Three Type 055 Destroyers Head to South China Sea for Six-Day Naval Exercise

Amidst rising tensions in the South China Sea, three of China’s 10,000-ton large destroyers and other vessels are conducting several days of combat training, including simulations where these large destroyers serve as supply ships.

After arriving in the target area, a training fleet from the Southern Theater Command Navy, consisting of three Type 055 missile destroyers (Xianyang, Zunyi, and Yan’an), and the Type 052C missile destroyer Haikou, along with several other main battle ships, began rapid maneuvers and took advantageous positions to form a comprehensive defensive formation. All combat systems were put into a first-level combat deployment, and precise strikes were carried out on surface targets.

After neutralizing surface threats, multiple unidentified aerial targets were detected approaching. The fleet prepared to counterattack. The warships quickly adjusted their formations and organized a coordinated defense against the enemy targets. Upon successfully shooting down the targets, the carrier-based helicopters took off to conduct joint training with the fleet.

The exercise lasted six days and five nights. During this period, the three Type 055 large destroyers also conducted simulated at-sea replenishment training, comprehensively testing the ships’ wartime replenishment capabilities. The Xianyang acted as a supply ship to replenish the other two large destroyers, creating a scenario where the three Type 055 destroyers sailed side by side. The Type 055 is China’s first 10,000-ton displacement destroyer.