Naval Systems

Type 071 / Yuzhao-class amphibious transport dock

Also known as
  • Type 071
  • Yuzhao-class
  • Yuzhao class
  • Type 071 LPD
  • Type 071 landing platform dock
  • Type 071E
  • Type 071E LPD
  • HTMS Chang
  • HTMS Chang (792)

The Type 071, known to NATO as the Yuzhao-class, is a Chinese amphibious transport dock class built by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding for large-deck sealift, well-dock operations, and helicopter-supported marine deployments. It moved the PLAN beyond older tank-landing ships by combining Type 726 LCAC capacity, Z-8 helicopter facilities, vehicle decks, and expeditionary support space, and it became an export design through Thailand's Type 071E HTMS Chang.

Type 071 / Yuzhao-class amphibious transport dock, Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy amphibious transport dock class, Naval Systems
Image source: PLANS Changbaishan (LPD-989) 20150130(2).jpg
Mission Fit And Embarked Craft

The Type 071 is best read as an amphibious connector and aviation platform: the ship itself is not documented here as a combat-use weapon in a cataloged conflict, but its well dock, vehicle decks, and helicopter facilities explain why it matters to PLAN and export amphibious lift.

ModuleDocumented fitReader note
Well dockUSNI and Naval News describe capacity for Type 726/Yuyi air-cushion landing craft, with Thai export reporting also listing LCM, LCVP, amphibious vehicle, or LCAC loading options.This supports over-the-beach movement from ship to shore, but no separate Type 726 catalog record exists yet for a native relationship card.
Aviation deckUSNI describes hangar facilities for four Z-8 medium transport helicopters, while Thai service reporting notes a flight deck that can operate two Z-8J helicopters at once.The aviation fit gives the class vertical-lift utility without making it a full-deck LHD like the later Type 075.
Vehicle and troop liftUSNI gives an 800-marine battalion load with heavy vehicles; Royal Thai Navy-derived reporting lists lower Type 071E troop and vehicle configurations for HTMS Chang.Capacity figures vary by mission loadout, so the specs keep the broader PLAN class figure and this section separates the Thai export load examples.
Self-defense and test fitsNaval News reports the standard gun/CIWS fit and separately identifies Simingshan imagery showing a possible laser-based directed-energy test installation.The laser item is treated as a reported test configuration, not a standard class-wide armament.

Sources: The Amphibious Assault PLAN; Royal Thai Navy Procures Type 071E LPD from China's CSSC; Royal Thai Navy welcomes new Type 071E LPD HTMS Chang; Chinese Navy Testing Laser Turret On Type 071 LPD.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
China
Type
Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy amphibious transport dock class
Service note
2006-present
Produced
2006-present
Number built
9 built, including 1 export ship

Specifications

Displacement
About 25,000 tonnes full load
Length
210 m
Beam
28 m
Draft
7 m
Speed
Up to 25 knots
Range
About 6,000-10,000 nautical miles, depending on source and speed profile
Capacity
About 800 troops and heavy vehicles
Aviation
Flight deck and hangar for up to four Z-8 helicopters
Landing Craft
Well deck for up to four Type 726 LCACs
Armament
76 mm main gun, 30 mm close-in weapon systems, and decoy launchers
Variants

The record covers the PLAN Type 071/Yuzhao class and its export derivative rather than individual ship pages.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
Type 071E export derivativeExport landing platform dock

Thailand ordered the Type 071E in 2019; Naval News identifies HTMS Chang as the first export customer ship based on the Type 071 design.

Sources: Royal Thai Navy Procures Type 071E LPD from China's CSSC, Royal Thai Navy welcomes new Type 071E LPD HTMS Chang

Timeline

Type 071 / Yuzhao-class amphibious transport dock Key Events

  1. Type 071 construction begins

    USNI describes Yuzhao-class construction as beginning in the mid-2000s, giving the PLAN a larger amphibious transport dock foundation for later amphibious-force growth.

    Sources: The Amphibious Assault PLAN

  2. Kunlun Shan joins Gulf of Aden tasking

    Jamestown reported that Type 071 flagship Kunlunshan deployed to the Gulf of Aden with the sixth Chinese escort task force, showing the class in far-seas anti-piracy support rather than a cataloged combat conflict.

