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Chinese Carrier Killer Works
Strategy Page ^ | April 24, 2013 | Unk

Posted on 04/24/2013 4:49:16 AM PDT by ryan71

The U.S. Navy believes that China has already begun deploying the DF-21D ballistic missile, which was designed for use against the U.S. Navy, particularly aircraft carriers. In response the Americans are developing defenses and countermeasures against the DF-21D. Details of this effort are, for obvious reasons, kept secret.

The basic DF-21 is a 15 ton, two stage, solid fuel missile that is 10.7 meters (35 feet) long and 140cm (4.6 feet) in diameter. Range varies (from 1,700-3,000 kilometers) depending on model. The DF-21D is believed to have a range of 1,500-2,000 kilometers. While the 500-2,000 kg (.5-2 ton) warhead usually contains a nuclear weapon, there are also several types of conventional warheads, including one designed for use against warships. Some of these conventional warheads are for use against targets in Taiwan. This is because the DF-21, as a longer range ballistic missile, comes down on the target faster than the 1,200 shorter range ballistic missiles aimed at Taiwan. That means that the DS-21 is too fast for the Pac-3 anti-missile missiles Taiwan is installing around crucial installations.

Until recently there was no evidence that the complete DF-21D system had been tested. But recently satellite photos showed a 200 meter long white rectangle in the Gobi Desert (in Western China) with two large craters in it. This would appear to be a “target” for testing the DF-21D and two of the inert practice warheads appear to have hit the target. American carriers are over 300 meters long, although the smaller carriers (amphibious ships with helicopter decks) are closer to 200 meters long. It appears China is planning on the using the DF-21D against smaller warships, or perhaps they just wanted to see exactly how accurate the missile could be.

(Excerpt) Read more at strategypage.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
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To: KarlInOhio
Very unlikely to be a "ballistic" missile if it is meant to be aimed at a ship unless it is one in port. Ballistic means that it just follows the path of gravity rather than being able to guided to its target. You won't have a chance to get a direct hit on a ship at sea unless it is traveling at a constant speed and direction for the entire time it takes to target, launch and fly the missile without some type of terminal guidance.

The resident AC carrier haters will disagree....

21 posted on 04/24/2013 6:11:47 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: buckalfa; FreeAtlanta

Sometimes paradigm shifts in naval warfare are learned the hard way. Draw a line between Billy Mitchell’s dive-bomber tests against ships, and this Chinese missile.


22 posted on 04/24/2013 6:11:59 AM PDT by Travis McGee (www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com)
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To: Travis McGee

Also, you need a way to acquire the target.


23 posted on 04/24/2013 6:13:26 AM PDT by AppyPappy (You never see a massacre at a gun show.)
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To: AppyPappy

Good point. Is Chinese sat coverage good enough for that? Our intel guys will track all of their sat passes, and make ship turns when unseen.


24 posted on 04/24/2013 6:16:16 AM PDT by Travis McGee (www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com)
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To: central_va

Posted above.

Ballistic is no longer used in a limited sense, and ICBMs have always had mid course guidance systems. In this case, the reentry guided warhead is delivered to a “basket”, which covers all possible positions of the ship (30 kts just doesn’t take you far in 10 minutes). The reentry vehicle then guides the warhead into the ship using either radar, IR, or a combination of both.

13 posted on Wednesday, April 24, 2013 8:38:36 AM by SampleMan


25 posted on 04/24/2013 6:17:11 AM PDT by Travis McGee (www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com)
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To: Travis McGee

If we even thought a Chinese satellite was fixing to get ready to even think about that, it wouldn’t be able to do it anymore.


26 posted on 04/24/2013 6:22:45 AM PDT by AppyPappy (You never see a massacre at a gun show.)
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To: Travis McGee
Ballistic is no longer used in a limited sense, and ICBMs have always had mid course guidance systems. In this case, the reentry guided warhead is delivered to a “basket”, which covers all possible positions of the ship (30 kts just doesn’t take you far in 10 minutes). The reentry vehicle then guides the warhead into the ship using either radar, IR, or a combination of both.

If it has an active terminal guidance system then it is not a ballistic weapon. It is some kind of hybrid.

Any terminal homing IR etc. will be detectable. If it uses GPS then it won't work in wartime as GPS sats will be disabled.

27 posted on 04/24/2013 6:23:43 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: SampleMan
Ballistic is no longer used in a limited sense, and ICBMs have always had mid course guidance systems.

