China mounts its largest-ever modern naval gun for shore bombardment

China is advancing its naval artillery capabilities by mounting what could be the largest modern naval gun ever deployed on a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessel—a 155 mm cannon—on a Type 910 weapons trials ship at the Liaoning Shipyard. This new gun surpasses the current 130 mm H/PJ-38 system used on China’s most powerful surface combatants, such as the Type 052D and Type 055 destroyers. The weapon, reportedly weighing around 21,800 kilograms and capable of firing guided projectiles, aligns with earlier reports of a 155 mm naval gun under development, potentially produced by State Factory 447 and linked to NORINCO’s Inner Mongolia Northern Heavy Industries Group. Imagery also suggests that a Type 071 landing platform dock may be undergoing similar gun integration tests, indicating efforts to explore deployment on amphibious vessels. The introduction of a 155 mm naval gun marks a significant shift in China’s naval artillery profile, emphasizing enhanced shore bombardment