Type 073 medium landing ship

The Type 073 landing ship medium is a class of landing ship medium (LSM) of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) consisted of several models. One of this class was exported to Sri Lanka.

Type 073I landing ship medium

Requirement of Type 073 medium landing ship was finalized in May 1965, and design work by Shanghai-based 708th Research Institute completed just 4 months later in September 1965. Preparation to build this class was completed in October 1966, and construction begun a month later in November 1966. Due to political turmoil in China at the time, namely, Cultural Revolution, it was not until almost three years later in August 1969 when the ship was launched. From November 1969 thru December 1969, extensive trials were conducted and the ship was handed over to PLAN in December 1969 for further tests. In 1970 more tests were conducted with more than 7,000 km (3,800 nmi; 4,300 mi) logged, and the longest trip was from Chongqing to Dalian.

However, trials revealed that the vibration was too great at high speed, and Type 073 LSM did not enter production. Redesign work designated as Type 073II immediately started after the trials of the first unit ended, and the first unit entered PLAN service with pennant number 904 was subsequently designated as Type 073I, and was later ordered to be converted to Type 073II standard. Due to the political turmoil at the time, conversion was not completed until 1975.

Type 073II landing ship medium

Shortcomings of Type 073I exposed in trials caused a crush program to rework and redesign at Dalian Shipyard, but due to political turmoil in China at the time, it was not sufficient enough to correct the problem completely. Shipyard # 9308 in Anhui petitioned the 6th Machinery Industrial Ministry and Anhui provincial Defense Industrial Office to construct Type 73II LSM in 1975, which was approved in April 1976, with orders for 3 ships. Construction of the first Type 073II LSM at Shipyard # 9308 begun five months later in September 1976, and it was launched in June 1978. From 1978 to 1979, extensive trials were conducted and the ship was handed over to PLAN in early 1980, with pennant number East Transport 757 (East Transport = Dong Yun 东运 in Chinese), meaning Transport 757 of East Sea Fleet of PLAN. This unit was later reassigned as # 937.

The primary difference between Type 073I and Type 073II is in the engine. Additional balance weight was added to the diesel engine which solved the vibration problem, but the reliability issue of the engine remain unsolved, and as a result, Type 073II did not enter mass production, just like its predecessor Type 073I.

Type 073IIY landing ship medium

As the mass production plan for Type 073II was cancelled due to reliability problem of its engine, Shipyard # 9308 begun to modify the remaining two units that were already being built, which was successfully completed in September 1985. The resulting type is Type 073IIY, with Y for Yun (运), meaning transport in Chinese. Type 073I, Type 073II, and Type 073IIY all received the NATO reporting name Yudao class. A total of two units of Type 073IIY were completed, with pennant # Dongyun 800 (later renamed as # 938 Lüliang Mountains) and Dongyun 801. The primary difference between Type 073II and Type 073 IIY includes more than 100 upgrades in addition to engine improvement.

Type 073III landing ship medium

The reliability problem of the engine of Type 073 series was not completely solved until the appearance of Type 073III LSM, with NATO reporting name Yudeng class. The D-39 engine that is reliable only at slower speed was replaced by a new engine that is reliable at all speeds, and displacement is also increased. Only one unit entered service, with pennant # 990 in 1991.

After the completion of the first unit (pennant # 990), it takes a decade for more units to follow, and 10 more entered service between 2001 through 2002. These later units are lightly larger in displacement at 2000 tons, and more advanced equipment, mainly in electronics and on board machinery. This latest batch is referred by some internet sources as Type 073 IV is known as Yunshu, but such claim has yet to be verified by official / governmental sources.

