A Closer Look At China's Type 055 Destroyer

Two Type 055 large destroyers, the Nanchang and the Lhasa, are moored at a naval port in 2021. File photo: Courtesy of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy  

Business Insider: Take a look at China's biggest destroyer, a $920 million cruiser that's said to be the 2nd most powerful in the world after the USS Zumwalt 

* China has the biggest navy in the world in terms of number of vessels. 

* The Type 055 is the biggest destroyer class in China's People's Liberation Army Navy. 

* Chinese media has touted the ship as the second most powerful in the world after the USS Zumwalt. China has the world's largest navy in terms of total number of vessels. 

The Type 055 is the biggest destroyer class in China's People's Liberation Army Navy. China's navy has 355 vessels, outnumbering the US Navy's 297 vessels. 

China State Shipbuilding Corp. began building its biggest vessel — the Type 055 — in 2014. 

The Type 055 destroyers have been in service since 2020. 

The class of destroyers is also known as Renhai-class cruisers. As a multirole warship, it's equipped with weapons to counter missiles, ships, and submarines, according to the South China Morning Post. 

Read more ....  

Update #1: PLA Navy's Type 055 large destroyer Lhasa holds 1st far sea drills in Sea of Japan (Global Times)  

Update #2: New Chinese destroyer Lhasa on long-distance exercises in Sea of Japan (AP)  

WNU Editor: Today, there are six of them in service, though the Chinese navy has said it plans to expand the class to a fleet of 16 ships. 

Update #3: There is a lot of naval activity near Japan .... Japan tracks eight Russian and Chinese warships near its territory (CNN).