China's 39th Type 056 Corvette (Jiangdao-class) Commissioned in PLAN North Sea Fleet.

The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN or Chinese Navy) commissioned the new Type 056 Corvette (Jiangdao class) Wuhai (hull number 540) during a ceremony in a North Sea Fleet naval base on Haiyang island (near Dalian where the PLAN 2nd aircraft carrier is at fitting out stage). Wuhai is the thirty-ninth Type 056 Corvette delivered to the PLAN fleet and the seventeenth Type 056A variant specialized in anti-submarine warfare (ASW).

Type 056A Corvette Wuhai during the commissioning ceremony

The vessel is the first corvette of the class to be commissioned this year. Wuhai was launched at the Liaonan Shipyard on September 12, 2016.

The Type 056A ASW variant features a towed array, dedicated ASW console and might be fitted with a new ASROC type system.

There are currently at least twelve more Type 056A and Type 056 corvettes at various stages of construction in Chinese naval shipyards. Latest rumors from China indicate that the PLAN could eventually operate as much as sixty Type 056 corvettes. This figure seems likely as the PLAN will soon commission fourty of these corvettes designed for the protection of Chinese maritime interests in its exclusive economic zones (EEZ) located 200 nautical miles from the coasts and for low-intensity conflicts.

Note: Like other media, we reported that the 36th (Guangyuan) and 37th (Suining) Type 056 corvettes were commissioned in November 2017. However, it appears that the corvette Xuancheng (hull number 535) was commisioned on September 26, 2017 and assigned to the East fleet. Nobody caught this information at the time... For this reason there are in fact 39 Type 056/056A in service with the PLAN today.

With information from our colleagues at Eastpendulum.

Video coverage of the commissioning ceremony

According to a Chinese MOD statement, Type 056 Corvettes are new-generation light guided missile frigates independently developed by China. It has a length of 89 meters, a beam of 11 meters and a full-load displacement of 1,500 tons.

The warship, independently developed, designed and constructed by China, is equipped with a variety of weapons and equipment, and is featured by good stealth performance, strong compatibility, and a wide range of applications of advanced technologies.

After commissioned to the PLAN, the warship will perform such missions as patrolling, alert, fishery protection, escort, antisubmarine operation and anti-surface operation.

Link to Type 056 Corvette (Jiangdao class) datasheet.