Chinese Navy (PLAN) moves carrier Varyag to dry dock for final outfitting

VARYAG TRANSFORMATION - JEFFHEAD.COM ^ | MAy 2, 2009 | Jeff Head

[Jeff Head]

The People's Republic of China has moved the carrier Varyag from dock side in their Dalian Naval shipyards, to a dry dock and logistics facilty two miles from its former birth.

Here are pictures of the carrier being moved and located at the dry dock.

With all of the material on deck and the expensive dry dock time, and in the wake of recent Chinese announcements that they are on track to produce their first carrier in the 2011 time frame, and with no current large carrier construction occurring ion other Chinese shipyards, it is more and more clear that the Varyag, potentially renamed the Shi LAng, will be that carrier.

Track the entire history of the Varyag Transformation --> HERE

[Jeff Head]

For those so interested, here is the latest info regarding the ongoing Chinese aircrft carrier program.

[Jeff Head]

FYI...latest on the Chinese carrier.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

They still haven’t figured out how to build a catapault.

[Bean Counter]

And if it ain’t got catapults, then it ain’t shiite...

[Jeff Head]

Right now, it looks like they are going the same route as the Russians and Britsh...ski-jump.

But they are able to launch some pretty good aircraft with that method and it is far and away above their current capabilities (none) and that of other nations in the region (outside of the US).

They do have the old cats of the Melbourne which they have studied significantly and there are rumors of their indegenous carries being CATOBAR instead of STOBAR.

[elcid1970]

IIRC, that sloped design is also used on British carriers to launch Harrier jump jets.

Does give it an exotic “Chinese junk” look, tho.

Maybe they’ll paint a gigantic Red Dragon along the sides?

;^)

[Joiseydude]

CATOBAR instead of STOBAR

Please explain the terms CATOBAR and STOBAR. Thanks

[Jeff Head]

CATOBAR - Catapault Assisted Take Off but Arrested Recovery.

STOBAR - Short Take Off but Arrested Recovery.

[skeeter]

Final outfitting as a casino?

[Jeff Head]

Hehehe...exactly.

[uglybiker]

Dang! That’s gonna be one snazzy casino when they get finished!

[M Kehoe]

Hi guy. Long time no talk to. I hope you are doing well. Thanks for the pics, and ping.

When the Chicoms get a battle group, and finish their carrier quals, give me a ping. Then again, I'd love to watch the carrier quals. Must be the sadist in me. ;^)

5.56mm

[Jeff Head]

Good to see you too my friend.

Hehehe...I expect the Chinese are going to be raltive quick studies...but they have a long way to go, and there are a lot of mistakes and miscalculations, errors, accidents, etc. to be made between now and then.

Just the same, they have to start somewhere and they already have all of the other vessels to make up a CSG, and it is something we should watch and monitor closely.

I expect in 20111 or so we may see quals going on.

[Jeff Head]

They are betting a lot on it...hehehe, but we hold several "flushes" in our hand.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Any idea on displacement and power plant?

[tet68]

I would imagine their fatality rate would be pretty high
to begin with. Night Quals would be a horror.
Sooo many ways to get killed on a ship like that.
They will probably try to skim the best seamen of the fleet
for her, but as we all know, that just means everyone foists
off their third raters.

[Jeff Head]

The Russians launch the SU-33 off of their ski jump on the Kuznetsov which is the sister ship of the VAryag and which is the same aircraft the Chinese will use (although updated) for their carrier.

[Jeff Head]

Displacement full load will be 65,000 tons. 8 boilers, 4 shaftts. Full Specs here:

VARYAG ON WORLD-WIDE-AIRCRAFT-CARRIERS

Sister ship to the Russian Kuznetsov, which is operational. Pics of her are a lot like what the Varyag will look like.

[M Kehoe]

...and it is something we should watch and monitor closely.

You of course, are correct. Unfortunately, we have a marxist in the White House. Birds of a feather...

5.56mm

[Jeff Head]

I doubt they will do any nioght ops for a long time. The Russians still don’t.