List of active landing craft of the People's Liberation Army Navy is a list of landing craft currently in service with the People's Liberation Army Navy. The landing craft are primarily operated from large amphibious warfare ships such as the Type 071 amphibious transport docks of the PLAN. They are designed to transport troops and equipment from ship to shore.[1]
Landing craft in service[]
| Class | Picture | Type | Quantity | Displacement | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landing craft (171 in Service) | |||||
| Project 1232.2 Zubr |  |
Air-cushioned landing craft (LCAC) | 1 | 555 tonnes | 3 more under construction |
| Type 726 Yuyi | Air-cushioned landing craft (LCAC) | Unknown | 160 tonnes | Carried by Type 071 amphibious transport dock | |
| Type 722-II Jinsha II | Air-cushioned landing craft (LCAC) | Unknown | 70 tonnes | ||
| Type 724 | Air-cushioned landing craft (LCAC) | 30 | 7 tonnes | ||
| Type 067 Yunnan | Landing craft utility (LCU) | 120 | 135 tonnes | ||
| Type 068/069 Yuch'in | Landing craft mechanized (LCM) | 20 | 58 tonnes | ||
Air-cushioned landing craft (LCAC)[]
The Type 724 design is the mainstay of the PLAN hovercraft fleet. This is a small craft capable of speeds of up to 40 knots. Crewed by two or three, the design only permits ten infantry to be carried. The Type 724 operates primarily from the Yuting and Yukan class LSTs (each ship carrying two-four of these LCVPs). Although unable to carry larger numbers of infantry or any vehicles, the Type 724 nonetheless provides the PLAN with valuable experience in cushion deployments from amphibious ships far from shore. Its high speed and small size makes it a hard target to attack, and is ideal to insert small bands of marines or special forces. A second type was the Type 722II, a large indigenous design built in 1989 and the first to operate indigenously designed gas turbine engines. This craft could carry 100 infantry or 15 tons of cargo. It was retired from service in 2001. There are plans to develop an LCAC class that would be large enough to carry tanks and vehicles from large landing ships. The navy has also expressed great interest in the acquisition of Russian air cushion assault transports, particularly the Zubr class that could lift tanks and infantry.
See also[]
References[]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The original article can be found at List of active landing craft of the People's Liberation Army Navy and the edit history here.