Among Korea, China, and Japan, the largest guided missile destroyer is the 'Nanchang'

Among the destroyers of Korea, China, and Japan, the Type 055 guided missile destroyer boasts the largest size. The Chinese Navy's Type 055 guided missile destroyer, with a full load displacement estimated between 12,000 and 13,000 tons, is the largest destroyer among those possessed by Korea, China, and Japan. Photo by Chinese Ministry of National Defense

[Military Analyst Kim Daeyoung] On January 13th, a grand commissioning ceremony was held at a naval base located in Shandong Province, China, for the lead ship of the Type 055 guided-missile destroyer, the ‘Nanchang.’ The Nanchang, with an estimated full load displacement?meaning the weight of the ship fully ready for operation?of 12,000 to 13,000 tons, boasts the largest size among destroyers possessed by China, South Korea, and Japan.

Deployed in the 1st Destroyer Division of the Northern Theater Command Navy of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, the Nanchang’s ship name is also very special. The name ‘Nanchang’ (南昌) means ‘prosperous southern city’ and is well known as the capital of Jiangxi Province in China.

Notably, Nanchang is deeply connected with the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese People's Liberation Army. On August 1, 1927, the Chinese Communist Party launched a large-scale armed uprising in Nanchang, and this day is commemorated as the founding day of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. The ship’s name itself shows the high expectations the Chinese military places on the Nanchang.

The development of the Type 055 guided-missile destroyer dates back to the late 1960s. In February 1968, the Chinese Naval Committee submitted a construction report for an ocean-going escort ship?that is, a large destroyer?to the Central Military Commission, the highest military leadership body managing the Chinese military. This plan was later codenamed ‘055.’

However, at that time, China’s warship manufacturing technology faced many difficulties in producing the Type 055 large destroyer. In particular, it was impossible to develop gas turbine engines, which are used as the ship’s power and propulsion systems, domestically. Therefore, in the late 1970s, China attempted joint production by contacting Rolls-Royce in the UK and GKN (Gamet Kawasaki) in Sweden, but these efforts ended in failure.

As a result, the development and construction of the Type 055 large destroyer were stalled for a considerable period. However, in early 2014, near Wuhan City?recently famous due to COVID-19?large warship superstructures were discovered, leading to speculation that China was redeveloping the Type 055 large destroyer. On June 28, 2017, the first Type 055 guided-missile destroyer was launched at Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai, China.

Following this, construction began on three more ships in 2018. The Type 055 guided-missile destroyer, with a length of 180 meters, carries over 300 crew members and is equipped with a Chinese version of the Aegis combat system. It is the first Chinese destroyer to adopt an integrated mast housing advanced sensors and communication antennas. Its armaments include one 130mm naval gun, a close-in weapon system for intercepting anti-ship missiles, and 112 vertical launch system (VLS) cells. Additionally, it can carry two helicopters. Due to its 112 VLS cells, it is known as one of the world’s most powerful destroyers in terms of offensive capability. The VLS cells can be loaded with surface-to-air missiles as well as cruise missiles capable of striking land targets.

In the future, the Chinese military plans to build and deploy 20 Type 055 guided-missile destroyers, which are expected to form carrier strike groups alongside domestically produced aircraft carriers. Moreover, the fact that the Nanchang was initially deployed in the area adjacent to the Yellow Sea serves as a significant warning to South Korea.