China's largest amphibious assault ship sets off on maiden sea trial
CNS Sichuan, China's largest and most advanced amphibious assault ship, set sail from Shanghai on its maiden sea trial on Friday, according to the People's Liberation Army Navy.
In a news release, the Navy said the vessel left Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, the Shanghai-based shipyard of China State Shipbuilding Corp, at around 9 am.
During the sea trial, engineers will check the ship's reliability and performance of the electric and propulsion systems, it said, following the completion of mooring tests and hardware installation.
With a hull code of 51, CNS Sichuan is the first in the Type 076 class. The ship displaces more than 40,000 metric tons of water and can carry fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and amphibious landing craft once commissioned.
