Vietnam Navy Gepard class frigate Quang Trung to join drills with China.

According to information published by Vietnam Net on November 9, 2023, Vietnam's frigate 016-Quang Trung, accompanied by a delegation from the Vietnam People’s Navy (VPN), departed from Cam Ranh military port on November 8 for Guangdong province, China. The voyage is part of the Peace and Friendship 2023 joint exercise and includes a visit to Hong Kong.
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Vietnamese Gepard class frigate Quang Trung. (Picture source: Indian Navy)

The Gepard class frigate, used by the Vietnamese navy, has a standard displacement of 1,500 tons, which increases to 1,930 tons when fully loaded. The frigate's overall length is 102.14 meters, with a waterline length of 93.5 meters, a beam of 13.09 meters, and a draught of 5.3 meters.

It is powered by a two-shaft Combined Diesel Or Gas (CODOG) system, which includes two gas turbines, each producing 29,300 shp (21,800 kW), and a Type 61D Diesel engine generating 8,000 bhp (6,000 kW), along with three 600 kW diesel alternator sets. This propulsion system enables the frigate to reach a top speed of 28 knots.

The Gepard class frigate has a range of 4,000 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 10 knots and can sustain operations for up to 15 days. It is manned by a crew of 98 personnel.

The frigate is equipped with various sensors and processing systems, including a navigation radar of an unspecified type, Cross Dome surface and air search radar, Pop Group SA-N-4 fire control radar, Bass Stand cruise missile target designator, and Bass Tilt AK-630 fire-control system. For underwater detection, it utilizes medium-frequency hull-mounted and towed variable depth sonar.

In terms of electronic warfare and decoy capabilities, the Guepard class frigate is equipped with two Bell Shroud passive intercept systems, two Bell Squat jammers, and four 16-barreled Pk-16 countermeasure rocket launchers.

The frigate's armament includes eight SS-N-25 Switchblade Anti-Ship missiles with two quadruple launchers, one Palma (Kashtan export variant) gun/missile system, one 76.2 mm 59-caliber AK–176 automatic dual-purpose gun with a 500-round magazine, and two 6-barreled 30 mm AK-630 point-defense guns, each with a 2,000-round magazine.