Type 815 spy ship

Type 815 spy ship and its derivative Type 815G are the newest Chinese spy ships in service (as of 2014) with the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). A total of two ships have been confirmed, one Type 815, and the other Type 815G.

Type 815

Type 815 was formerly named as Dong-Diao (δΈœθ°ƒ, meaning East Investigate) 232, but subsequently, the name was changed to North Star after new naming convention adopted by PLAN. After entering service in the latter half of 1999, the ship went through major upgrade several years later, with parabolic antennas replaced by three large radomes. In addition to collecting electronic intelligence, this class is also tasked to perform ballistic missile tracking. There is a hangar for helicopter. Specification:[1]

 Pennant #   Name   Builder   Commissioned   Status   Fleet 
851 North Star Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding late 1999 Active East Sea Fleet

Type 815G

After year 2000, an improved version appeared, designated as Type 815G, and the most obvious external visual difference between Type 815G and earlier Type 815 is that the former has a different mast somewhat similar to a pagoda shape, and the sheer line is curved at a greater angle.[2]

 Pennant #   Name   Builder   Launched   Commissioned   Status   Fleet 
853 Uranus Hudong,Shanghai December 2009 September 2010? Active East Sea Fleet
854 Sirius Hudong,Shanghai 29 March 2014 - Sea trail -
(855) - Hudong,Shanghai 28 July 2014 - Fitting out -
(856) - Hudong,Shanghai 22 January 2015 - Fitting out -

References