Type 906 torpedo trial craft is a Chinese torpedo craft currently in service with the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN),[1] and has received NATO reporting nameXiang Yang Hong 9[1] or 向阳红 9, meaning facing the red sun. After more than three decades of service, the ship still remains active as of mid 2010s. In addition to support torpedo weaponry development, the ship is equipped to perform various research tasks, and thus also classified as general purpose research ship (AGE/AG).[1]
The ship displaces 2,300 tons and took five years and three months to complete. The hull is based on that of Type 625 research vessel, and in addition to conducting sea trials for torpedo, mine and other underwater weaponry trials, the ship is also tasked to perform missions to test and support acoustic systems such as DMT, PATS, and OCEANO. In addition, the ship is also capable of conducting weather and hydrographic research. named as Kancha (勘查, meaning survey in Chinese) 3, and the complete name was Drone Mine Acoustic Tracking System Work Mother Ship (Ba-Lei Shui-Sheng Gen-Zong Xi-Tong Gong-Zuo Mu-Chuang. 靶雷水声跟踪系统工作母船)[2]