CHINA will send navy ships to Somalian waters to combat pirates, the Foreign Ministry announced last week. The news came hours after nine pirates attacked a Chinese cargo ship with 30 crewmen in Somalian waters last Wednesday.
The crew used water cannons, self-made fire bombs and beer bottles to battle the pirates before they were rescued by the Malaysian army.
Two destroyers and a large supply ship will be part of the fleet that is being deployed to the Somalian waters. The ships will leave Sanya, Hainan province, after Christmas on a three-month mission.
The media described the tour as China's biggest naval expedition since the 15th century. In recent years, China's navy has only left the Pacific region for goodwill tours.
What is a destroyer?
A destroyer is a fast warship. It was originally designed to escort larger vessels in a fleet and defend them against smaller but powerful attackers.
Before World War II, destroyers were not very important to a fleet. They were usually light vessels without endurance for unattended ocean operations. At that time, cruisers, which have bigger tonnage and longer endurance, were often chosen for longer, independent missions. Destroyers were just escorts.
But during and after WWII, larger and more powerful destroyers capable of independent operation were built. At the end of the Cold War, destroyers gradually took the place of cruisers. Today, destroyers are the heaviest surface-combat ships in general use.
US
Arleigh Burke class destroyer
Namesake: a US navy leader from World War II
Launched: 1989 Tonage: 6,794 ton
Speed: 56km/h
With the motto "Fast and Feared", the Arleigh Burke destroyer is among the largest and most powerful ever built. It was made entirely of steel, rather than having just a steel hull and aluminum superstructure. An aluminum mast is used to reduce weight. It was the first US warship designed with an air-filtration system to defend against nuclear, biological and chemical warfare.
Japan
Kongo class destroyer
Namesake: a mountain Launched: 1991
Tonage: 7,500 tons Speed: 56km/h
The Kongo class of destroyers serves as the core of the Japanese military's escort fleet. The destroyer is armed with surface-to-air missiles, anti-submarine rockets and anti-ship missiles. The ship also has stealth features to reduce radar detection. It has become a part of pop culture.
China
Type 052B destroyer (Guangzhou 168)
Namesake: city's names Launched: 2003
Tonage: 6,500 tons Speed: 54km/h
The vessel's hull design incorporates strong radar reduction features, such as sloped sides. The hull surface is coated in radar-absorbent paint. The ship carries a total of 48 missiles. It also has four anti-ship cruise missile launchers.
Naming a warship
The US navy names its destroyers after famous naval personnel of the past. While Japanese prefer to use the names of natural things, such as mountains, weather features and trees.
China uses city names for its destroyers
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