Seven PLAN Vessels Left for Sea of Japan for Large Joint Amphibious Drills with Russian Navy

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Naval Forces News - China
 
 
 
Seven PLAN Vessels Left for Sea of Japan for Large Joint Amphibious Drills with Russian Navy
 
Seven People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN or Chinese Navy) vessels on Saturday left east China's port city of Qingdao for the Sea of Japan where they will join Russian counterparts for a nine-day naval exercise. The drills, codenamed Joint Sea-2015 (II), will take place from Aug. 20 to 28 in the Peter the Great Gulf, waters off the Clerk Cape, and in and above the Sea of Japan. These maneuvers will for the first time involve a joint amphibious assault drill.
     
Taizhou, a destroyer from Chinese Navy, sets out for the Sea of Japan, also known as East Sea, on August 15, 2015, to join Russian counterparts for a 9-day naval exercise. [Photo: qq.com]
Taizhou, a destroyer from Chinese Navy, sets out for the Sea of Japan, also known as East Sea, on August 15, 2015, to join Russian counterparts for a 9-day naval exercise. [Photo: qq.com]

     
Sources close to the operation said the drills "are not targeted at any third party and are not relevant to regional status-quo."

The Chinese flotilla includes seven surface ships, namely:
Type 051C destroyer Shenyang (115)
Sovremennyy-class/Project 956EM destroyer Taizhou (138)
Type 054A frigate Linyi (547) and Hengyang (568)
Type 071 amphibious transport dock LPD Changbaishan
LCT-997 Yun Wushan
Type 903A replenishment ships Taihu (890).
     
The PLAN had two modified Sovremennyy destroyers delivered in December 1999 and November 2000. In 2002, the PLAN ordered two improved versions designated 956-EM. The first vessel was launched in late 2005, while the second was launched in 2006. Sovremennyy-class/Project 956EM destroyer Taizhou (138) is picture here. Japan MOD picture.
The PLAN had two modified Sovremennyy destroyers delivered in December 1999 and November 2000. In 2002, the PLAN ordered two improved versions designated 956-EM. The first vessel was launched in late 2005, while the second was launched in 2006. Sovremennyy-class/Project 956EM destroyer Taizhou (138) is picture here. Japan MOD picture.

     
Six shipborne helicopters, five fixed-wing aircraft, 21 units of amphibious equipment and 200 marines will also join the exercise from the Chinese side.

The Russian navy, meanwhile, will send 16 surface ships, two submarines, nine units of amphibious equipment and 200 marines, among others, to participate in the drills.

The previous China-Russia naval drills, Joint Sea-2015 (I), were held in the Mediterranean Sea in May.