PLAN vs. USN FAC SIDE BY SIDE COMPARISON
By Jeff Head - Last Update: June 13, 2011




This page provides a comparison between Fast/Littoral Attack Craft of the People's Republic of China Navy and those of the US Navy. Currently the Chinese are rapidly increasing the numbers of their modern FAC vessels while the US Navy is building the first of a new class of LCS.
FAST ATTACK CRAFT - PLAN LITTORAL COMBAT SHIP - USN
TYPE 022 (Houbei)
Qty: 100+ est.
Displacement: 225 tons
Crew: 15
Speed: 36+ knots
Aircraft: 0
Armament:
8 - LR ASM
1 - 30mm CIWS




LCS (Freedom/Independence)
Qty: 3 (more building - 2 types)

LCS Class: Freedom
Length: 380 ft
Beam: 57 ft
Draft: 12 ft
Displacement: 3,100 tons
Speed: 47 knots
Crew: 40+75

LCS Class: Independence
Length: 418 ft
Beam: 104 ft
Draft: 14 ft
Displacement: 2,800 tons
Speed: 44 knots
Crew: 35+40

Airwing Both: 2 MH-60 & 1 MQ-8 VTUAVs
Armament Both:
- 1 x RAM launcher, 21 missiles (Freedom)
- 1 x SEARAM launcher, 11 missiles (Independence)
- 60 (up to) surface to surface missiles (AsuW Pack)
- 1 × Mk 110 57 mm gun (Both)
- 2 × 0.50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns (Both)
- Mission Pacs
ASW, AAW, AsuW, Anti-Mine
Propulsion Both:
- 2 Rolls-Royce MT30 36MW Gas Turbines
- 2 Colt Diesels
- 4 Rolls-Royce waterjets
- 2 shafts
Ships in class: 3 complete, 2 building, 24 planned






TYPE 037-II (Houjian)
Qty: 6
Displacement: 520 t
Crew: 75
Speed: 35 knots
Aircraft: 0
Armament:
6 - LR ASM
1 - 76 mm
2 - dual 30mm
TYPE 037IG (Houxin)
Qty: 24
Displacement: 478 t
Crew: 60
Speed: 35 knots
Aircraft: 0
Armament:
4 - LR ASM
2 - dual 76 mm
2 - 14.5 mm
LINKS OF INTEREST
Jeff Head is an engineering consultant with many years experience in the power, defense, and computer industries. He currently works for the federal government helping maintain and protect regional infrastructure. He is a member of the U.S. Naval Institute, and is also the author of a self-published and best-selling series of military techno-thrillers called the Dragon's Fury that projects a fictional third world war arising out of current events. You can learn more about that series by clicking on the pictures of the novel covers below:


THE DRAGON'S FURY SERIES

Copyright © 2004-2008 by Jeff Head


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