In fact, you may not know that Algeria has a long history of cooperation with our navy ships. As early as the nineties of the last century, when our navy was still in a state of development, the Algerian side had already imported a 600-ton salvage ship from our side. Previously, the 5,000-ton Gaofeng training ship with the largest displacement in the Algerian Navy was also imported from our side.
The largest equipment cooperation between the Algerian Navy and our Navy was around 2010, when the Algerian Navy introduced as many as three 053H3 export versions - C-28A frigates from our side, all three frigates were delivered before 2016. It is said that this type of frigate has won the favor of the Algerian Navy because of its advanced performance, mighty appearance, and exquisite craftsmanship.
Type C28A frigate
It is under such "historical friendship" that the news that "Algeria will introduce six 052DE destroyers" has also been very popular in recent days. However, according to the editor, the Algerian Navy, which has never had experience in destroying destroyers before, will not come with as many as six destroyers at once, but will definitely come one or two as a transition, and then step by step. Therefore, it is likely that the news of this "six destroyers" is nothing more than good wishes from everyone.
However, the Algerian Navy did introduce six new naval vessels designed and built by us. Previously, the Algerian Navy had officially signed an agreement with the relevant parties for the introduction of six Type 056E frigates. The lead ship of the batch has been officially delivered to the Algerian Navy recently, the official name of the ship is "Mutasadi", the number in the Algerian Navy is No. 940, and the ship has officially set sail and is on its way back to Algeria!
Soon, there will be a few more familiar faces in the Algerian Navy, which is really gratifying!
So why did the Algerian Navy introduce so many 056s? There's certainly a reason for that.
First of all, from the structure of the preparation of the Algerian Navy. Although Algeria is the largest country in Africa, it has a long coastline of 1,200 km. However, its navy is not large, with a total of about 10,000 people, and in addition to the three C28As mentioned above, the main force is two German-made MEKOA200 frigates and three Kony-class frigates supplied during the Soviet era.
Kony-class frigate
In addition to the above three relatively large displacement ships, the Algerian Navy also has three Nanuchica-class light frigates and four Jebel Chenua-class light frigates introduced in the Soviet Union, all of which have a displacement of only a few hundred tons, not only small tonnage but not long before decommissioning.
It is not difficult to see that the total number of "Soviet fleets" in the Algerian Navy is exactly ten, and these ten ships are actually at the age of retirement. Therefore, the Navy of Arguiglia decided to replace these ships. Therefore, after comprehensive consideration, the Algerian Navy introduced six 056s and three Russian Type 20380s, basically achieving "one-to-one" replacement
Second, although the displacement of the Type 056 is only more than a thousand tons, it is a frigate known for its anti-submarine capabilities. The frigate has an advanced towed anti-submarine sonar array capable of spotting submarine signals hundreds of kilometers away. It is reported that this set of sonar used in the 055, which has a displacement of more than 10,000 tons, is the same model. And the ship also has a helicopter deck, which can take off and land anti-submarine helicopters.
Algeria has had some disagreements with its neighbor Morocco, which has imported advanced Scorpene-class submarines from France. Therefore, Algeria is also in great need of a type of ship that can be used for anti-submarine warfare in the near sea, and 056 is just right.
Type 056 frigates have advanced performance, high quality and low price, and have been favored by many navies, including the Algerian Navy, Nigerian Navy, Bangladesh Navy, etc., and the future path of modified frigates will surely become wider and wider.