North Sea Fleet
The Northern Theater Command Navy (), or the North Sea Fleet (NSF; ) is one of the three fleets of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy, under the Northern Theater Command. In September 1950 the Qingdao Army Base was redesignated as a naval base. Following the departure of the Soviet Navy from Lüshunkou (Port Arthur), the North Sea Fleet was established in 1960 with naval bases in Qingdao and Lüshunkou. It includes the Aircraft carrier Liaoning, as well as nuclear-powered attack and missile submarines based at Qingdao bastion. The North Sea Fleet was historically the most capable  of the Navy's three fleets, being the first in China to operate destroyers, shore-based missiles and nuclear submarines. In recent years however, the shift in strengthening of importance and strategic capabilities of the East and South Sea Fleets are more prioritised. Major naval bases. The fleet headquarters is located at Qingdao, with other major naval bases at: Ships. The flagship of the fleet is the "Liaoning" (16), a Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrier. Aircraft carrier Destroyers Frigates Corvettes Nuclear submarines Diesel-electric submarines Landing ships Replenishment ships