Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) launched on Friday, January 29, 2021 its third Type 075 landing helicopter dock (NATO reporting name Yushen-class landing helicopter assault) with the assistance from several tug boats. The Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding has now launched three of the large warships at an astonishing speed since the second half of 2019. The first Type 075 was launched on September 25, 2019, and the second one on April 22, 2020. Type 075 class is estimated to be larger than the Australian Canberra class or French Mistral class and second only to the U.S. Navy’s Wasp class and America class on the world stage.
The Type 075 landing helicopter dock (NATO reporting name Yushen-class landing helicopter assault) is a class of Chinese amphibious assault ship under construction by the Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding company. The Type 075 helicopter dock is a new generation of amphibious assault vessel and far larger than similar ships previously constructed for the PLA Navy. The Type 075 would give the Chinese navy the ability to launch various types of helicopters to attack naval vessels, enemy ground forces or submarines. The vessels will also be able to deploy landing craft and troops, plus house command and control operations.
The Chinese Navy officially started development work on the Type 075 in 2011. The Type 075 class has a full-length flight deck for helicopter operations and features a floodable well deck from which to disembark hovercraft and armored amphibious assault vehicles. A total of eight Landing Helicopter Docks are said to be on order for the People’s Liberation Army Navy. At the moment the same yard is also building two Type 054 A/P frigates for the Pakistan Navy and, it appears, a Type 071E Landing Platform Dock for Royal Thai Navy. When fully operational, the new Type 075 LHD will bolster the PLAN’s amphibious capabilities, which today rely on the Type 071 LPD design.
