PLAN Type 75 LHA Under Construction at Changxing Island(Click for a high-res image)
PLAN Type 75 Construction at Changxing Island Explanation(Click for a high-res image)
Posted on 08/05/2013 8:44:29 AM PDT by Jeff Head
Today's China Military Review pronouncement regarding the construction going on at Changxing Island could indicates that the vessel is in fact a large, LHA Amphibious Assault vessel. This is the first "semi-official," type indication that the vessel and structures we see there at Changxing Island are in fact a PLAN LHA.
I have come up with to explain what we are seeing.
From this, it is clear to me that the PLAN is constructimg its first large LHA Vessel there at Changxing Island, probably in the 35-40,000 ton range. From the photo, it appears that they may have started a second such vessel there in the lower right.
Looks like your fiction may be coming true Jeff.
The Chinese build entire cities that nobody lives in. What are the odds that they are actually building this for some coherent purpose?
FYI, Chinese Navy continuing to expand and modernize.
If so, this has got to be making Taiwan nervous...
No doubt they stole the plans from the USA.
Not just Taiwan.
IIRC, the real threat to Taiwan is not outright invasion, its an effective economic blockade. Taiwan can’t survive without trade. There need be little or no fighting if the balance of naval and air power, plus the potential for international consequences to China, is such that the threat alone brings Taiwan to terms. Invading Taiwan should be unnecessary.
On the other hand, amphibious landings would be a threat to any state in the region. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and the Philippines could easily be threatened. The Chinese could use an amphibious invasion annex an island (like Palawan, and numerous others in the Philippines), overthrow a state (like Brunei) or bypass a defense line (like with Vietnam).
This is a large, flat deck, ampbibous assault carrier like the US Navy's WASP CLASS. They carry a lot of helicopters and landing craft to assault beached and inland positions with Marines.
The Chinese carrier is the Liaoning, CVV-16.
What they need most desperately is a fleet of 10-20 very good, modern, diesel/electric AIP submarines.
With the 20 or so large LST type vessels, the three large LPD vessels they have built in the last few years, and now these two LHA large amphibious assault vessels, and with their own submarines and many new frigates and destroyers to protect them, Taiwan would not be able to stop it.
As it is, the ROC has gotten so close to the PRC in terms of their economics, that it is doubtful it will ever come to that. They are simply becoming to dependent economically on the mainland.
bfl
No, Japan should be worried—they could land on the disputed Islands or maybe Okanawa? Or maybe Korea! This is a bold step for China but a needed one if they are to become a world power. Japan was once a powerful naval power—but their great ships are rusting on the bottom of the sea.
Well all I’m saying is we’re paying for it, and our own military is in the dumps because of that.
Bring back American industry.
Now.
Buuuump!
“The empty cities? Built for Chinese possibly eventually military and new upper class to be formed later. “
Or they could be replacements for the ones they lose in a nuke exchange.
Hard to say. By they sure didn’t build them for nothing.
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