for general information because its convenient, I will try to correct all errors, if you find any feel free to tell me
- I will not be going deep dive into minor refits for each ships, this is meant to just be an introduction guide for people who aren’t familiar with PLAN and only include variants with major difference that could potentially effect the “future gameplay”
- I’d love to make another thread for ROCN and another one specifically for armaments in the near future, but if you want to do it yourself then feel free (i’m lazy)
Last Update: 07/09/2026