People’s Liberation Army Navy new Type 075 Amphibious Assault ship today while in the dock at the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai.
Photos and videos showing the ship billowing large clouds of black smoke hit Chinese social media earlier in the day. The warship, which is the first of the new Type 075 class, was resting alongside the pier at its birthplace, Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding in Shanghai, when the blaze broke out.
The Type 075 (NATO reporting name Yushen-class landing helicopter assault) is a new generation of Chinese amphibious assault vessel and far larger than similar ships previously constructed for the PLA Navy and very similar to the U.S. Navy’s America Class landing helicopter assault ships.
According to released photos and video on social media, a fire broke out as welders were working during the construction process. A thick plume of black smoke was seen from the well deck.
It is unclear how much damage has been done to the amphibious assault ship at this time, although it appears the fire emanated from, or at least involved, its well deck. A well deck is a floodable garage-like space that is used on amphibious assault ships for launching and recovering ship-to-shore transport boats and hovercraft, as well as amphibious fighting vehicles.
The Type-075 assault carrier is around 895 feet long and 141 feet across.
The Type 075 designed to give the Chinese navy the ability to launch various types of helicopters to attack naval vessels, enemy ground forces or submarines. The vessels will also be able to deploy landing craft and troops, plus house command and control operations.
