Type 037 series Part 3: Type 037IS - Product Improvements for the Post-Cold War Era

[Admiral_Aruon 2,264]

this is part of what was originally going to be a massive suggestion for the entirety of the Type 037 family of Corvettes, their sometimes confusingly named variants, and most modern incarnation in the Project 206... however this is a subject simply too large for a single suggestion, so i'm going to milk this for a whole series of suggestions to give each class/variant its own time to shine

 

with that said, this is a suggestion for the third; and arguably most defining model; of what might become half a dozen suggestions:

 

This is the Type 037IS (NATO reporting name: Haiqing-class),

the Qiuxin Shipyard mass produced model of the Type 037I subseries, the defining model of the family as a more general purpose ship, and the last to feature an all-gun armament.

 

昌黎 / Changli (614)

 

additionally this features Type 037IS ships from other navies as well:

 

පරාක්‍රමබාහු / SLNS Parakramabahu (P351) of Sri Lanka

 

Daures (C12) in the foreground, and Brukkaros (C13) in the background, of Namibia, 2017

 

Mwitongo (P77) and Msoga (P78) of Tanzania

Msoga upon commissioning, 2015

 

 

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DESIGN:

 

Fundamentally the Type 037IS is the mass-produced counterpart to the Type 037I, reusing the same exact lengthened hull as the Type 037I, but with different gun and electronics armament for a different and much less tense era. As the threat of WWIII ended with the collapse of the Soviet Union and end of the Cold War, the needs of every major military on earth faced a complete paradigm shift, now focusing more on intervention in smaller-scale regional conflicts rather than all-out total war vs an entire bloc. With China and the PLAN, this would lead to the last member of the Type 037 family with a large mass production number- the Type 037IS (NATO reporting name: Haiqing-class), produced by Qiuxin Shipyard starting in 1993.

 

unlike the base model Type 037, the 037IS is intended more as a general purpose escort/corvette/patrol boat with more limited capabilities as a submarine hunter, but also unlike the limited production Type 037I/ID, has an electronics suite and armament that is NOT total overkill in both combat capability and likely costs as well... 30mm remote controlled/automated twin gatling guns aren't exactly cheap.

 

The Type 037IS is the last of the Type 037 family along with the 037 and 037I to be designated a submarine hunter.

 

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HISTORY:

 

for the Type 037IS in China, there's really not much history to speak of. they have been in a few movies and done routine patrols for the past 20-25 years, and most are still in service today. that's about it.

for Namibia and Tanzania, it's much the same as their duties are for anti-smuggling and anti-piracy patrols.

 

 

for Sri Lanka of all nations however, it's an entirely different story. the SLNS Parakramabahu REALLY got the short end of the stick.

unlike the African operators of the class, Sri Lanka commissioned the PRC to build Parakramabahu as part of the goal of enhancing the blue water capability of their navy, and intended to purchase another couple of ships but never went through with it, likely due to financial constraints... which also likely explains how the effective service life of the ship was really only about 3 years, as major repairs were put off again and again.

 

Parakramabahu would serve as the flagship of Sri Lankan navy as of 1996, and patrolled the coastline with the 7th Surveillance Command Squadron.

As the on-again off-again Sri Lankan Civil War flared up again, SLNS Parakramabahu would move to anti-smuggling and surveillance patrols and would remain active for as long as it could until something broke down... and something critical was apparently always breaking down, though it did somehow manage to see combat in the 1997 Battle of the Coast of Mullaitivu.

after this, the ever-increasing breakdowns and requirement of an escort to go anywhere, Parakramabahu became less of an asset and more of a giant floating doorstop, to the point where it was entirely immobile by 2000 in the Sri Lanka naval base SLNS Dakshina in the port and tourist town of Galle.

 

four years and a whopping zero operations later, the Parakramabahu would be sunk by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, and soon refloated... but not really repaired.

It would be sunk again for the final time in 2006 when explosives-laden LTTE suicide boats showed up out of nowhere in what became the known as the Attack on Galle Harbour, Parakramabahu was one of the ships hit and sunk.

 

___________________________________________________________________________

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS:

 

Displacement (normal): 478 long tons 

Displacement (maximum): 490 long tons 

 

Length: 62.8 meters - the 037I and 037IS were design-wise just slightly lengthened 037s, width remained the same, draft could get to slightly more with the extra weight

Width: 7.2 meters

Draft: 2.24 meters

 

Propulsion: 4x 12VE230ZC diesel engines, producing 2200 horsepower each for 8800 hp (6,562 kW), powering 4 shafts for a top speed of 28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph)

the extra weight of the 037I and 037IS took a couple knots off the original ~30 knot top speeds of the base model Type 037 

 

so this one was difficult for seemingly no reason thanks to sources. practically every source states something different about horsepower figures. from as low as 4000 hp which makes no damn sense at all and is clearly incorrect as there's no change in engines, and also which is just rounded down from the 4400 hp stated by another source- which itself is half of the actual figure of the original four 2200 hp 12VE230ZC diesel engines.

