Type 071 Yuzhao

China's 25,000-tonne amphibious transport dock, built to carry marines, vehicles, helicopters and air-cushion landing craft from home waters to regional and far-seas operations.

Overview

The Type 071, assigned the NATO reporting name Yuzhao, is the People's Liberation Army Navy's principal class of amphibious transport dock. Built by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding in Shanghai, the class combines a floodable well deck, vehicle storage, troop accommodation, helicopter hangars and a large flight deck in a hull of approximately 25,000 tonnes at full load. Its scale and mission broadly resemble those of the US Navy's San Antonio-class LPD, according to USNI Proceedings.

Eight Type 071s entered Chinese service between 2007 and 2020. They provide the medium amphibious tier beneath China's larger Type 075 and Type 076 ships, while retaining utility for sealift, disaster relief, evacuation, counter-piracy and naval diplomacy. A typical ship can carry a marine battalion, heavy vehicles, helicopters and Type 726 air-cushion landing craft, allowing personnel and equipment to move ashore without relying exclusively on a functioning port.

Thailand operates the sole export derivative, the Type 071E HTMS Chang. The export establishes the design as more than a PLAN-only class, but no second foreign customer has been confirmed. Although the Type 071 substantially expanded China's expeditionary options, the class alone does not provide enough lift for a major cross-strait campaign; such an operation would still depend heavily on other naval auxiliaries, civilian shipping and sustained control of the surrounding air and sea approaches.

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