Type 815 spy ship
Type 815 electronic surveillance ship (see: spy ship) and its derivative Type 815G are the newest Chinese electronic surveillance ships in service (as of 2014) with the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). A total of two ships have been confirmed, one Type 815, and the other Type 815G.
Type 815
Type 815 was formerly named as Dong-Diao (东调, meaning East Investigate) 232, but subsequently, the name was changed to North Star after new naming convention adopted by PLAN. After entering service in the latter half of 1999, the ship went through major upgrade several years later, with parabolic antennas replaced by three large radomes. In addition to collecting electronic intelligence, this class is also tasked to perform ballistic missile tracking. There is a hangar for helicopter. Specification:[1]
- Length (m): 130
- Width (m): 16.4
- Draft (m): 6.5
- Displacement (t): 6000
- Speed (kt): 20
- Crew: 250
- Propulsion: diesel engine
- Armament: 1 twin 37 mm, 2 twin 25 mm
| Pennant # | Name | Builder | Commissioned | Status | Fleet |
| 851 | North Star | Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding | late 1999 | Active | East Sea Fleet |
Type 815A
After year 2000, an improved version appeared, designated as Type 815A, and the most obvious external visual difference between Type 815A and earlier Type 815 is that the former has a different mast somewhat similar to a pagoda shape, and the sheer line is curved at a greater angle.[2]
| Pennant # | Name | Builder | Launched | Commissioned | Status | Fleet |
| 851 | Beijixing | Hudong,Shanghai | December 2009 | September 2010 | Active | East Sea Fleet |
| 853 | Tianwangxing | Hudong,Shanghai | 29 March 2014 | mid 2015 | Active | South Sea Fleet |
| 852 | Haiwangxing | Hudong,Shanghai | 28 July 2014 | 26 December 2015 | Active | South Sea Fleet |
| (856) | Hudong,Shanghai | 22 January 2015 | Fitting out |
