P 4 class torpedo boat

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The P 4 class torpedo boat are Chinese torpedo boats armed with 2x450 mm torpedoes, based on a Soviet aluminum-hulled hydroplaning design. This class is thoroughly obsolete but was not completely retired from active service being placed in reserve until the mid 1990’s. These Chinese built units had the addition of radar. The People's Liberation Army Navy transferred this class to the naval militia for training purposes and because to these boats are kept and maintained on land due to their small size, they are in better conditions than larger units in the reserve and mothballed fleet.

In addition to naval militia training duties, some of the surviving units have been converted into target drones and have thus been returned to active service as minor support auxiliaries. Just like the Yulin class gunboat, the drone is controlled by larger converted gunboats such as the Shantou, Huangpu and Beihai classes. When in operation as drones the boats are crewless.

[edit] Specification

  • Displacement: 22.5 t
  • Length: 19.3 m
  • Beam: 3.7 m
  • Draft: 1. m
  • Speed: 55 kt
  • Propulsion: 2 Soviet M50 diesel engines @ 2,400 hp with 2 shafts
  • Complement: 12
  • Armament: 2 450 mm torpedoes & 2 14.5 mm heavy machine guns (II x 1)
  • Radar: 1 Soviet I-band Skin Head navigational radar