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After 30 years of service, the Chinese Navy decommissioned the first of Its Type 052 destroyers
Por Germán Alejandro Romero28 August, 2026
The Chinese Navy decommissioned the Type 052 destroyer Harbin, identified by hull number 112, after more than 30 years of service. The ceremony was held on Friday in Qingdao, Shandong Province, and marked the retirement of the first unit of this class.
Type 052 Harbin Destroyer – Chinese Navy
The Harbin was launched in August 1991 and entered service with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) in May 1994. During its 32 years of activity, the ship completed more than 100 major missions and sailed more than 400,000 nautical miles.
According to the state-run Xinhua news agency, the destroyer visited 22 ports in 20 countries, including Russia, the U.S., and Australia. In addition, it carried out two deployments in the Gulf of Aden and participated in more than ten joint exercises with Chinese and foreign forces.
The Harbin also recorded several milestones for the People’s Liberation Army Navy. In 1997, it visited four countries in the Americas and became the first Chinese naval vessel to cross the Pacific and reach the American continent.
During an escort mission carried out in 2013, members of its crew participated in the Seychelles National Day parade. According to Xinhua, it was the first time that a People’s Liberation Army Navy formation participated in a foreign national parade.
Following its decommissioning, hull 112 will be used as a national defense education base. The ship will remain moored in Changsha, Hunan Province, and will be open to the public.
Characteristics of the Type 052 Destroyer
The Type 052, known by NATO and other sources as the Luhu class, was developed as a second-generation destroyer built in China. The series consisted of only two units, Harbin and Qingdao, and served as a transition between the Type 051 and later designs.The ship displaced 3,670 tons and was 144 meters long, with a beam of 16 meters and a draft of 5.1 meters. Its propulsion system used General Electric LM2500 gas turbines through a CODOG configuration, with an output of 55,000 shp and a maximum speed of 31 knots.
In terms of armament, the Type 052 could employ YJ-83 anti-ship missiles, as well as an HQ-7 air defense system. It also had a 100 mm gun, Yu-7 torpedo launchers, and systems for anti-submarine warfare, along with the capability to operate two helicopters.
Following a modernization carried out in 2011, the Harbin incorporated two 30 mm Type 730 CIWS systems and new anti-submarine rocket launchers. It also received Type 726-4 decoy launchers, intended to increase its defensive capabilities against different threats.
From the Type 052 to More Modern Destroyers
Development of the family continued with the Type 052B and Type 052C destroyers. The Type 052B incorporated Russian Shtil-1 surface-to-air missiles, while the Type 052C introduced the HHQ-9 system, a Type 348 radar, and vertical launchers with 48 cells.Subsequently, the Type 052D evolved the design through new radars, vertical launch systems, and a greater variety of armament. This class reached 64 launch cells and became one of the Chinese Navy’s main escort and air defense platforms.
Type 052 Zhengzhou destroyer of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN)
The Type 052Ds also progressively incorporated new capabilities, including the use of the YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile. In addition, images circulated on social media showed a Z-20F helicopter operating from a destroyer of this class, although the information has yet to receive official confirmation.
The evolution of this family reflects the modernization process of Chinese destroyers that began with the Type 052. While the Harbin is assigned to defense education functions, the Type 052Ds represent a later generation with more advanced combat capabilities and launch systems.