additionally, the chinese site war.163.com (bottom link in sources section) which both sources from NetEase Military, and even refers to the PLA in the 1st person (with statements like "our army") automatically making it more credible than pretty much any other source just by association, states:

 

Spoiler

original chinese:

 

从苏联引进生产的40Д型中速柴油机。该机型的国产化型号为12VE230ZC型中速柴油机，1962年由沪东造船厂和上海汽轮机厂同时开始试制，两厂的样机均于1966年通过鉴定，最后决定定点在上海汽轮机厂生产，规划年生产力为50台。12VE230ZC型中速柴油机功率达1617kW（2,200hp），转速750转／分，037型反潜护卫艇以4台该型机作为主机，可以达到30节以上的最大航速。1980年，该型机改进为12VE230ZC－I型中速柴油机，除降低燃油消耗率达5％之外，还装有电遥控装置，可以实现遥控操纵，有效减轻了轮机兵的值守工作强度。

 

translated to english:

 

The 40Д medium-speed diesel engine imported and produced from the Soviet Union. The localized model of this model is the 12VE230ZC medium-speed diesel engine. In 1962, the Hudong Shipyard and Shanghai Turbine Factory began trial production at the same time. The prototypes of the two plants passed the appraisal in 1966, and finally decided to fix the production in Shanghai Turbine Factory. The annual production capacity is 50 units. The 12VE230ZC medium-speed diesel engine has a power of 1617kW (2,200hp) and a speed of 750 rpm. The Type 037 anti-submarine escort ship uses 4 of this type as the main engine, and can reach a maximum speed of more than 30 knots. In 1980, this type of machine was improved to a 12VE230ZC-I medium-speed diesel engine. In addition to reducing fuel consumption by 5%, it was also equipped with an electric remote control device, which can realize remote control, which effectively reduces the intensity of the crew on duty.

 

 

yet the fact that just about every source DOES agree that the max speed of the class in 28 knots, leads me to believe that the Type 037IS actually retains the original quartet of 2200 horsepower 12VE230ZC diesel engines

 

Range: 1700 nmi at 18 knots

 

Crew: 70-71

 

___________________________________________________________________________

ARMAMENT:

unlike the original Type 037 and the 037I, the 037IS has gun armament much easier to work with that the open top twin 57mm (which was prone to mechanical issues) and 37mm armament of the base model 037, and i'm fairly certain FAR cheaper than the 30mm autocannons of the 037I. this armament going forward with become the standard gun armament on the Type 037G, and Type 037II Guided Missile Escorts, and partially on the final incarnation of the design in the Type 206 Gunboat.

 

additionally, the main armament apparently changed in variations depending on how early or late that particular ship was produced.

 

2x2 Type 76 open top autocannons - Early Model

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_76_twin_37_mm_naval_gun

https://web.archive.org/web/20160209103038/http://www.haijun360.com/news/JFP/2010/813/1081322427GE8KAACJ94K91DDH4HI3.html 

The original Type 76 37mm paired autocannons are effectively just a select-fire Type 65, AKA the Chinese copy of the Soviet V-11 (which we have ingame) that is intended to be fired in fully auto with a fire rate of ~400 RPM, but retaining semiauto capability as a backup. these are clearly seen by the retaining of the original open top turret as seen below on the Jinjiang

- 锦江 / Jinjiang (712) seen with Type 76 cannons

 

 

2x2 Type Type 76A automated autocannons - Midlife Model

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_76_twin_37_mm_naval_gun#Type_76A - 

 

the Type 76A version is technically an improvement over the Type 76F by being automatic-only (no option for semiauto firing), fully automated (hence the lack of select-fire), and has an optronic Fire Control System (seen on both the 76F and 76A models), but the Type 76A is also linked to the ship's radar FCS, making this pair of 37mm autocannons particularly dangerous against aircraft as they can lock on to, and track them.

 

the only arguable drawback from the 76F model to the 76A is that the Type 76A guns have a fire rate of 300-375 RPM per barrel compared to the Type 76 and 76Fs 400 RPM, but what has consistently held the 76A back is just simply the cost of the system, being far more expensive than the 76F which has since instead become a mainstay of the PLAN.

 

Huagyan (743), hard to see but the main turrets are clearly circular, and not the rounded square shape of the Type 76F turret

Msoga - formerly the 胶南 / Jiaonan (711), much more clearly showing the rounded Type 76A turret

 

 

2x2 Type Type 76F manned autocannons - Late Model

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_76_twin_37_mm_naval_gun#Type_76F

https://web.archive.org/web/20160110003737/http://www.haijun360.com/news/JFP/2011/716/1171622142955KA101A4CC3203EEDDK.html

The Type 76F is the last variant used, and the version which has effective become the standard 37mm cannon for the PLAN as a whole despite being older and less advanced than the 76A.

it was the first variant of the Type 76 cannon to be in a fully enclosed 1-man turret, which has the intended benefit of making aiming easier, and more sophisticated electronics like an optronic FCS be integrated, but also has the oh so simple but oh so key feature of just keeping the sea spray away from the gun breeches- this being the main issue that caused the Type 66 57mm cannons of the Type 037 and 037I series to be ditched in the first place, as they frequently broke down and were an ever-present nuisance for maintenance partially because of parts corroding due to being exposed to the sea spray and salty air all the time.

