According to information published by Chinamil on January 16, 2022, the 40th Chinese naval escort taskforce set sail from a military port in Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province, heading for the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters to replace the 39th escort task force.
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Type 052D destroyer Hohhot in Zhanjiang (Picture source: Chinamil)
The escort fleet is composed of guided-missile destroyer Hohhot (Hull 161), guided-missile frigate Yueyang (Hull 575), and comprehensive supply ship Luomahu (Hull 907), carrying two shipborne helicopters and more than 700 servicemembers including dozens of special operation troops. This is the first time for destroyer Hohhot to carry out an escort mission.
During the preparatory period, the escort fleet had conducted targeted training exercises covering the anti-terrorism and anti-piracy as well as replenishment-at-sea operations.
Luomahu (964) is a Type 903A replenishment ship of the People's Liberation Army Navy. She was launched on 5 June 2015 at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai and commissioned on 15 July 2016 into the South Sea Fleet.
The Type 903 replenishment ship entered service with the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy in 2003.
After two units were completed, a pair of slightly modified units designated as Type 903A followed, and the main difference between Type 903 and Type 903A is that the displacement of the latter is increased to 23,000 tons from the original 20,500 tons.
