At roughly 13,000 tons with 112 VLS cells and space for two medium helicopters, the Type 055 can anchor a carrier group or surface action group and project visible peacetime strength. Its missile load is divided between eight eight-cell groups forward and six aft. The PLAN still needs the smaller Type 052 line to generate numbers, a relationship compared with Britain's planned Type 82 and Type 42 destroyers for the CVA-01 era. Lengthening the Type 052DL for the Z-20 helicopter may also have allowed stern changes that improve its variable-depth and towed-array sonar performance. That ASW benefit is a proposed explanation for the visible hull changes.
Chapter · 1:29:46-1:46:46
Type 055 presence and Type 052DL mass
Large Type 055s provide command weight and missile presence, while more numerous Type 052DLs supply escort mass, larger helicopters, and possible stern-related ASW improvements.