The Chinese language shipyard Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding launched the long run Royal Thay Navy’s Kind 071E touchdown platform dock (LPD) HTMS Chang (LPD-792). Admiral Thaloengsak Sirisawat, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Navy presided over the launching ceremony for a brand new Touchdown Platform Dock (amphibious transport dock), with Mrs. Aranya Sirisawat because the ship godmother who presided over the launching ceremony at Pier No. 5 Hudong, Shanghai. The Royal Thai Navy had signed a contract to obtain from China a Kind 071E (Yuzhao)-class touchdown platform dock (LPD). The deal was signed in Beijing on 9 September 2019 and is reportedly price THB4 billion ($130 million).

Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding launches Royal Thai Navy Kind 071E touchdown platform dock (LPD) HTMS Chang (LPD-792). (Picture by Royal Thai Navy)

The Kind 071 (NATO reporting title: Yuzhao) is a category of Chinese language amphibious transport dock ships in service with the Individuals’s Liberation Military Navy (PLAN). The Kind 071 offers the PLAN with capabilities and suppleness not present in its earlier touchdown ships. The China State Shipbuilding and Buying and selling Corp. consortium provided to construct a modified Kind 071 for the Royal Malaysian Navy. The Malaysians had a requirement for a 13,000-ton LPD; the Kind 071 would value a 3rd of the same US-built San Antonio-class LPD. The Royal Thai Navy ordered one export model, designated Kind 071E, in 2019. The Kind 071 could function because the flagship of a process power.

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Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding launches Royal Thai Navy Type 071E landing platform dock (LPD) HTMS Chang (LPD-792).
Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding launches Royal Thai Navy Kind 071E touchdown platform dock (LPD) HTMS Chang (LPD-792). (Picture by Royal Thai Navy)

The amphibious warfare ship contains a automobile deck, well-deck, touchdown deck and a hangar. The Individuals’s Liberation Military Navy ship is armed with one H/PJ26 76mm naval gun and 4 H/PJ-13 30mm close-in weapon system (CIWS). The H/PJ26 is a contemporary naval gun of Chinese language derived from the Soviet AK-176 naval gun. Two kinds of 76mm ammunition are carried: fragmentation to be used in opposition to ships and airburst to be used in opposition to plane and missiles. The H/PJ-13 is a contemporary close-in weapon system of Chinese language derived from the Soviet AK-630 close-in weapon system. The Chinese language H/PJ13 makes use of a extra angular housing to be able to cut back radar cross part.

Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding launches Royal Thai Navy Type 071E landing platform dock (LPD) HTMS Chang (LPD-792).
Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding launches Royal Thai Navy Kind 071E touchdown platform dock (LPD) HTMS Chang (LPD-792). (Picture by Royal Thai Navy)

The Kind 071 can carry a mix of marines, automobiles, touchdown craft and helicopters. The ship could embark 600 to 800 troops. The strict helicopter deck provides two touchdown spots for supporting the operations of two transport helicopters. The dual-door cantilever hangar can home as much as 4 helicopters. The nicely deck homes as much as 4 Kind 726 air-cushioned touchdown craft, which may switch automobiles or marines to the shore at excessive velocity. The LCAC are launched by flooding of the docking space. The vessel also can carry touchdown craft on port / starboard davits. The automobile deck can home amphibious assault automobiles together with the amphibious armored automobiles.[4] The strict ramp, two aspect doorways and ramps enable fast loading of the automobiles and tools.