Ship classes of the People's Liberation Army Navy (List of active ships) Submarines (list) Nuclear ballistic missile Type 096 Tang class* Type 094 Jin class Type 092 Xia class Nuclear attack Type 095 ??? class* Type 093/G Shang class Type 091 Han class Conventional ballistic missile Type 032 Qing class Modified Project 629 Golf class: Type 6631/031+ Conventional attack Type 039A/AG/B/C Yuan class Type 039/039G Song class ES5C+/D+/E+/F+ and Type 035+/035A+/035G+/035B+/035ET+/035G Ming class Modified Project 633 Romeo class: ES5A+/B+ and Type 6633+/033+/033G+/033G1+ Wuhan class+ Project 636 Kilo II class Project 877EKM Kilo I class Principal surface combatants Aircraft carriers Chinese aircraft carrier programme Liaoning (16) Destroyers Type 055 class* Type 052D class Type 052C Luyang II (Lanzhou) class Type 052B Luyang I (Guangzhou) class Type 052 Luhu class Type 051C Luzhou class Type 051B Luhai class Type 051DT Luda IV class Type 051G1/G2 Luda III class Type 051 Luda II class Type 051 Luda I class Project 956EM Sovremenny II class Project 956 Sovremenny I class Anshan class+ Frigates Type 054B class* Type 054A Jiangkai II class Type 054 Jiangkai I (Ma'anshan) class Type 053H3 Jiangwei II class Type 053H2G Jiangwei I class Type 053H1G Jianghu V class Type 053H1Q Jianghu IV class Type 053H2 Jianghu III class Type 053H1 Jianghu II class Type 053H Jianghu I class Coastal warfare vessels Corvettes Type 056 Jiangdao class Missile boats Type 022 Houbei class Type 037-II Houjian class Type 037-IG Houxin class Type 021 Houdong class Type 021 Huangfeng (Soviet Osa-I) class Type 021 Hola class C 14 China Cat class Type 024 Heku/Hegu/Houku/Hougu class Torpedo boats Type 025 Huchuan class P4 class Gunboats Type 062-I Shanghai III class Type 062 Shanghai II class Type 062 Shanghai I class Type 206 Huludao class Shantou class+ Beihai class+ Huangpu class+ Yulin class+ Submarine chasers Type 037-IS Haiqing class Type 037-I Haijiu class Type 062-I Haizhui class Type 037 Hainan class Project 122bis Kronshtadt class Amphibious warfare vessels Landing helicopter dock Type 075 LHD* Landing platforms Type 071 Yuzhao class amphibious transport dock Landing ships Type 072 Yukan class LST Type 072-II Yuting I class LST Type 072-III Yuting II class LST Type 072A LST Type 079 Yuliang class LSM+ Type 079II Yuliang class LSM Type 074 Yuhai (Wuhu-A) class LSM Type 074A Yubei class LSM Type 073-I Yudao class LSM+ Type 073-II LSM+ Type 073-IIY LSM Type 073-III LSM Type 073 IV Yunshu class LSM Air-cushioned Landing Craft Type 726Yuyi class LCAC Type 722-II Jinsha II class LCAC Type 722-I Jinsha I class LCAC Type 716-II Dagu B class LCAC Type 716-I Dagu A class LCAC+ Type 724 LCAC Type 711 LCAC+ Songling LCAC+ Project 1232.2 Zubr class LCAC* Landing craft Type 271 Yupen class LCU+ Type 271II LCU+ Type 271IID LCU+ Type 271III LCU Type 271IIIA LCU Type 067 Yunnan class LCU Type 363/363A/55 LCM+ Type 066/066K/066A Yuzhai class LCM+ Type 068/069 Yuch'in class LCM Auxiliary vessels Buoy tenders Type 066 Type 744 Yannan class Type 911I Type 985 Type 994 Type 999 Type 999G Type 999HG Cable layers Type 890 Youzheng class Type 911II Type 991I Type 991II Youdian class Degaussing / deperming ships