The 49th Escort Task Force of the Chinese Navy Sets Sail for the Gulf of Aden

Xinhua News Agency, Sanya, August 12 (Li Bingxuan, Wang Huangfei) The 49th escort task force of the Chinese Navy set sail from a military port in Sanya, Hainan, on the morning of the 12th, heading to the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia to replace the 48th escort task force in carrying out escort missions.

At around 10:30 a.m., amid the majestic sound of military music, the vessels of the task force untied their moorings one by one and slowly departed from the dock. On the deck, the escort officers and soldiers were in high spirits, standing in neat rows, waving goodbye to their motherland and loved ones.

The 49th escort task force is mainly composed of naval forces from the Southern Theater Command, including the guided-missile destroyer Kunming, the guided-missile frigate Yueyang, and the large ocean comprehensive supply ship Luomahu, carrying 2 onboard helicopters and dozens of special operations personnel. All three warships were independently designed and built by China, with the Kunming being on its first escort mission.

During the mission preparation phase, the task force command post closely monitored the risks and challenges that the escort operation might face, as well as actual threats, and conducted targeted training focused on practical weapon use, accompanying escort, and underway replenishment, in accordance with the requirements for comprehensive realistic combat training.