People's Liberation Army Navy: Combat System Technology, 1949-2010

Rare among books on weapon systems technologies, this work traces China s development from a coastal defense force of obsolete ships with crude weapons to its current complex missile catamarans and Aegis-like destroyers with vertical launch weapons and long-range cruise missiles. As the only book devoted solely to all combat systems on Chinese warships, it is a convenient one-stop reference filled with tables that break down specifications and parameters into specific areas, such as sensors and weapons for specific hulls. The book is divided into sections on frigates, destroyers, submarines, patrol craft, and aircraft. Antisubmarine, anti-air, anti-surface, and mine warfare are covered separately. For war gamers, there are tables with frequencies, load outs, and ranges. The authors prompt readers to discern areas of weakness and strength in the Chinese combat systems.