Project history: The first major warships, to be designed and built in China since 1945, even though they were an adaptation of the Soviet Project 50. They use the same machinery and basic hull form, but the forecastle has been raised and extends three-quarters the length of the ship. This gives more room for living space and equipment. The armament has been rearranged, with one 100mm gun forward and two aft. They are efficient ships, but their sensors are obsolescent and their AA surface and ASW armament are all weak. Unlike the Project 50, they were not built with TT so it would be more difficult to find room for SSMs to improve the surface armament. However, their armament is so weak compared with probable opponents that it is surprising that something has not been tried, particularly as one of the class engaged S Vietnamese warships in 1974. It may be that there is inadequate stability due to the enlarged forecastle to make such an alteration to the armament.