Australian Naval Institute

5 January 2025

Source: https://navalinstitute.com.au/chinas-new-amphibious-ship/ 

China’s Type 076 amphibious assault ship, Sichuan (51). Xinhua Photo.

China has  launched the first of the Type 076 amphibious assault ship, Sichuan (51), at the Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard facilities at Changxing Island in Shanghai. Official state media Xinhua said the ship has a full-load displacement of over 40,000 tons and features a dual-island superstructure and a full-length flight deck, US Naval Institute News reports.

In comparison, amphibious assault ship USS America(LHA-6) has a displacement of 45,693 tons fully loaded, though various estimates put the Type 076 tonnage as high as 50,000 tons full load.

Sichuan also incorporates a well deck and an EMALS for its flight deck, allowing the ship to launch fixed-wing aircraft, according to Xinhua’s report. 

China currently does not operate any short take-off and vertical landing aircraft, so the ship will also be equipped with arresting wires for landings on the flight deck. The Pentagon’s recently released China military report said the Type 076 is expected to operate UAVs off the flight deck using the EMALS and made no mention of fixed-wing aircraft.

Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding had previously built four Type 075 amphibious assault ships for the People’s Liberation Army Navy, with three in service and the fourth fitting out. The yard also built eight Type 071 amphibious assault ships for the PLAN and one for the Royal Thai Navy.

Sichuan is now undergoing a fitting out phase before moving to testing and sea trials and is expected to enter the PLAN fleet by 2027.