Type 911 Type 912 Type 912I Type 912III Yanbai class Type 912IIIA Type 912IIIAH Type 915+ Type 916+ Type 918+ Type 601+ Sea Fish 16 class+ Yan Fang class+ Yerka class+ Icebreakers Type 071 Yanha class icebreaker Type 071A Type 071G Type 210 Yanbing class Ammunition ships Yantai class General stores issue ships Type 904 Dayun class Type 904A Type 081 Red Flag class Cargo ships Danlin class Dandao class Galati class Qiongsha class Replenishment ships Type 903 Fuchi class Type 903A Type 905 Fuqing class Type 908 Fusu (Nancang) class Tankers Fulin class Shengli class Fuzhou class Jinyou class Leizhou class Weather ships Type 614I Type 614II Hydrographic survey ships Type 068/069 Yuch'in class Type 625C Type 635 A/B/C Yanlai class Type 635II Type 636 Type 636A Type 646 Kan Yang class Type 988 Oceanographic research ships Xiangyanghong 5 Type 614III Type 625A/B Type 645 Ocean surveillance ships Type 6610 Shuguang class Type 595 Type 639 Spy ships Type 813 Type 814A Dadi class Type 815 Type 815G Tracking ships Yuan Wang 1+ Yuan Wang 2+ Yuan Wang 3 Yuan Wang 4+ Yuan Wang 5 Yuan Wang 6 Yuan Wang 21 Yuan Wang 22 Sonar trials ships Beidiao 993 Torpedo trials ships Type 906 Type 907A Torpedo retrievers Type 917 torpedo retriever Weapon trials ships Type 909 Wuhu-B class Type 909A Target ships Chinese target ship Experiment 216 Training ships Type 679 Daxing class Type 0891A Shichang class Troopships Beidiao 990 Qiongsha class Barracks ships Xu Xiake Hospital ships Qiongsha class Zhuanghe Type 920 hospital ship Rescue and salvage ships Type 917 Type 922 Type 922II Dalang class Type 922III Dalang II class Type 922IIIA Dalang II class Repair ships Type 648 Submarine rescue ships Type 930 Hudong class Type 946 Dazhou class Type 946A Dadong class Submarine tenders Type 925 Dajiang class Type 926 Dive tenders Type 904I Type 904II Tugs Type 802 Gromovoy class Type 830 Type 837 Hujiu class Type 852 Roslavl class Tuozhong class Daozha class Submersibles Jiaolong class submersible Osprey class submersible Type 7103 DSRV Sea Pole class bathyscaphe Harmony class bathyscaphe Mobile diving bell QSZ-II submersible Diver propulsion vehicles QX-50 QY-18 QY-40 QJY-001 Unmanned underwater vehicles 8A4 ROUV RECON-IV ROUV 7B8 ROUV Goldfish class ROUV HR-01 ROUV HR-02 ROUV JH-01 ROUV SJT-5 ROUV SJT-10 ROUV SJT-40 ROUV Seahorse ROUV Sea Dragon-I ROUV Sea Dragon-II ROUV Arctic class ARV Explorer AUV WZODA AUV CR-01 AUV CR-01A AUV CR-02 AUV Intelligent Water class AUV Submerged Dragon 1 AUV Petrel I HUG Petrel II HUG Mine warfare vessels Minelayers Type 918 Wolei class minelayer Minehunters Type 081 Wochi class minehunter/minesweeper Type 081A Type 082 Wosao class minehunter/minesweeper Type 082II Wozang class minehunter/minesweeper Minesweepers Type 057K Lianyun class minesweeper+ Type 010 oceangoing minesweeper Type 6605 oceangoing minesweeper+ Type 6610 oceangoing minesweeper+ Type 05 oceangoing minesweeper T-43 class oceangoing minesweeper+ Type 058 minesweeper+ Type 7102 minesweeper+ Type 062 Fushun class coastal minesweeper+ Minesweeping drone Type 529 mine hunting/sweeping boat/drone Type 312 Futi class minesweeper / minesweeping drone * = Under construction or procurement + = Retired