 Like the aforementioned gunboats before it, the "Swatow" class, arriving for its new role(s) will likewise see increased conversions, some mothballing, and then eventually being scrapped.Again, as with previous units (vessels), many of the surviving boats are being converted to naval auxiliaries, such as firing (gunnery) range support craft, target control boat (remote controlling of target drones), as well as being target drones themselves.Despite the small amount of scientific instruments they carried, most of the range support boats in the PLAN also shoulder the responsibility of inshore surveying, regardless of their limitations.