Portsmouth gets set for a visit from the East

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Portsmouth Naval Base will receive a rare visit from the Far East next week when two ships from the Chinese Navy begin a four day visit to the city.

China's 5,800 tonne Luyang-class guided missile destroyer 'Guangzhou'
[Picture: Royal Navy]

The 5,800 tonne Luyang-class guided missile destroyer Guangzhou and the 20,500 tonne replenishment ship Wei Shanhu are scheduled to arrive on Thursday 6 September 2007 for a four-day goodwill visit.

The first Chinese warships to visit Britain for six years they will bring around 500 naval personnel from the People's Republic of China. The ships, which entered service in 2004, will be under the overall command of Rear Admiral Su Zhiqian, Deputy Commander of China's South Sea Fleet of the People's Liberation Army Navy, who is flying his flag in the Guangzhou.

Their call at Portsmouth follows a visit to St Petersburg in Russia and precedes a visit to Cadiz in Spain and also a stop in France. They began their 12,000 mile (22,000km) voyage from their base at Sanya in Hainan Province on 24 July 2007.

As she approaches Portsmouth the Guangzhou will fire a 21-gun salute to which the Royal Navy saluting battery at Fort Blockhouse, Gosport, will reply.

When the destroyer berths at South Railway Jetty, she will be welcomed by the Chinese Ambassador to Britain, Mme Fu Ying; the Commodore Portsmouth Flotilla, Commodore Andrew Cameron; the Captain of the Base (representing the Naval Base Commander), Captain Iain Greenlees RN and up to 400 members of the regional Chinese community in traditional, celebratory style with drums and dancing. Speeches of welcome will be delivered on the jetty.

During their visit, personnel from the ships will tour the Maritime Warfare Training Establishment at HMS Collingwood, Fareham. Admiral Su, along with other senior Chinese officers, will be given VIP tours of the historic warships HMS Victory and Warrior, and the Portsmouth-based aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, with which the visiting ships will conduct an on-passage exercise when they leave the following Monday.

Meanwhile some of the visiting sailors will get the opportunity to show off their ball skills when they take part in an inter-ship football match which will be played at HMS Temeraire against an HMS Illustrious team. In addition a 30-strong band from the Chinese ships will give two concerts in the HMS Victory arena over the weekend.

China's 20,500 tonne replenishment ship 'Wei Shanhu'
[Picture: Royal Navy]

A Naval Base spokesman said:

"We are delighted to welcome the Guangzhou and Weishanhu to Portsmouth Naval Base - ship visits play an important part in the development of the Royal Navy's links with foreign navies.

"In recent years several RN warships have visited mainland China and Hong Kong, most recently the Portsmouth-based HMS Westminster to Shanghai in October last year. These visits are seen as a positive step in the continuing development of UK-China relations."

The Guangzhou's normal armament includes surface-to-surface missiles, surface-to-air missiles, anti-submarine mortars, a 100mm gun and two 30mm guns. The 508ft (155m)-long warship is under the command of Captain Zhao Xiaogang.

Commanded by Captain Chen Zailiang, the 584ft (178m)-long Wei Shanhu is capable of replenishment at sea and can carry 10,500 tonnes of cargo including fuel, ammunition and water.

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This should be interesting for the country, and could be seen as showing that the countries are allies against a possible threat from Russia and North Korea.