China has again blurred the usually clear-cut distinction between coast guard vessels and naval warships by transforming one of the People's Liberation Army Navy's Type 054A frigates into a new class of China Coast Guard vessels named the Type 818. This isn't the first time China has done so, however

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Unlike many coast guard cutters that are either unarmed or carry only heavy machine guns and light cannons, the Type 818 is festooned with one dual-purpose 76 mm PJ26 cannon; two Type 730 seven-barreled 30 mm CIWS autocannons and heavy machine guns to engage small boats and aircraft. Non-lethal armament includes high pressure water cannons.

The Type 818 carries a larger number of PLAN Marines for boarding and inspection action. She also comes with prison cells for captured foreign seamen.

The PLAN's Type 054A frigates and the Type 818 share similar specifications. The displace over 4,000 tonnes (full); are 134 meters in length; have a beam of 16 meters; a speed of 27 knots and a range of 8,000 nautical miles.

It can also operate helicopters. The ship's size also makes it suitable for ramming other boats in sovereignty enforcement operations.

The first ship of the Type 818-class with hull number 46301 was recently revealed to the public undergoing fitting at its shipyard. Photos show the warship clad in coast guard white and sporting slanted blue and red stripes with the wording China Coast Guard in Chinese and English.

The Type 818 isn't the first PLAN warship converted into a coast guard vessel. The CGC already operates several vessels converted from the PLAN's 1,700 ton Type 056 corvette. The Type 056 displaces 1,500 tons; has a length of 90 meters and a range of 3,500 nautical miles.

A converted surface warship such as the Type 054A is faster; more heavily armed and can travel at much faster speeds the CGC's smaller vessels such as the 130 ton Type 218 patrol boat.

Before the advent of PLAN warships converted into cutters, the largest ship in the CGC was the 1,500 ton Type 718 cutter (31101 Pudong).

The CGC also operates two of the largest coast guard ships in the world, a pair of 12,000 ton cutters (Haijing 2901 and 3901) larger than the U.S. Navy's Ticonderoga class-cruisers.

TagsPeople's Liberation Army Navy, Type 818, China Coast Guard, china