[12] The Type 056 hull may have been based on the Pattani-class offshore patrol vessels, which were built in China for Thailand from 2005 to 2006.

[16] The Type 056 series was constructed at a high production rate to enhance the PLAN's littoral warfare capabilities.

[2] Starting in mid 2021, the PLAN transferred all 22 of the original Type 056 to the China Coast Guard.

[19] The Type 056 is suited for mid-range green-water missions and littoral duties, but not for major blue-water combat operations;[4] it is built with a 15-day endurance for combat missions such as patrol, escort and protection of exclusive economic zone maritime interests within 200 nmi (370 km; 230 mi) from the coast, freeing up larger warships for open sea deployment.

[21][22] Surface armament is reported as an AK-176 76-millimetre (3.0 in) naval gun,[21] two H/PJ-17 30 mm (1.2 in) autocannons,[3] and four pod-launched YJ-83 anti-ship missiles (AShM).

[18] HHQ-10 (or FL-3000N in foreign-operated vessels) surface-to-air missiles (SAM) are carried in a single eight-cell launcher.

It is likely that the Chinese will have undertaken extensive trials and analysis of any imported equipment and built a nominally indigenous system using the knowledge gained.

[23] The Bangladesh Navy operates four of the C13B[25] corvette variant, called Shadhinota-class in service.

[26] A Type 056 variant for the China Coast Guard was under construction at Huangpu in late 2014.

The forward superstructure was moved back to make for a raised structure ahead of the bridge.

[2] The Nigerian Navy operates two of the P18N offshore patrol vessel (OPV) variant.