Recently, a formation of minesweeping ships attached to a Type 082 class mine-countermeasures ship group of the navy under the Eastern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) conducted comprehensive mine-countermeasures (MCM) training in waters of East China Sea for several consecutive days, focusing on over 10 subjects including reconnaissance for underwater targets, clearing passage through minefield, clearance of naval mines in key waters, etc.
The Type 082 class minesweeper is a Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy ship class. It is also known as Wosao class in the west, but the Chinese name is Wusao, short for armed (Wu-zhuang) mine sweeping boat (Sao-lei-ting). The Type 082 mine countermeasure vessel (NATO designation: Wosao-class) is the successor to the Type 058 and Type 7102 mine countermeasure vessels. This class was consequently upgraded by doubling the number of engines and shafts, and most units were built by the Wusong Shipyard at Shanghai.
Type 082II mine countermeasure vessel (NATO designation: Wozang-class) is the modern development of the base Type 082. The Chinese industrial and manufacturing capability are finally mature enough to produce minesweepers with components built of fiberglass and steel with low magnetic signature at an acceptable price, but the exact content is unknown due to lack of official governmental sources. Built by Qiuxin Shipyard at Shanghai, Type 082II mine countermeasure vesselis known in the West as the Wozang-class.