Yuch'in-class landing craft
The Type 068 and Type 069 (NATO reporting name: Yuch'in[2] or Yuqin[3]) are classes of landing craft mechanized (LCM) of the People's Republic of China's People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). They may be based on the Soviet T-4 landing craft,[3] or smaller versions of the Type 067 landing craft with shorter tank and longer poop decks.[2] The Type 068 and Type 069 were mainly designed to transport cargo and personnel respectively.[3]
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Type 068 and Type 069 |
| Builders | |
| Operators | |
| Built | 1962[2] - c. 1995[1] |
| In commission | c. 1960 - present |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Landing craft mechanized |
| Displacement | 86 tonnes (full load)[2] |
| Length | 24.8 metres (81 ft)[2] |
| Beam | 5.2 metres (17 ft)[2] |
| Draught | 1.3 metres (4 ft 3 in)[2] |
| Propulsion | |
| Speed | 11.5 knots (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph)[2] |
| Range | 450 nautical miles (830 km; 520 mi) at 11.5 knots (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph)[2] |
| Troops | 150 troops[2] |
| Complement | 12[2] |
| Armament | 2 x twin 14.5 mm machine guns[2] |
The landing craft were built at Shanghai from 1962 to 1972.[2] A few modified Type 069s were built at Zhoushan for Tanzania in the 1990s.[1]
Operators
Bangladesh bought six of the landing craft from China.[2] Two Type 069s were fitted as inshore survey craft and entered service in 1983.[4] Four Type 068s were delivered in 1986.[5] The 1991 Bangladesh cyclone severely damaged two Type 068s, one of which was scrapped.[6]
Tanzania bought two modified[1] Type 069s[2] for logistics support. They were launched from the Kailing Shipyard[1] and delivered in 1995.[2] They have greater molded depth for increased cargo capacity, air conditioning and improved steering.[1]
References
- Wertheim 2013, p. 723.
- Saunders 2015, p. 156.
- Wertheim 2013, p. 130.
- Wertheim 2013, p. 44.
- Wertheim 2013, p. 45.
- Saunders 2015, p. 57.
Sources
- Saunders, Stephan, ed. (2015). Jane's Fighting Ships 2015-2016. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0710631435.
- Wertheim, Eric (2013). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems (16 ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1591149545.