Naval Vessels Naming Regulation
# Naval Vessels Naming Regulation

The Naval Vessels Naming Regulation (Chinese: 海军舰艇命名条例; pinyin: Hǎijūn Jiàntǐng Mìngmíng Tíaolì) is a regulation that governs the naming of vessels of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy. It was published by the PLAN on November 18, 1978, and was revised on July 10, 1986.

## Nomenclature

The regulation states that surface combatants above cruiser class (i.e. battleships and aircraft carriers) shall be named by the State Council on a case-by-case basis while others are named after geographical locations:

| Ship | Named after |
| - | - |
| Cruisers and aircraft carriers | Chinese provinces |
| Destroyers | Major Chinese cities |
| Frigates | Minor Chinese cities |
| Nuclear submarines | Changzheng (Chinese: 长征; pinyin: Chángzhēng; lit. 'Long March') followed by a serial number |
| Ballistic and cruise missile armed conventional submarines | Yuanzheng (Chinese: 远征; pinyin: Yuǎnzhēng; lit. 'Expedition') followed by a serial number |
| Conventional submarines | Changcheng (Chinese: 长城; pinyin: Chángchēng; lit. 'Great Wall') followed by a serial number |
| Mine warfare ship | Chinese prefectures |
| Submarine chasers and corvettes | Chinese counties |
| Dock & tank landing ships | Chinese mountains |
| Other landing ships | Chinese rivers |
| Replenishment ships | Chinese lakes |
| Research ships | Chinese scientists |
| Training ships | Chinese naval officers |
