China Bares PLA's Type 075-Class Amphibious Landing Helicopter Assault Ship

A Chinese military website has recently released photos of a model of China's new Type 075-class amphibious landing helicopter assault ship, as reported by Phoenix Television on July 12.

According to the report, the Type 075-class amphibious landing helicopter assault ship has a displacement of 40,000 tons, with four take-off and landing spots dedicated to helicopters. The ship was also built with a huge well deck below the hanger of the vessel, which was designed to carry an unknown number of inflatable landing craft.

The report said that the ship has a similar appearance to the 25,000-ton amphibious landing helicopter assault ship that was displayed at the International Defence Exhibition held at Abu Dhabi in 2012.

But the ship at the Abu Dhabi exhibition was designed primarily for the overseas market, the report added, while the 40,000-ton vessel is being developed for the PLA Navy.

Using the Type 075-class amphibious landing helicopter assault ship, China can now have the ability to launch various types of helicopters to attack naval vessels, enemy ground forces, and submarines in either the East or South China Sea.

The new ship would also allow the Chinese government to carry out amphibious warfare in the two regions and may even serve as command vessel to coordinate the operations of PLA ground, air and naval forces.

According to the Phoenix Television, showing the model of the Type 075 indicates that construction of the vessel has already begun and may soon appear in a shipyard in the country.

China continues to build its navy fleet by building more vessels. In June, the government launched the Type 903A replenishment ships at a Shanghai shipyard operated by the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Co.

The new Type 903A, called the "Super Nanny," is considered the country's newest integrated supply ship, which has a length of 178.5 meters, width of 24.8 meters, and a displacement of more than 23,000 tons.