Military Technology Zone's video: China Launches Asia s Largest Surface Warship

China has launched the first in class of a new line of guided missile destroyers. The Type 055 ships are some of the largest surface combatants, by displacement, built in Asia since World War II. The yet-unnamed vessel and her sister ships will shield China's coming carrier fleet from air and missile attack. The new destroyer was launched on June 28 in Shanghai. The battleship is projected to enter service with the Chinese Navy in 2018. The Type 055 guided missile destroyers have a very similar feature set to the American Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. The ship's displacement, estimated at between 10,000 and 12,000 tons fully loaded, makes the two ships roughly the same size, with the Type 055 just a little bit heavier than its American counterpart.