The China Coast Guard (CGC) has armed its largest ship -- a converted Type 054A frigate of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) -- with a Type 730 seven-barreled 30 mm CIWS or close-in weapon system.

This makes this China Coast Guard ship -- CGC 46301 -- which is a Type 818-class vessel, the only coast guard vessel in Asia armed with a CIWS (pronounced "C-whiz").

CIWS are standard armament on destroyers, cruisers, aircraft carriers and other surface warships in world navies but not on coast guard vessels, which are either unarmed or armed with a few heavy machine guns or light cannon up to 20 mm in caliber.

The Type 730 mounts a Chinese-made, seven-barreled 30 mm Gatling gun. It carries the PLAN designation H/PJ12.

The Type 730 is protected by an armored automatic turret, and directed by radar and electro-optical tracking systems. Its maximum rate of fire is 5800 rounds per minute while its effective range extends to three kilometers. CIWS are used to shoot-down anti-ship missiles; other precision guided weapons and small aircraft such as helicopters.

Two CIWS turrets, one each on the port and starboard sides, were recently installed above the helicopter hangar at the stern of CGC 46301.

This leaves open the question as to why CGC is arming its ships with weapons unsuitable for the job of a coast guard.

CGC 46301 is festooned with one dual-purpose 76 mm PJ26 cannon; two Type 730 seven-barreled 30 mm CIWS autocannons and heavy machine guns. Non-lethal armament includes high pressure water cannons.

CGC 46301 can also carry a larger number of PLAN Marines for boarding and inspection action. She also comes with prison cells for captured foreign seamen.

The PLAN's Type 054A frigates and the Type 818 share similar specifications. The displace over 4,000 metric tons (full); are 134 meters in length; have a beam of 16 meters; a speed of 27 knots and a range of 8,000 nautical miles.