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China commissions its most sophisticated surface combatant

14th January 2020 - 10:21 GMT | by Gordon Arthur in Christchurch

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The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has commissioned the largest surface combatant ever built for China’s navy.

The first Type 055 guided-missile destroyer was commissioned in Qingdao on 12 January, on the same day that the PLAN also commissioned its first improved Type 052D destroyer.

The first-of-class Type 055 is called Nanchang and it carries the hull number ‘101’. Adm Shen Jinlong, commander of the PLAN, attended the commissioning ceremony that occurred a day after Taiwanese elections.

The US DoD actually classifies the Type 055 as a cruiser, although the PLAN prefers to call it a destroyer. Xinhua listed its displacement

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