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Chinese built Type 071E LPD for Thailand completes sea trials.
According to a tweet published by Ryan Chan on December 7, 2022, the future Royal Thai Navy's Type 071E amphibious transport dock (or LPD), built by Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding, has successfully completed sea trials recently.
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Future Royal Thai Navy's Type 71E amphibious transport dock. (Picture source: Weibo)
The Type 071 (NATO reporting name: Yuzhao) is a class of Chinese amphibious transport dock ships in service with the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).
The amphibious warfare ship features a vehicle deck, well-deck, landing deck, and hangar. It can carry a combination of marines, vehicles, landing craft, and helicopters.
The ship may embark 600 to 800 troops. The stern helicopter deck offers two landing spots for supporting the operations of two Z-8 (SA 321 Super Frelon) transport helicopters.
The twin-door cantilever hangar can house up to four Z-8 helicopters. The well deck houses up to four Type 726 air-cushioned landing craft, which can transfer vehicles or marines to the shore at high speed. The LCAC is launched by flooding the docking area. The vessel can also carry landing craft on port/starboard davits.
The vehicle deck can house amphibious assault vehicles including the ZBD05 amphibious IFV and the ZTD-05 amphibious light tank. The stern ramp, two side doors, and ramps allow rapid loading of the vehicles and equipment.
Type 071 is armed with one 76 mm gun and four 30 mm close-in weapon systems.AK-176 76 mm (3.0 in) gun, four AK-630 30 mm (1.2 in) Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), and four 18-tube Type 726-4 decoy/chaff launchers.