China Deploys One of the World’s Largest Assault Ships For Major Amphibious Warfare Drills

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy has deployed the the Type 075 class amphibious assault ship Hubei to simulate offensive amphibious operations, as part of combat-oriented live-force training in offshore waters under winter conditions. The drills have been reported by state media to have been designed to strengthen system-level combat capabilities and improve coordination across ships, aircraft, and landing forces. Exercises simulated air defence operations, live fire engagements using defensive close-in weapon systems opened fire, and the use of electronic warfare to neutralise incoming missiles, including by creating an “electromagnetic fog” using decoy rounds. A unit commander informed the People’s Liberation Army Daily that since entering service in August, the Hubei has taken part in multiple combat-oriented exercises. “The system-level combat capability has been effectively tempered, and the troops’ combat awareness has improved markedly,” he added. 

Commenting on the exercises, the unit commander noted that the training was conducted in a complex battlefield environment that “focused on setting difficult conditions and realistic contingencies to further test the officers’ and sailors’ ability to apply tactics and handle emergencies.” The exercises provided insight into how the Type 075 could be utilised to launch amphibious assaults. Once an order was issued to“transport landing forces!,” crew secured shipborne helicopters and completed vehicle-aircraft coordination procedures, transferring helicopters to the flight deck for launch. Deck crews meanwhile released tie-downs to allow multiple helicopters to lift off in sequence carrying landing troops who formed the vanguard of the assault force, flying out at very low altitudes toward simulated enemy depth areas and practicing penetration tactics. Meanwhile the Hubei’s well deck, stern gate, and ramp were opened, while crews began final preparations to deploy air-cushion landing craft.

Landing craft were guided smoothly out of the Hubei, before advancing to wards shore while the helicopters completed the first wave of troop insertion. Helicopters then regrouped and returned toward the Hubei, as radar operators continuously reported relative positions between ships and aircraft. Once onboard, deck crews quickly secured the aircraft and connected refuelling lines, allowing them to quickly take off again to continue operations. Training lasted for several days and included air defence and missile defence, integrated offence and defence, and coordinated ship-aircraft operations, with the primary goal of further improving the formation’s system-level combat effectiveness. Other than China, only the United States fields amphibious assault ships with comparable capabilities to the Hubei, although its Wasp class ships are fast ageing, while only one of its two modern America class ships has a well deck needed to support amphibious operations. 

The Hubei was launched in December 2023, and is the fourth ship of its class, with the first ship of the class the Hainan having been launched in September 2019 before entering service in April 2021. The 40,000 ton vessels are some of the largest warships in the world, with comparable displacements to U.S. Navy America class assault ships and the continental Europe’s largest aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. Each fields an air wing of up to 30 helicopters, including Z-10 attack helicopters and various transport helicopter types, while having a capacity for up to 60 armoured fighting vehicles and 800 personnel. The ships are considered particularly critical to assert control over disputed territories in the South China Sea, and to provide options for contingencies in the Taiwan Strait against the rival Republic of China government based in Taipei, which continues to clam sovereignty over the entire Chinese nation.