Chinese ship Chaohu

Type 903 integrated supply ship (NATO called Fuchi-class supply ship) is a new large-scale integrated supply ship of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy, designed by Zhang Wende. The later improved model is called 903A. The difference with 903 is that the displacement has increased from 20,530 tons to 23,000 tons.[1]

All 9 ships have been built and are in service. The ship is a new generation of large-scale ocean-going integrated supply ship in China. Its supply equipment has been greatly improved compared to the earlier Type 905 integrated supply ship. It can be used for supply operations in horizontal, vertical, vertical, and sideways. It has two sides, three directions, and four stations. At the same time, the replenishment capability can complete fleet replenishment tasks in more complex situations. And the speed is higher than that of the Qinghaihu built with merchant ships as the standard, with a maximum speed of 20 knots, which can accompany fleet operations. The commissioning of this class of supply ship indicates that the People's Liberation Army Navy has a stable ocean-going combat capability, and this was proved in the subsequent Somalia escort missions. The 903 type integrated supply ship used some Russian equipment in the early stage, and later it was fully localized. This type of supply ship has undergone a comprehensive upgrade of electronic equipment, and has high formation communication capabilities, automatic statistics of materials, and the ability to report to formation command ships.

In the late 1990s, China’s integrated supply ship Similan built for the Thai Navy's light aircraft carrier formation is generally considered to be an attempt by China to build a modern integrated supply ship. In the following years, China has learned experience and lessons. Improved on the basis of the Similan, and finally the Type 903 integrated supply ship was designed and finalized by the China State Shipbuilding Corporation.[2]

She was launched on 7 May 2012 at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai and commissioned on 18 June 2014 into the East Sea Fleet.

Chaohu alongside Yuncheng and Changbai Shan made a goodwill visit to Rotterdam on 30 January 2015.[3]

On 28 April 2017, Chaohu, Changchun and Jingzhou arrived in Davao City, Mindanao for a visit.[4] On 25 May, the ships conducted an exercise with the Myanmar Navy, which was China's first time to hold an exercise with Myanmar.[5] On 12 June, they arrived in Karachi.[6] On 23 July, same ships were sent for a visit to Piraeus Port.[7]

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  Chaohu, Yuncheng and Changbai Shan in Rotterdam on 26 January 2015.
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  Chaohu, Yuncheng and Changbai Shan in Rotterdam on 26 January 2015.
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  Chaohu leaving Rotterdam on 30 January 2015.
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  Chaohu leaving Rotterdam on 30 January 2015.
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  Chaohu underway on 1 August 2015.
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  Chaohu underway on 9 April 2016.
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  Chaohu underway on 16 December 2019.
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  Chaohu underway on 30 April 2020.

• Sinodefence.com