Q&A ยท 47:07-50:04

Uncertain names for a Chinese Project 7-derived destroyer

Conflicting names for a Soviet-built Chinese destroyer lead to a discussion of transliteration and unreliable reference details.

Question

Which of the names Jim, Chi Lin or Jilin applies to the Project 7-derived Chinese destroyer in the question?

Short answer

Jilin is considered, but the name remains unresolved because the available references and transliterations are uncertain.

Notes

The vessel is described as having been sold to China in 1955, with a sister ship preserved at Qingdao. Jilin is considered as a possible name, although the answer remains uncertain. Errors encountered in Jane's, including machinery details, reinforce the need to compare references. Different romanization systems can also produce different English spellings for the same Chinese characters, illustrated by Peking and Beijing.