Information about the Chinese defense industry is traditionally scarce, and it almost always appears only from official sources. What is the recent story with the Chinese fifth generation fighter J-20, when the aviation community around the world tried to "take out" more information from a couple of fuzzy photos of the aircraft.
The situation is similar with the Chinese navy. In 2007, when the new Project 071 Kunlun Shan landing ship (hull number 998) entered service, fleet fans on the Internet launched a heated discussion about the characteristics, design, weapons and other parameters of the new ship. The reason for the controversy was outrageously simple and familiar to the Chinese PLA: in the official press release on the adoption of the Kunlunshan into service, no details were specified, and, as always, little photographic materials were attached to the release. So the traditional fortune-telling from photography began with attempts to find out the composition of the equipment, weapons, design features, etc.
Bit by bit, it was possible to establish that the first ship of Project 071 was laid down in 2006 at the Shanghai-based Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard. In December of the same year, "Kunlunshan" was launched, and in the fall of 2007 it was transferred for testing. In addition to the rapid pace of construction, the Chinese conducted no less rapid tests - the new landing ship entered the Southern Fleet in December 2007.
It also became known that the ships of the 071 project are the largest representatives of the Chinese fleet, built not abroad, but in the Celestial Empire itself.
Well, of course, the name of the ship immediately became clear: Kunlun is a mountain system in China. As it turns out later, it was decided to name the ships of the project 071 by the name of the mountains.
In November 2010, the second ship of the series, Jinggangshan (hull number 999), was launched. In June of this year, the second "highlander" was sent for testing. According to rumors, it will enter service by the end of this year or early next.
The third landing ship of project 071 was launched this summer and is now being completed at the quay wall. Almost immediately after the descent, photos of this "paratrooper" began to circulate on the Internet. But there is no information on its name yet - only rumors and assumptions. On the other hand, the official announcement of the launching of the third ship of Project 071 launched a new round of distribution of the old - still 2007 - drawing with the "Kunlunshan" in section, which shows the proposed layout of the ship. Of course, there is no official data on the layout and is not expected.
But it was announced that the current plans of the Chinese Navy include the construction of six Project 071 landing ships.
And yet, despite the lack of official information, the superintelligence of Internet forums and brainstorming of experts have yielded results. From the photographs of the ships, which appeared in great numbers, the approximate characteristics of the "paratroopers" of project 071 were determined. In addition, insider information about the ships "leaked" on the Internet.
The summary information from all sources - documents, assessments and “identification by photo” looks like this:
Displacement 18000-20500 tons, although at first there was an opinion that this parameter ranges from 12000-18000 tons.
Length about 210 meters, width - 28. Draft - 7 m.
The maximum speed is about 20-25 knots, the cruising range (in economy mode) is up to 6000 miles.
The power plant is two-shaft, with four SEMT Pielstick 16 PC2.6 V400 diesel engines with a total capacity of 47,200 hp. (35,200 kW).
For weapons at the moment, the following is known:
One Russian-made AK-176 76 mm artillery mount. Allows you to attack targets of various types at a distance of up to 12-15 km (depending on the height of the target).
Four 30-mm automatic anti-aircraft guns AK-630 are also Russian-made. It allows hitting air targets at a range of up to 4 kilometers (slant range) and attacking light and weakly protected surface targets at a range of up to 5 km.
Up to five heavy machine guns.
Four rocket launchers type 726-4 (18 barrels on each) for shooting electronic warfare units - dipole reflectors. Also provides for direct fire with high-explosive fragmentation shells.
There is information about the potential future equipping of Project 071 ships with the HQ-7 anti-aircraft missile system, for which, according to a number of sources, places for their installation have already been "reserved".
The crew is 120 people. Troopers - up to 800-900 soldiers.
The ship is capable of transporting 15-20 armored vehicles.
To increase the mobility of the landing force and the ability to operate in shallow water, the ship is equipped with four DKVP (air-cushion landing craft) and two "classic" boats.
In addition, the ship has aviation armament - two Z-8 helicopters with equipment for detecting and attacking surface and underwater targets.
Radio-electronic equipment, according to unofficial data, consists of:
Surface target detection radar (most likely type 360), air defense radar (type 364) and fire control radar (possibly type 344).
For the transport of troops, the Project 071 ships have a dock in the hold located in the aft and central part of the hull. The dock gates, respectively, are located at the aft end of the ship. Double-leaf gates with horizontal hinge: the upper half rises during the landing, and the lower one goes down and forms a ramp.
We should also dwell on the DKVP. They have also become a novelty for professionals. The fact is that previously China did not have such equipment capable of transporting bulky and heavy loads - a maximum of 10 soldiers in full gear. The new boats can carry not only personnel, but also cars, armored personnel carriers, and BMPs. There is a popular opinion that these boats were created on the basis of the Murena DKVP bought by China from Russia, or thanks to American developments obtained by Chinese intelligence. In favor of the latest version, the external similarity of Chinese boats and American LCACs speaks.