    Sources: Learning by Doing: PLAN Operational Innovations in the Gulf of Aden

  3. Thailand signs Type 071E contract

    Naval News reported Thailand's contract with China for a Type 071E landing platform dock, making the Royal Thai Navy the class's first export customer.

    Sources: Royal Thai Navy Procures Type 071E LPD from China's CSSC

  4. HTMS Chang enters Thai service

    The Royal Thai Navy commissioned HTMS Chang (792) at Sattahip Naval Base after handover in China and arrival in Thailand.

    Sources: Royal Thai Navy welcomes new Type 071E LPD HTMS Chang

  5. Simingshan laser-test imagery reported

    Naval News reported imagery of Type 071 hull Simingshan (986) with a forward-superstructure modification believed to support testing of a laser-based directed-energy weapon; the report noted that official details were not available.

    Sources: Chinese Navy Testing Laser Turret On Type 071 LPD

Media

Type 071 / Yuzhao-class amphibious transport dock Videos

Type 071 / Yuzhao-class amphibious transport dock Images

Type 071 / Yuzhao-class amphibious transport dock, Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy amphibious transport dock class, Naval Systems - view 1
Source: Yuzhao (Type 071) Class Amphibious Ship.JPG
Type 071 / Yuzhao-class amphibious transport dock, Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy amphibious transport dock class, Naval Systems - view 2
Source: CNS Jinggangshan (LPD-999).jpg
Related Weapon Systems
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Sources

Type 071 Yuzhao LPD - DesignPublisher: GlobalSecurity.org | Note: Supports the Type 071/Yuzhao class role, PLAN amphibious transport dock context, helicopter and LCAC employment, self-defense armament, and general design background. | Accessed: 2026-06-25The Amphibious Assault PLANPublisher: U.S. Naval Institute | Note: Supports the class's 25,000-ton full-load displacement, 210 m length, 28 m beam, 7 m draft, Hudong-Zhonghua build context, troop and vehicle lift, four Type 726 LCAC / four Z-8 helicopter capacity, and the class's place in PLAN amphibious-force development. | Accessed: 2026-06-25Type 071 Landing Platform Dock (LPD)Publisher: Naval Technology | Note: Supports the class's amphibious landing mission and humanitarian or civilian evacuation mission context. | Accessed: 2026-06-25Category:Type 071 amphibious transport dockPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports the class designation, origin, operator context, manufacturer context, service-entry date, and image provenance context for the Type 071/Yuzhao class. | Accessed: 2026-06-25Yuzhao (Type 071) Class Amphibious Ship.JPGPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports gallery image provenance and public-domain licensing context for a Type 071-class ship image from a CRS report. | Accessed: 2026-06-25PLANS Changbaishan (LPD-989) 20150130(2).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports the primary and gallery image provenance and reusable licensing context for a Type 071-class ship. | Accessed: 2026-06-25CNS Jinggangshan (LPD-999).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports gallery image provenance and Government of Japan licensing context for a Type 071-class ship photographed by Japan's Ministry of Defense. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Royal Thai Navy Procures Type 071E LPD from China's CSSCPublisher: Naval News | Note: Supports the 2019 Thai Type 071E contract, CSSC build context, first export-customer status, and Type 071E well-dock, aviation, troop, vehicle, and self-defense context. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Royal Thai Navy welcomes new Type 071E LPD HTMS ChangPublisher: Naval News | Note: Supports HTMS Chang's 2023 commissioning, Royal Thai Navy operator context, Type 071E export status, and Thai loadout examples for troops, vehicles, landing craft, and LCACs. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Chinese Navy Testing Laser Turret On Type 071 LPDPublisher: Naval News | Note: Supports the reported Simingshan Type 071 laser-test installation and caveats that official details were unavailable. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Learning by Doing: PLAN Operational Innovations in the Gulf of AdenPublisher: Jamestown Foundation | Note: Supports the Type 071 class's Gulf of Aden anti-piracy support context, Kunlunshan deployment with the sixth escort task force, and blue-water amphibious-capability framing. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Meet China's amphibious transport dock, the Type 071Publisher: CGTN | Note: Supports the selected directly relevant Type 071 video metadata and general system-identification context. | Accessed: 2026-06-29