China's First Amphibious Assault Ship Targeting the West Sea Front

September Last Year: Launch Ceremony of China's First Amphibious Assault Ship
Type 075 Amphibious Attack Ship Capable of Command and Control of Landing Operations

The commissioning ceremony of the first Type 075 amphibious assault ship of the Chinese Navy was held on September 25 last year. Photo by Chinese Ministry of National Defense

[Military Analyst Kim Daeyoung] On the morning of September 25, 2019 (local time), the launching ceremony of the Chinese Navy's first amphibious assault ship, the Type 075 amphibious assault ship, was grandly held in Shanghai. An amphibious assault ship is a large transport ship designed for transporting troops and equipment for amphibious operations, and like a light aircraft carrier, it features a large flight deck.

It also serves as the flagship of the landing maneuver unit, functioning as a command ship to direct and control amphibious operations. Additionally, it is a multipurpose landing ship used for various missions such as disaster relief, international peacekeeping activities, and evacuation of overseas nationals in emergencies. While South Korea refers to amphibious assault ships as large transport ships, the Chinese military designates them as Yangshugongjageom (兩棲攻擊艦). Here, Yangshu (兩棲) means operating both on land and in water.

The Type 075 amphibious assault ship is known as China’s first domestically developed amphibious assault ship and is considered a key vessel for a potential invasion of Taiwan. Research and development of the Type 075 began in 2011, with design carried out by the 708 Research Institute of China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, and full-scale construction started in 2017 at Hudong Zhonghua Shipbuilding in Shanghai. The 708 Research Institute, responsible for the ship’s design, has previously developed major landing ships for the Chinese Navy.

Type 075 Amphibious Assault Ship: A Key Role in a Potential Taiwan Invasion
Capable of Carrying Over 1,000 Troops, About 30 Helicopters, and Hovercraft

However, during the early development phase, the People’s Liberation Army General Equipment Department preferred conventional landing ships better suited for personnel and equipment landings over large flight deck amphibious assault ships, leading to conflicts with the Chinese Navy. Ultimately, the Chinese Navy strongly advocated for an amphibious assault ship with a flight deck, resulting in the creation of today’s Type 075 amphibious assault ship. In late August 2019, images of the nearly completed Type 075 amphibious assault ship were gradually released on Chinese internet platforms.

The first Type 075 amphibious assault ship was smoothly completed, but on April 11 of the following year, a fire broke out during exterior work, raising concerns about delays in commissioning. Despite these worries, on August 5, Chinese state media reported the ship’s first sea trials. The Type 075 amphibious assault ship, estimated to have a full load displacement between 35,000 and 40,000 tons, can accommodate over 1,000 personnel from the Chinese Navy Marine Corps and operate about 30 medium to large landing maneuver helicopters.

In addition, it carries the Type 726 hovercraft, similar to the U.S. Navy’s LCAC (Landing Craft Air Cushion) high-speed landing craft. Due to these capabilities, the Chinese Navy Marine Corps, which can be considered China’s marine force, is expected to be able to conduct beyond-the-horizon amphibious operations in the future?that is, landing ships positioned beyond the visible horizon off the coast can rapidly deploy landing forces to the shore simultaneously.

Following the first Type 075 amphibious assault ship, the second ship was launched on April 22, and the first ship is scheduled to be deployed to the Southern Theater Command, which includes the South China Sea. Additionally, the launching ceremony for the third ship is expected to take place around October this year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.