Dongtuo 835-class tug is a class of sea-going rescue tug (ATR) built in the People's Republic of China for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). The class is relatively little-known in open sources.
Development
The Dong-Tuo 835 rescue tug was developed from the Nan-Tuo 181-class rescue tug, inheriting the same basic hull form and layout with several modifications. These include a slightly modified hull form in the upper half portion of the bow with a different hawsehole for anchors, and replacement of the original mainmast of the Nan-Tuo 181-class with an enclosed mainmast of H-shape.
Design
The deck layout consists of three levels of superstructure. The first and second decks house crew quarters, conference room, mess, galley, scullery, and clinic. The third deck houses navigational, communication, and command posts. In addition to towing machinery, the tug is equipped with firefighting equipment.
Propulsion and Armament
Propulsion is provided by marine diesel engines. Armament is limited to small arms. The vessel carries no electronic warfare equipment, decoys, armor, aircraft, or aviation facilities.
Ships in Class
By 2017, at least two units of this class had been observed while fitting out. Dong-Tuo 835 (pennant number 东拖 835, meaning "East Tug 835") was the first ship of the class, commissioned in 2017 and assigned to the East Sea Fleet. A second unit was observed alongside Dong-Tuo 835 but without any pennant number or name assigned at that time. Displacement figures for the class are not publicly documented.
NATO Designation
The NATO designation for this class is not publicly known.
Status
As of available information, Dong-Tuo 835 remains in active service with the PLAN East Sea Fleet.
