Every Warship and Submarine in the Chinese Navy

The World Directory of Modern Military Warships’ directory reports that the Chinese Navy totals 417 active warships featuring attack, defense, and support vessels. 

To identify the 34 classes of vessels that make up the ships and submarines of the People’s Liberation Army Navy, 24/7 Wall St. referenced military data site WDMMW’s directory of all active ships in the Chinese navy. The ship and submarine classes are ranked in order of the number of vessels currently in active use by the navy. Any ships on order were excluded, as were smaller patrol vessels, auxiliary/survey ships, replenishment, and historical ceremonial types.  

Submarines and corvettes, a smaller version of a warship class below frigate, make up most of the Chinese navy’s fleet, at 72 and 71 ships, respectively. China also has three aircraft carriers, 49 mine warfare vessels, 44 frigates, and 42 destroyers. For shoreline defense and deterrence, China can launch 127 offshore patrol vessels.  

Currently, the country has nine amphibious assault vessels. WDMMW notes this class of naval ships has been upgraded to include newer vessels for ship-to-shore transport and helicopter operations. Such boats could be a major factor if China invades the island of Taiwan, as has long been rumored. If China invaded Taiwan, would it be the biggest surprise attack in military history?

With a median hull age of 13.1 years, China’s Navy controls a military force consisting of relatively newer vessels. According to WDMMW, the country has produced the equivalent of a Royal Navy fleet each year, all toward its goal of overtaking the U.S. in naval power. (This is the world’s largest navy.)

Click here to see the most common ships and submarines in China’s Navy.

053K (531) frigate in Qingdao Chinese Navy Museum 2011 (CC BY-SA 3.0) by u5f20u5c55u901a

21. Jianghu-class
> Type: Frigate
> Number of vessels: 5

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20. Houjian-class
> Type: Offshore patrol vessel
> Number of vessels: 6 (tied)

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19. Jin-class
> Type: Submarine
> Number of vessels: 6 (tied)

18. Luyang II-class
> Type: Destroyer
> Number of vessels: 6 (tied)

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Shang class SSN (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Mike1979 Russia

17. Shang-class
> Type: Submarine
> Number of vessels: 6 (tied)

16. Wozang-class
> Type: Mine warfare
> Number of vessels: 6 (tied)

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15. Yuzhao-class
> Type: Amphibious assault
> Number of vessels: 8

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ORP Dzik projektu 254M (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Tatar1

14. Type 010-class
> Type: Mine warfare
> Number of vessels: 10

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13. Kilo-class
> Type: Submarine
> Number of vessels: 12 (tied)

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Song-class Submarine 5 (CC BY-SA 3.0) by SteKrueBe

12. Song-class
> Type: Submarine
> Number of vessels: 12 (tied)

Ming class SS (CC BY-SA 4.0) by Mike1979 Russia

11. Ming-class
> Type: Submarine
> Number of vessels: 14 (tied)

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PLAN-081-805 (CC BY 4.0) by u65e5u672cu9632u885bu7701u00b7u7d71u5408u5e55u50dau76e3u90e8

10. Type 081-class
> Type: Mine warfare
> Number of vessels: 14 (tied)

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9. Houxin-class
> Type: Offshore patrol vessel
> Number of vessels: 16 (tied)

8. Type 082-class
> Type: Mine warfare
> Number of vessels: 16 (tied)

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Type 062-class gunboat, October 2014-1 (CC BY 4.0) by Mervyn Marie / Seychelles News Agency

7. Shanghai III-class
> Type: Offshore patrol vessel
> Number of vessels: 17

6. Yuan-class
> Type: Submarine
> Number of vessels: 18

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PLANS Guiyang (DDG-119) 20200428 (CC BY 4.0) by u65e5u672cu9632u885bu7701u30fbu7d71u5408u5e55u50dau76e3u90e8

5. Luyang III-class
> Type: Destroyer
> Number of vessels: 22

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4. Haiqing-class
> Type: Offshore patrol vessel
> Number of vessels: 26

USS Stethem departs Shanghai. (CC BY 2.0) by Official U.S. Navy Page

3. Jiangkai II-class
> Type: Frigate
> Number of vessels: 39

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2. Houbei-class
> Type: Offshore patrol vessel
> Number of vessels: 60

Type 056 corvette 583 Ganzhou (CC BY-SA 3.0) by u6a31u4e95u5343u4e00

1. Jiangdao-class
> Type: Corvette
> Number of vessels: 71