China´s most sophisticated destroyers sent on escort mission

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Source: CCTV.com | 12-27-2008 08:45

Pics: Chinese Navy sends most sophisticated ships on escort mission

Three Chinese Navy ships are on their way to take part in the country's first overseas escort mission.

The convoy includes two of China's most sophisticated destroyers, and will help patrol the Gulf of Aden, where piracy has become a serious problem.

A ceremony is held before a Chinese naval fleet sets sail from a port in Sanya city of China's southernmost island province of Hainan on Dec. 26, 2008. The Chinese naval fleet including two destroyers and a supply ship from the South China Sea Fleet set off on Friday for  waters off Somalia for an escort mission against piracy. (Xinhua/Zha Chunming)

Roughly eight hundred seamen saluted crowds as they departed China's southernmost naval port in Sanya on Hainan island. Among the crew are 70 special forces troops who are trained to neutralize pirates in the event of an onboard attack.

The primary mission of the two destroyers, Wuhan and Haikou, and the supply vessel Weishanhu, is to join the multi-national efforts to patrol one of the world's busiest marine routes.

Rear-Admiral Du jingchen, Mission Commander, said, "We will escort some ships, and remain close at hand for others, depending on the different materials they carry. As for those with important materials, we will put personnel on board to protect the ships and crew."

Haikou, one of the most sophisticated PLA Navy destroyers, has both air and underwater defensive capability with a phased-array radar and a vertically launched long-range air defense missile system. The ship's defense capabilities were designed by Chinese engineers.

The multi-purpose missile destroyer Wuhan, the flagship, is equipped with 16 anti-ship missiles, 48 surface-to-air missiles, a close-in weapons system and a helicopter.

The most versatile supply vessel in service, the Weishanhu is able to conduct 24/7 replenishment to the others on short notice.

The mission commander says the crew of the three vessels are quite experienced. He says they have made complete preparations to face the challenges of the mission.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei