Exercises Military Diplomacy

Warships Ride the Waves, Forging the Sword in Distant Seas: Navy's 48th Escort Task Force Conducts Multiple Targeted Training Events

战舰踏浪、砺剑远洋，海军第48批护航编队开展多项针对性训练

PLA Daily (解放军报) 7 June 2026

Summary

The PLA Navy's 48th Escort Task Force recently conducted counter-piracy drills, VBSS training, and day-night ship-borne helicopter operations aboard the frigate Tangshan in the Gulf of Aden, with special operations personnel executing live interdiction fire against simulated fast-attack small craft. The article documents the task force's practice of embedding mission-specific training into active escort deployments rather than treating the Gulf of Aden rotation as a low-intensity holding pattern — a posture the task force commander explicitly frames as preparation for 'diversified missions.' Squadron Commander Ma's emphasis on combat-realistic standards for small-craft engagements extends a visible pattern in PLA Navy escort reporting of using the Gulf of Aden mission as a sustained live-environment training platform for skills — particularly VBSS and helicopter deck operations at night — that transfer directly to higher-end maritime operations.

Translation

Warships Ride the Waves, Forging the Sword in Distant Seas

— A Record of the Navy's 48th Escort Task Force Conducting Multiple Targeted Training Events

■ Du Jiangfan, Zhang Dong

The task force conducts ship-aircraft coordinated training. Photo by Du Jiangfan

Recently, the Navy's 48th Escort Task Force conducted multiple targeted training events in a sea area of the Gulf of Aden, effectively enhancing the task force's coordinated combat and emergency response capabilities.

"Several 'suspicious small craft' are approaching us at high speed." Aboard the Tangshan, the urgent battle alarm suddenly sounded.

"Shift to Level-One counter-terrorism and counter-piracy deployment." After the order was issued, the Tangshan rapidly maneuvered to place itself between the escorted merchant vessel and the "suspicious small craft," deterring them from continuing to approach the merchant ship. Simultaneously, special operations personnel quickly occupied firing positions according to their combat groupings.

As warning sirens sounded, the Tangshan issued verbal warnings to the targets via external loudspeakers and VHF Channel 16, and fired signal flares to warn and drive them off. However, the "suspicious small craft" ignored the warnings and continued to approach. "Conduct interdiction fire." Special operations personnel carried out precise interdiction fire against targets at varying distances and speeds, forming a curtain of fire on the sea surface and successfully driving off the "suspicious small craft."

"Small craft are fast and highly maneuverable. The detachment must firmly establish combat-realistic standards during training and respond to them in a targeted manner," said Squadron Commander Ma of the special operations detachment. Since assuming the escort mission, the detachment has routinely conducted training in subjects including special marksmanship, tactical hand signals, small-craft boarding, and visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) operations, continuously improving special operations personnel's emergency response capabilities in complex sea conditions.

The following morning, just after dawn, special operations personnel carrying weapons quickly boarded the ship-borne helicopter and established security positions at the cabin doors, closely monitoring movements on the sea surface. They successively completed subjects including security patrol, covert reconnaissance, and target identification.

As night fell, training shifted to night takeoff and landing subjects. Deck directors used dedicated light signals to relay real-time altitude and speed information. In the cockpit, pilots kept close watch on instrument readings and continuously corrected flight attitude. In the end, the helicopter precisely entered the landing approach path and touched down steadily on the Tangshan's flight deck.

Opening the 48th Escort Task Force's training schedule, the subjects follow one after another: anti-piracy drills, live-fire shooting training, ship-borne helicopter day-and-night flight training, and more. The task force commander stated that while carrying out routine escort missions, they are making full use of the complex maritime environment to organize targeted training closely tied to escort mission requirements, continuously tempering the task force's ability to execute diversified missions.

Original Chinese

战舰踏浪砺剑远洋 ——海军第48批护航编队开展多项针对性训练纪事 ■杜江帆张东编队进行舰机协同训练。杜江帆摄近日，海军第48批护航编队在亚丁湾某海域开展多项针对性训练，有效提升了编队协同作战和应急处置能力。 “有数只‘可疑小艇’高速向我接近。”唐山舰上，急促的战斗警报声骤然响起。 “转一级反恐反海盗部署。”指令下达后，唐山舰快速机动，将被护商船与“可疑小艇”隔离，慑阻其继续向商船接近，同时，特战队员按照战斗编组快速占领射击阵位。伴随着示警汽笛声响起，唐山舰通过舱外扩大器和甚高频16频道向目标喊话警告，并发射信号弹实施警告驱离。然而，“可疑小艇”不听警告持续接近。“进行拦阻射击。”特战队员针对不同距离、不同速度的目标实施精准拦阻射击，在海面形成弹幕，成功驱离“可疑小艇”。 “小艇速度快、机动能力强。分队必须在训练中牢固树立实战化标准，有针对性加以应对。”特战分队马队长介绍，执行护航任务以来，分队常态化开展特种射击、战术手语、小艇攀爬、临检拿捕等科目训练，不断提高特战队员在复杂海况下的应急响应能力。次日清晨，天刚破晓，特战队员携带武器快速登上舰载直升机，并依托舱门建立警戒阵位，严密监视海面动向。他们先后完成警戒巡逻、隐蔽侦察、目标识别等科目。夜幕降临，训练转入夜间起降科目。舰面引导员使用专用灯光信号，实时传递高度、速度信息。驾驶舱内，飞行员紧盯仪表参数，不断修正飞行姿态。最终，直升机精准切入着舰航线，稳稳降落在唐山舰飞行甲板。翻开第48批护航编队的训练计划表，反海盗演练、实弹射击训练、舰载直升机跨昼夜飞行训练……训练科目一项接着一项。编队指挥员介绍，他们在执行常态化护航任务的同时，充分利用复杂海域环境，紧贴护航任务组织针对性训练，不断锤炼编队遂行多样化任务能力。