An item reported the first sighting of a Chinese Huchwan hydrofoil motor torpedo boat (PTH) in North Vietnam. She was sighted on a cradle within the circular tidal basin at the Ha Tou Boat Repair Facility (2055 North and 10709 East This type was the first Chinese operational military hydrofoil and built at the Shanghai Shipyard Hu-Tung, China as was observed since late 1963. Other vessels or this type were stationed as bases like the Lan-Tien and Hu Men MTB bases and end September 1967 two seemed to be visiting at the Lung-Men naval station, Gulf of Tonkin. Probably was she to replace the aged P-4 patrol boats. With hydrofoils forward and a planning hull seemed the Huchwan to be provide a more stable platform than her predecessors P-4 and P-6 allowing to serve in higher seas. Estimated speed was 45 knots. Draught 5 feet. She was armed with 2-53,34cm/21” torpedo tubs and 2-12,7mm/0.5” machineguns mounted after the deckhouse. (1)
Note
1. The Type 025-class torpedo boat also called the Huchuan or Hu Chwan-class which was to replace the Soviet P-4 (K-123) and P-6 (K-125) classes torpedo boats. The first to light armed for self-defence the second type with a wood-built hull being vulnerable to fire when hit. To solve this problems was the Hu Chwan developed and of which at least 6 variants are produced, the prototype 6625 without hydrofoil, the 0245- type some and the latter versions always with. There are more as 220 units built serving in the navies of the People’s Republic of China, Romania and Bangladesh. Displacement 39 9standard)-45 (full load) tons and as dimensions 22,5 x 3,8 x 3,6 (draught) x1,15 (draft) metres or 74 x 12 x 12 x 3.8 feet. The usual armament seemed to be 2x2-14,5mm machineguns and 2-53,3cm/21” torpedo tubes to which 2 mines and machineguns could be added.
Source
The report was published on www.archive.org, document number CIA-RDP79-00849A001200040002-5
Note
1. The Type 025-class torpedo boat also called the Huchuan or Hu Chwan-class which was to replace the Soviet P-4 (K-123) and P-6 (K-125) classes torpedo boats. The first to light armed for self-defence the second type with a wood-built hull being vulnerable to fire when hit. To solve this problems was the Hu Chwan developed and of which at least 6 variants are produced, the prototype 6625 without hydrofoil, the 0245- type some and the latter versions always with. There are more as 220 units built serving in the navies of the People’s Republic of China, Romania and Bangladesh. Displacement 39 9standard)-45 (full load) tons and as dimensions 22,5 x 3,8 x 3,6 (draught) x1,15 (draft) metres or 74 x 12 x 12 x 3.8 feet. The usual armament seemed to be 2x2-14,5mm machineguns and 2-53,3cm/21” torpedo tubes to which 2 mines and machineguns could be added.
Source
The report was published on www.archive.org, document number CIA-RDP79-00849A001200040002-5
