MK socks 2020 shows the ceremony of the commissioning of the Nanchang, China's first Type 055 guided-missile destroyer, in the port city of Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. The commission of Nanchang marks the Navy's leap from the third generation to the fourth generation of destroyers, according to a statement from the Navy. Photo: Xinhua" src="https://www.globaltimes.cn/Portals/0/attachment/2024/2024-01-07/38ba18f3-f378-4521-8790-ef51ebe4f758.jpeg" />

Photo taken on Jan. 12, 2020 shows the ceremony of the commissioning of the Nanchang, China's first Type 055 guided-missile destroyer, in the port city of Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. The commission of Nanchang marks the Navy's leap from the third generation to the fourth generation of destroyers, according to a statement from the Navy. Photo: Xinhua

The Nanchang, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's first Type 055 10,000 ton-class large destroyer, on Sunday marked its fifth year of active service, with official media revealing that the warship has traveled more than 110,000 nautical miles, participating in missions across diverse sea regions.

On January 12, 2020, the Nanchangwas commissioned into the PLA Navy, and adopted the historic hull number 101, originally used by the PLA Navy's inaugural destroyer.

The Nanchangis the first 10,000 ton-class large destroyer independently developed by China, and it achieved several milestones in the PLA Navy's history, China Central Television (CCTV) said on Sunday.

Since its commissioning, the Nanchanghas covered over 110,000 nautical miles, during which it reached the Bering Sea, conducted combat cruises in the Pacific Ocean and exercises in the Xisha and Nansha waters in the South China Sea, successfully completing more than 10 major missions, CCTV reported. 

China Bugle, an official PLA media outlet, highlighted some of the key missions. The Nanchangescorted the aircraft carrier Liaoningin waters near the island of Taiwan in April 2021, participated in the China-Russia Joint Sea-2021 exercise in October 2021, and responded to close-in disruptions by a foreign aircraft carrier group when conducting a far seas training mission with a friendly aircraft carrier in the West Pacific in 2022.

The Nanchangeffectively carried out its duty as an escort in an aircraft carrier group, China Bugle said.

"Long sail range, long detection range and long attack range. Now our vertical launch system can host a relatively complete selection of weapons, allowing us to carry out various combat missions. We can also form a formation on our own, command aircraft in the sky, warships at surface, submarines under water, and the Type 076 amphibious assault ship," Chi Jianjun, a crew member on the Nanchang, said in the CCTV report.

The Nanchangis a miniature of the PLA Navy's overall characteristics in the new era, Chi said, noting that PLA Navy vessels, as well as other PLA services and branches, now have routine presence in major sea regions.

Since the commissioning of the Nanchangfive years ago, seven more Type 055 large destroyers have entered service with the PLA Navy, according to CCTV.

Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times on Sunday that the Type 055 large destroyer Nanchangboasts advanced capabilities in air defense, maritime assault, and land strikes. With active electronic scanning array radars and over 100 missile vertical launch cells, it can identify and engage targets at long ranges.

It can not only function as a key escort in aircraft carrier groups, but also lead combat formations alongside other destroyers and frigates in far seas operations, Zhang said, noting that the Type 055 is also expected to conduct sea-based mid-range missile defense missions.

The Nanchangranks among the world's most advanced warships, and plays a crucial role in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and interests, Zhang said.