Chinese Navy’s Type 075 First Amphibious Assault Ship Completes Maiden Sea Trial

The Chinese Navy's first Type 075 amphibious assault ship has successfully completed its first sea trial where its propulsion, navigation and communication system was tested.

The vessel is China's first independently developed amphibious assault ship, and has strong capabilities in amphibious combat and carrying out a diverse range of tasks, Senior Colonel Wu Qian, a Defense Ministry spokesperson announced at a press conference in Beijing today.

According to online videos and pictures taken by local residents, the Type 075, outfitted in the Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai, left the shipyard along the Huangpu River for its maiden voyage on August 5. After 19 days out at sea, it reportedly returned to the shipyard on Sunday.

The first Type 075 will likely be commissioned into the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy in 2021 or 2022.

The first Type 075 was launched in September 2019. A second ship of its class was launched in April this year. The ship had suffered a minor fire a couple of month ago just as it was getting ready for it first trials.

The Type 075 will carry a complement of armored vehicles, manned and unmanned helicopters. It is designed for rapid intervention and beach assault.