In the late 1960s, China began testing its long-range rockets for the Chinese space program, as well as the ICBM program. The People's Liberation Army Navy operated only four ex-Soviet Gnevny class destroyers (Anshan class in PLAN service) at the time, which were unsuitable for long-range ocean recovery missions. The 701 institute was instructed to develop China's first indigenous guided missile destroyer, modelled after the Soviet Kotlin class. The design was approved in 1967, and construction of the first Type 051 Luda class destroyer began in 1968.
A total of 17 Type 051 destroyers were built between 1968 and 1991. 15 remain in service today. Major refit for ships of this class began in 1990s, replacing the old HY-1/HY-2 with YJ-83 (C-803) missile, and manual guns with automatic guns. For air-defense, an 8-cell HQ-7 Surface-to-air missile system is also installed with the upgrade.
| Type 051 Luda class | |
|---|---|
| Builders: | Luda Shipyard Zhonghua Shipyard Dalian Shipyard |
| Operators: |  People's Liberation Army Navy |
| Succeeded by: | Type 052 |
| In service: | December 1971 |
| Completed: | 17 |
| Active: | Yinchuan, Xining, Kaifeng, Dalian, Nanjing, Hefei Chongqing, Zunyi, Nanning, Nanchang, Guilin Zhanjiang, Zhuhai |
| Retired: | Jinan, Xi'an, Changsha |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 3,670 tons |
| Length: | 132 m |
| Beam: | 12.8 m |
| Draught: | 4.6 m |
| Propulsion: | 2 steam turbines 72,000 shp (53,700 kW) |
| Speed: | 32 knots (59 km/h) |
| Range: | 2,970 miles |
| Complement: | 280 |
| Armament: | Note: Aramaments listed are for latest 051 modernized variant 16 anti-ship missiles 8 surface-to-air missiles + 16 spare (manual reload) 2 twin-barrel 130 mm dual purpose guns 4 Type 76A dual-37 mm anti-aircraft guns 2 Type 75 anti-submarine rocket systems 6 torpedo tubes Depth charges 38 naval mines |
| Aircraft carried: | 1-2 helicopters: Harbin Z-9C ASW/SAR (Ship #105 Luda-II only) |
| Aviation facilities: | Hangar and flight deck Landing assistance system |