 

 - 昌黎 / Changli (614) with the Type 76F turret

 

 

secondary armament on all models is 2x2 Type 69 14.5mm MGs, mounted on dual mounts on the superstructure fore and aft of the bridge

https://web.archive.org/web/20150505080601/http://www.haijun360.com/news/JFP/2010/109/1010921115909KJCC6J7HIC5567218H.html

 

Electronics:

 

Type 723 surface search radar

Thomson-Sintra medium frequency SS-12 VDS sonar (Chinese-produced copy)

 

Explosives:

 

as seen on the Changli (614) seen above, there are two sets of FQF-3200 6-tube anti-submarine rocket launchers, launching the 252mm Type 81 Rocket Depth Bomb 

Spoiler

translated from chinese hence the grammar issues:

"1981 modified 252 mm anti-submarine The rocket deep bomb weighs 71 kilograms, the warhead weighs 32 kilograms, and the explosion depth is 0-300 meters. There are two launch distances, that is, it can not only shoot long-range (3000 meters), but also hit short-range underwater targets (about 60 meters), thereby significantly expanding its range"

 

https://web.archive.org/web/20160702142531/http://www.haijun360.com/news/FQSD/2010/99/109922265465E873C1F2GDIEA866IG.html

 

with ships in PLAN service, Type 037IS ships allegedly retain the pair of mine launching rails from the 037 and 037I, and as seen in the below spoilered pictures of Xiaoshan (762) and Huangyan (743) shows, i THINK that's what that single rail at the far back left is for. I can't be sure though. sources that talk about the design of the class all mention that it's more limited as an anti-submarine vessel than the previous models.

Spoiler

 

 

___________________________________________________________________________

ARMAMENT VARIATIONS IN FOREIGN SERVICE:

 

as the Type 037 formerly/currently serves in China, Sri Lanka, Namibia, and Tanzania, there are some mild variations (electronic suites are all identical AFAIK):

 

SLNS Parakramabahu, Sri Lanka -

2x2 Type 76F main guns

2x2 Type 69 secondary MGs

2 to 4 FQF-3200 6-tube anti-submarine rocket launchers - I have no pictures that show this, but i can believe the claim of 4 ASRLs as Parakramabahu was active for a time during the Sri Lankan Civil War.

2 BMB-2 depth charge mortars

2 depth charge racks 

2 mine laying racks

apparently the the Parakramabahu retained the full ordinance options of the earlier 037 and 037I as the Sri Lanka Civil War was ongoing. 

 

 

NS Daures and Brukkaros - Namibia

2x2 Type 76F main guns

2x2 Type 69 secondary MGs

2 to 4 FQF-3200 6-tube anti-submarine rocket launchers - possibly an extra pair of FQF-3200s were used in its short but hectic actual service life

as the NS Daures and Brukkaros are formerly the Wanning and Ledong respectively, they are identical in function to the Chinese-service ships. also supports the claim that the Type 037IS as standard did not retain DCTs, DCRs, or minelaying equipment.

 

 

Mwitongo and Msoga - Tanzania

2x2 Type 76F main guns

2x2 Type 69 secondary MGs

as the Mwitongo and Msoga are formerly the Jimo and Jiaonan respectively, they are identical in function to the Chinese-service ships- save for the ASRLs specifically being left off, completely removing any ASW capability.

 

___________________________________________________________________________

SOURCES (that aren't just about the guns):

if anyone has sources from some book source that covers this ship class (any language) can you please let me know? i've never been comfortable with relying solely on sometimes sketchy websites.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_037_corvette#Type_037I_Haiqing-class_submarine_chaser

https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/037型反潜护卫艇#037IS型反潜护卫艇

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SLNS_Parakramabahu_(P351)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NS_Daures

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NS_Brukkaros

 

http://www.navypedia.org/ships/china/ch_cf_710.htm

http://www.navypedia.org/ships/sri_lanka/srl_cf_parakramabahu.htm

http://www.navypedia.org/ships/namibia/nam_cf_daures.htm

http://www.navypedia.org/ships/tanzania/tan_cf_mwitongo.htm

 

https://web.archive.org/web/20160107114947/http://www.haijun360.com/news/LQJ/2011/611/11611155612F8EKDAE70JB1DKF5FD0J.html

 

https://web.archive.org/web/20101123015627/http://www.sinodefence.com/navy/littoral/type037is_haiqing.asp

 

https://war.163.com/09/0725/19/5F3DSQAF00011232_2.html - a little before halfway through page 2

Edited October 6, 2020 by Admiral_Aruon
edits, revisions

[leroyonly 4,311]

Open for discussion. 

[Milocat 4,857]

Nice finds, I'd like to see these in a future Chinese naval tree.  +1.