Type 056 class is the main class of corvettes of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).

Type 056 is also known by its NATO reporting name as Jiangdao-class.

A total of 72 Type 056 corvettes have been built for the Chinese Navy, replacing older patrol crafts and some of the older and outdated Type 053H frigates.

There are two variants of Type 056 corvettes, with the Type 056A corvette being the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) variant.

The Type 056 corvettes were built by several Chinese shipbuilders in different Chinese shipyards including Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding, Wuchang Shipyard and Liaonan Shipyard.

Type 056 corvette displacement and dimensions

The Chinese Type 056 corvette is slighty smaller than other modern corvettes and does not have a hangar for hosting a helicopter.

Type 056 has a displacement of 1,500 tons, a length of 90 m (300 ft), a beam of 11.14 m (36.5 ft), and a draught of 4 m (13 ft).

Propulsion of the Type 056 corvette

Type 056 is powered by two SEMT Pielstick PA6-STC diesel motors.

Speed and range of the Type 056 class corvettes

The Chinese Type 056 corvette has a maximum speed of 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) and a maximum range of 3,500 nautical miles (6,500 km; 4,000 mi) at a constant speed of 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph).

Complement of the Type 056 class corvettes

The Type 056 corvette has a complement of 78 persons.

Type 056 sensors and processing systems

Type 056 corvettes are equipped with advanced sensors including the Type 360 air and surface search radar and the Type 347G fire control radar.

The standard Type 056 has a a bow sonar, while the Type 056A anti-submarine specialized version is also equipped with a towed array and variable depth sonar.

Armament of the Type 056 corvettes

While smaller in dimensions, the Type 056 corvettes are equipped for anti-ship, anti-submarine and aerial warfare.

Besides the main 76 mm AK-176 naval gun there are also two 30 mm cannons installed on board.

For naval warfare, Type 056 ships have at their disposal two 2-cell YJ-83 anti-ship missiles.

Type 056 are equipped with an anti-aircraft missile system having one 8-cell FL-3000N SAM launcher.

They are also fitted with two triple 324 mm. torpedo tubes.

Aviation facilities of the Type 056 corvettes

Type 056 are relativelly small corvettes with a displacemnt of only 1,500 tones and a length of 90 meters.

Unlike other modern corvettes like the Gowind 2500 or Sigma 10514, the Chinese Type 056 corvettes don't have a hangar for hosting a helicopter.

But they have a helipad, being able to operate onboard a Harbin Z-9 medium-lift helicopter.