The 38th escort fleet of Chinese Navy departs to carry escort missions in Gulf of Aden.

According to information released by the Chinese Ministry of Defense on May 15, 2021, the 38th escort fleet of the Chinese Navy on Saturday, May 15, 2021, left a military port in Zhoushan, east China's Zhejiang Province, for the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somali to escort civilian ships.
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Chinese Navy Yangzhou 578 Type 054A frigate is one of the ships of the 38th escort fleet. (Picture source People Daily China)

The Chinese Navy began to carry out escort missions in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia in December 2008.

The fleet is composed of the guided-missile destroyer Nanjing, the missile frigate Yangzhou, and supply ship Gaoyouhu, with dozens of special operation soldiers and two helicopters on board. This is the first time for the Nanjing to join an escort mission.

The Nanjing (155) is a Type 052D guided missile destroyer built by the Jiangnan Shipyard for the Chinese Navy. The ship was launched in December 2015 and commissioned in April 2018. The ship is armed with one 130 mm naval gun, one HQ-10 short-range SAM (Surface-to-Air Missile) 24-cell launcher, 64 cell VLS (Vertical Launching System) able to launch HHQ-9 SAM Surface-to-Air missile, YJ-18 SSM (Surface-To-surface) missile, CY-5 ASW anti-submarine warfare, and one Type 730 CIWS(Close-In Weapon System). This is the first time for the Nanjing to join an escort mission.

The Yangzhou (578) is a Type 054A frigate of the Chinese Navy that was commissioned on 21 September 2015. The Type 054A carries HQ-16 medium-range air defense missiles and anti-submarine missiles in a vertical launching system (VLS) system. The HQ-16 has a range of up to 50 km, with superior range and engagement angles to the Type 054's HQ-7.

The Gaoyouhu (966) is a Type 903A replenishment ship of the Chinese Navy which was commissioned in January 2016. The ship is able to carry 10,500 tons of fuel oil, 250 tons of fresh water, 680 tons of cargo, and ammunition.