Two of China's warships converted to coast guard vessels

China is converting two of its four obsolete Type 053H2G-class frigates into coast guard vessels to carry out maritime patrol operations in the disputed East China and South China seas, writes British naval expert Andrew Tate in a piece for the UK-based IHS Jane's Defence Weekly.

Photos posted on the internet indicate that the modification of the two vessels is taking place at a shipyard in Pudong, Shanghai.

One of the vessels has had most of its armaments removed, including its YJ-83 anti-ship missile launcher, HQ-61 surface-to-air missile launcher, the twin 100mm gun turret and two aft twin 37mm gun mountings.

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