The Type 053 is a family of Chinese frigates that served with the People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force, and a small number of foreign navies. This article covers the entire Type 053 family except for the final three successors which differ significantly in size and design, the Type 053H2G, Type 053H3 and Naresuan-class frigates. The designation of ships and subclasses is somewhat confusing. Chinese nomenclature temporarily changed during the Cultural Revolution, and some subclasses gained different NATO reporting names.