The Type 024 / Heku class was a Chinese steel-hulled fast attack missile boat derived from Soviet missile-boat practice. GlobalSecurity describes the design as a small guided-missile boat developed at Wuhu by the No. 701 Institute, trial-produced by Wuhu Shipyard, and handed over to the navy in December 1966.
The Type 024 kept the coastal missile-boat concept compact: a small planing hull, four diesel shafts, a forward twin 25 mm gun, missile launchers aft, and Square Tie radar for surface search and missile fire control. Its significance is mostly as a Chinese steel-hulled development path from imported Soviet practice toward larger later missile craft.
GlobalSecurity and Naval Encyclopedia both frame the class as a steel-hulled improvement over earlier wooden Komar-derived craft.
USNI Proceedings describes Bangladesh obtaining four Hegu-class missile boats from China in 1983, adding a compact coastal strike capability.
The C-801 launcher option increased missile count, but GlobalSecurity still describes the class as withdrawn from active PLAN service by 2008.
Public references use several romanizations for the main steel-hulled Type 024 class and distinguish it from a one-off hydrofoil derivative and later C-801 launcher proposals or refits.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| Houku / Hegu standard missile boat | Baseline Type 024 fast attack craft | GlobalSecurity identifies the Houku/Hegu as the steel-hulled Chinese development of the Soviet Komar-style missile boat with two HY-2/C-201 launchers. Sources: PCFG Houku / Hegu Class, Hegu specifications |
| Homa / Project EM1B | Hydrofoil derivative | GlobalSecurity and Naval Encyclopedia describe a single hydrofoil-equipped Type 024 derivative that was evaluated by the PLAN but not adopted for series production. Sources: PCFG Houku / Hegu Class, Naval Encyclopedia Hoku class |
| C-801 refit/export configuration | Four-missile launcher configuration | GlobalSecurity says an export variant replaced the original two HY-2 launchers with four C-801 SSM launchers and that some Chinese boats were refitted in this configuration before withdrawal. Sources: PCFG Houku / Hegu Class |
The standard Type 024 carried two large HY-2/C-201 missiles; a later export or refit configuration replaced that fit with a four-launcher C-801 arrangement.
| Launched item | Item type | Launch evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Anti-ship cruise missile | GlobalSecurity describes a Houku/Hegu export variant with four C-801 SSM launchers in place of the original two HY-2 launchers and says some Chinese boats were refitted to that configuration. Sources: PCFG Houku / Hegu Class |
Naval Encyclopedia describes a November 1964 order for the 701 Research Institute to develop a steel-hulled missile speedboat improving on the Type 6623 / Komar-derived craft.
Sources: Naval Encyclopedia Hoku class
GlobalSecurity reports that the CCCPC Special Commission approved development of a small steel guided-missile boat in January 1966, with the No. 701 Institute selecting the overall design.
Sources: PCFG Houku / Hegu Class
Wuhu Shipyard completed construction of the trial-produced boat and handed it over to the navy in December 1966, according to GlobalSecurity.
Sources: PCFG Houku / Hegu Class
GlobalSecurity describes mass production across several Chinese shipyards and places the PLAN Houku inventory at about 110 boats by 1985.
Sources: PCFG Houku / Hegu Class
GlobalSecurity says the one-off Homa / Project EM1B hydrofoil derivative was offered for export in 1986, but no sales were known.
Sources: PCFG Houku / Hegu Class
GlobalSecurity reports that no active Houku-class boats remained in the PLAN by 2008, as newer high-speed missile boats replaced the type in the order of battle.
Sources: PCFG Houku / Hegu Class
