Chinese Destroyer, Frigate Sail To Somalian Coast For Their First Escort Mission

Two Chinese warships have begun a journey toward the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia. In their first-ever escort mission, the destroyer Suzhou, and frigate Nantong set sail from Zhejiang province Wednesday.

A statement by the Eastern Theatre Command said the ships are sailing with the 41st fleet of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), reported South China Morning Post.

"The fleet is composed of the Suzhou, an improved version of the Type 052D guided-missile destroyer, guided-missile frigate the Nantong, and the supply ship Chaohu, with two helicopters and dozens of special-operations soldiers on board," the statement added.

China began sending ships for escort missions in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia in December 2008 to fight pirates there. The move had then marked a major shift in the naval policy of Beijing, and its first active deployment outside the Pacific region.

As part of their mission, the Suzhou and the Nantong also took part in a mock drill, which included joint search and rescue, anti-terror and anti-piracy drills, and mock rescues of hijacked merchant ships.

The Type 052D, an equivalent of the U.S. Navy’s Arleigh-Burke class destroyers, is equipped with advanced radars and electronics comparable to the U.S. Aegis system. The destroyer also has a 64-cell vertical missile launcher.

According to the Chinese Navy, Suzhou, with hull number 132, first appeared in a maritime exercise in March last year. The vessel can carry out maritime offensive and defensive operations alone or along with other naval forces. Besides, it also boasts strong, long-range warning and regional air defense capabilities.

As for the Nantong, it can take part in air defense, sea and shore strikes, as well as maritime patrol, warning, and escort tasks, according to the statement.

In 2017, China had gone on record claiming its forces rescued a freighter from attack by pirates in the Gulf of Aden. Beijing had then claimed that the operation "demonstrated the effectiveness of China’s naval forces in the field of fighting against pirates, as well as China’s image as a responsible major country in safeguarding regional peace and stability."

However, Beijing's claims were then questioned by news reports which mentioned China intentionally omitted the Indian Navy's participation in the mission. The Indian Navy was reportedly involved in the mission by dispatching four ships and a helicopter to provide cover for the action.