Chinese military’s first Type 075 amphibious assault ship begins sea trial
- Videos and photos show the country’s first large landing helicopter dock vessel leaving its shipyard in Shanghai
- Type 075 could improve the navy’s ability to project air and ground forces in small-scale missions
The 40,000-tonne helicopter carrier on Wednesday sailed out of the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai along the Huangpu River, passing its sister ship – the second Type 075, being fitted out in the same shipyard – according to witness videos and photos circulating online.
The ship was launched last September. A fire broke out in April while it was being fitted out, producing heavy smoke covering the ship’s superstructure and stern gate before it was extinguished.
Type 075 is the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s (PLAN’s) first large landing helicopter dock (LHD) vessel, on a par with the US’ America class and Wasp class, although the PLAN does not yet have any vertical take-off jets to use the 075 as a light aircraft carrier.
However, as Asia’s largest LHD, the Type 075 will be able to carry 30 helicopters, from the ship version of the Z-8 to the naval Z-20, as well as a number of amphibious tanks, armoured vehicles, jet boats and hundreds of marine troops.
