The Chinese shipyard Hudong Zhonghua Shipbuilding Company launched the landing helicopter dock, designed by project 075. Its displacement is from 36 to 40 thousand tons, making it one of the largest ships of this type in the world. It is expected that the ship will be commissioned in 2021, according to Naval News.

Landing helicopter docks are versatile landing ships equipped with a flight deck for take-off and landing of helicopters, as well as a dock for high-speed landing boats, providing a quick landing. The largest ships of this type are owned by the US Navy: they have at their disposal ships of the Wosp type with a displacement of 40.5 thousand tons.

China, strengthening its military presence in the Pacific Ocean, in 2017 began to build its own ship of this type under the 075 project. It has a length of 250 meters and a width of 30 meters, and the total displacement is, according to various sources, from 36 to 40 thousand tons. This is significantly more than the displacement of the French Mistral (21.4 thousand tons) and the recently built Italian Trieste (33 thousand tons), but less than the US ships.

The deck of the Chinese ship is designed for the simultaneous stay of 28 helicopters. It is assumed that the ship is equipped with four anti-aircraft artillery systems. It is expected that now the Chinese Navy will begin testing a new ship, and its commissioning is scheduled for 2021.

In parallel with the construction of the helicopter carrier, China is also engaged in the commissioning of its first Type 001A aircraft carrier of its own design. It was launched in 2017, and in 2018 it passed sea ​​trials. In addition, the Chinese are creating another Type 002A aircraft carrier, which will be equipped with an electromagnetic catapult.

Via | Naval News