China's Type 055 destroyer Dongguan boasts powerful combat effectiveness

China's Type 055 destroyer Dongguan, hull number 109, boasts powerful combat capabilities, equipped with over 110 vertical launch units, multiple types of helicopters and drones, and a range of naval guns.

The main gun of the destroyer, with a 130mm caliber, delivers devastating lethal power.

Leng Xu, a crew member of the vessel, expounded on the strong weaponries of the warship.

"Our main gun boasts a large caliber, delivering greater lethality and destructive power. It also features high rate of fire, large ammunition capacity, and exceptional reliability. It can effectively strike enemy targets at sea and on shore. The structures like chocolate bars are the universal vertical launch units. We have 64 launch units on the foredeck and another 48 in the midship section. The ship carries a total of 112 launcher units. Their primary features are high ammunition capacity and the ability to launch multiple types of missiles. For example, both our anti-aircraft missiles and anti-ship missiles are launched from these units," he said.

"Above us is the familiar '10,000-round cannon' (close-in weapon system), our ultimate trump card for terminal defense. Much like a goalkeeper on the soccer field, its key strengths lie in high firing rate, low cost, and exceptionally high damage probability. During engagement, it instantly forms a barrage of fire, effectively intercepting incoming enemy missiles and aircraft," said Leng.

The flight deck of the ship is spacious, capable of accommodating two large helicopters for takeoff and landing.

"The ship is equipped with dual hangars capable of accommodating a wider variety of carrier-based aircraft and drones. Compared to previous ship designs, our deck is larger, providing a broader platform. With additional hangars comes greater responsibility. Therefore, we must train even harder to standardize every maneuver, establish protocols, and adapt to the demands of future battlefields," said Zhang Chen, another crew member.

The vessel also features specialized compartments such as a gym, library, and music room.

The Type 055 destroyer is the fourth-generation destroyer independently developed and built by China. As one of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's most advanced surface warships, it carries advanced radar, universal vertical launch systems, and comprehensive radio frequency system, serving as the core of the naval fleets for far-sea missions.

The Dongguan was commissioned to the PLA Navy together with another Type 055, the Anqing (Hull 110). With these additions, the number of China's Type 055 10,000-ton-class destroyers has risen to 10 since the first Type 055 destroyer Nanchang (Hull 101) was commissioned in 2020.

China's Type 055 destroyer Dongguan boasts powerful combat effectiveness

As simmering tensions especially over the Strait of Hormuz have disrupted global supply chains, one of Africa's biggest exporters of copper and cobalt, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), says blockades and rerouting have delayed or canceled key shipments of industrial chemicals used in mineral processing.

The DRC is the world's largest producer of cobalt, accounting for about 70 percent of global output. The mineral is essential for making rechargeable batteries used in smart phones, laptops and electric vehicles.

But production is now being affected by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, since mining companies rely heavily on imported sulfur-based chemicals to extract and process minerals.

More than 3,000 tonnes of these inputs have reportedly been canceled or delayed due to disruptions in global shipping routes.

"The mining industry depends heavily on fuel and other chemical inputs required for cobalt processing, all of which are imported. Therefore, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is significantly impacting the mining industry," said mining expert Jean-Pierre Okenda.

Some mining firms have already scaled back operations due to rising transport and input costs.

Authorities say rerouted shipments through Tanzania's Dar es Salaam port have nearly doubled since the conflict began.

Meanwhile, local firms say they are now under increasing pressure.

"Our local production in the DRC and many other African countries relies on imported inputs such as chemicals and other supplies that power factories and industries. Consequently, when international market prices rise, it is reflected here at home," said economic analyst Luc Alouma Mwakobila.

As tensions between the United States, Israel and Iran continue to ripple through global markets, DRC's copper and cobalt miners are paying more for the chemicals needed to keep production running.

The logistical challenges in supplying chemicals used for processing copper and cobalt have affected the production of critical minerals.

These minerals generate much-needed revenue for the DRC economy, which has already been under strain due to conflict in the country's east.

Hormuz Strait closure disrupts supply chain of DRC's mining industry