Thanks. I didn't know how much terminal guidance "ballistic" missiles had now. I suspected that ICBMs' warheads did have some type of guidance to be able to get into the hundred yard errors when shot from half way around the world, but really haven't looked into the details recently.

28 posted on 04/24/2013 6:24:27 AM PDT by KarlInOhio (Choose one: the yellow and black flag of the Tea Party or the white flag of the Republican Party.)
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To: MasterGunner01

The Navy could also strike the DF-21D launch sites with nuclear warheads.

Defensive ABM lasers are a great idea: there’s no harm in defense in depth + its good to be able to survive a first strike + ABM lasers allow the interdiction of non-nuclear missiles as well.

But if the enemy threaten the use of tactical nukes then there’s no point in keeping the gloves on.


29 posted on 04/24/2013 6:31:48 AM PDT by agere_contra (I once saw a movie where only the police and military had guns. It was called 'Schindler's List'.)
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To: Venturer
Large carriers are now large targets.

A friend of mine was a USN submariner. He said there are only two kinds of naval craft....submarines and targets.

30 posted on 04/24/2013 6:39:09 AM PDT by Bloody Sam Roberts (For me, I plan to die standing as a free man rather than spend one second on my knees as a slave.)
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To: agere_contra
All very true, but we'd need someone in the White Hut [Obozo] that doesn't hate America as much as the Chicoms. Collectively, I don't think Barry Soetoro-Obama and his Iranian-born puppet master and real brain, Valerie Jarrett, would allow Dear Leader to retaliate against the Chinese in a shooting war. Obamanation would send the Chicoms a very sternly worded note delivered by SecState John “Lurch” Kerry asking for surrender terms.
31 posted on 04/24/2013 6:40:27 AM PDT by MasterGunner01
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To: ryan71
Until recently there was no evidence that the complete DF-21D system had been tested. But recently satellite photos showed a 200 meter long white rectangle in the Gobi Desert (in Western China) with two large craters in it.

Hitting a stationary target with a ballistic missile isn't that hard when you know where it is. Hitting a moving target...?

32 posted on 04/24/2013 6:53:21 AM PDT by 0.E.O
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To: ryan71

Wonder if they will demonstrate this new weapon on a Japanese vessel anytime soon?


33 posted on 04/24/2013 7:15:57 AM PDT by ßuddaßudd (>> F U B O << "What the hell kind of country is this if I can only hate a man if he's white?")
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To: ryan71

This is supposedly their new carrier-

http://beforeitsnews.com/china/2013/02/new-chinese-aircraft-carriers-quantum-leaps-ahead-of-us-we-can-thank-walmart-and-outsourcing-american-labor-for-financing-it-2445430.html


34 posted on 04/24/2013 7:54:58 AM PDT by matthew fuller (Multiculturalism is the answer!)
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To: matthew fuller

I’d like to thank the clinton administration for selling China guidance systems so as to make their missiles more accurate. Oh...did I mention, their spawn is purchasing a $14 million apartment in Manhatten?


35 posted on 04/24/2013 8:27:28 AM PDT by hal ogen (First Amendment or Reeducation Camp?)
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To: Venturer

Large Carriers have ALWAYS been large targets. Why do you think the carriers travel with destroyers, cruisers, frigates, submarines, tankers, and a fully functional airwing?


36 posted on 04/24/2013 9:08:19 AM PDT by ro_dreaming (G.K. Chesterton, “Christianity has not been tried and found wanting. It’s been found hard and lef)
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To: MasterGunner01
The DF-21D is a maneuvering anti-ship ballistic missile with a variable yield nuclear warhead.

Without going into details, the DF-21D anti-carrier warhead is non-nuclear, and would be effective at disabling a carrier.

37 posted on 04/24/2013 9:45:08 AM PDT by Strategerist
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To: MasterGunner01

“...Delivered by John Kerry OFFERING surrender terms.”


38 posted on 04/24/2013 9:50:26 AM PDT by DPMD
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To: ryan71

“But recently satellite photos showed a 200 meter long white rectangle in the Gobi Desert (in Western China) with two large craters in it”

That rules out the Gobi as an operational carrier area.


39 posted on 04/24/2013 9:51:59 AM PDT by Rebelbase (1929-1950's, 20+years for full recovery. How long this time?)
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To: KarlInOhio

Ballistic does not mean unguided.


40 posted on 04/24/2013 10:17:30 AM PDT by Magnum44 (I have had just about enough)
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