TIL Desk/World/Beijing-Rapidly expanding its naval fleet, China has commissioned its 31st stealth warship as it got its battle group under its first aircraft carrier ready amid tensions with the US and other nations over its assertiveness in the disputed South China Sea.
The People’s Liberation Army Navy has commissioned its 31st Type-056 class corvette, marking a new addition to the world’s largest fleet of modern corvettes, official media reported.
With a maximum speed of 52 km/h, the ship features good manoeuvrability, a high-level of automation and stealth capability, and is capable of hitting aircraft, ships and submarines, the official organ of the Chinese military said.
The CNS Ezhou with a hull number of 513 was delivered to the East Sea Fleet in a naval base in East China’s Fujian province. The ship will perform coastal patrol, fishery escort, anti-submarine and anti-ship operations.
It is the second ship that has been commissioned to the PLA Navy since the start of 2017, following the CNS Kaiyangxing, a Type-815A class electronic reconnaissance ship, which now belongs to the North Sea Fleet.
