The Type 055 destroyer ([color=var(--color-progressive,#36c)]NATO/[color=var(--color-progressive,#36c)]OSD designation Renhai-class cruiser)[color=var(--color-progressive,#36c)][18] is a [color=var(--color-progressive,#36c)]
class of [color=var(--color-progressive,#36c)]
stealth [color=var(--color-progressive,#36c)]
guided-missile destroyers (rated as [color=var(--color-progressive,#36c)]
guided-missile cruisers per NATO/OSD standard parlance) constructed for the [color=var(--color-progressive,#36c)]
Chinese [color=var(--color-progressive,#36c)]
People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). It has a multi-mission design; the combination of sensors and weapons provides a main role of [color=var(--color-progressive,#36c)]
area air defence, with [color=var(--color-progressive,#36c)]
anti-submarine warfare capabilities surpassing previous Chinese [color=var(--color-progressive,#36c)]
surface combatants.[color=var(--color-progressive,#36c)]
[19] The Type 055 undertakes [color=var(--color-progressive,#36c)]blue-water expeditionary missions[color=var(--color-progressive,#36c)][20] and forms the primary escort for [color=var(--color-progressive,#36c)]Chinese aircraft carriers.[color=var(--color-progressive,#36c)]
[19] The [color=var(--color-progressive,#36c)]
United States classifies these ships as [color=var(--color-progressive,#36c)]
cruisers[color=var(--color-progressive,#36c)]
[21] as the [color=var(--color-progressive,#36c)]
United States Navy (USN) defines a cruiser as a large multi-mission surface combatant with [color=var(--color-progressive,#36c)]
flag facilities;[color=var(--color-progressive,#36c)]
[22] this suggests the U.S. expects the Type 055 to fulfill a similar role to the USN's [color=var(--color-progressive,#36c)]
Ticonderoga-class cruiser.[color=var(--color-progressive,#36c)]
[19] 