Posted on 04/30/2016 11:20:45 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Pinzgauer, at China Defense Forum
167 Shenzhen
The Type 051B Destroyer, "167" Shenzhen, is shown here in its original configuation, including the forward HQ-7 SAM launcher and four 37mm anti-air turrets around its stern hangar. Until the Type 052C, it was China's largest indigenous surface warship.
The Chinese Navy (PLAN) has been expanding its power with a series of new, more capable surface warships like the 052D guided missile destroyers (DDG) and 054A frigates, while preparing its Type 055 cruiser for a launch at decade's end. but equally notable is how it is also spending big bucks to update its older warships to make them relevant in A2/AD operations.
www.fyjs.cn
Shenzhen Upgrade
This late April 2016 photo shows the Shenzhen's refitting including the removal of the 8 missile HQ-7 missile launcher, replaced by 32 VLS cells capable of launching HQ-16 medium range SAMs (the same missile used by the Type 054A frigate).
When the Type 051B destroyer "Shenzhen" (167) was originally commissioned in 1998, it was China's biggest surface warship at 6,100 tons. However, limitations on Chinese technology at the time meant that instead of the originally planned vertical launch system (VLS) for rapid fire of air defense missiles, the Shenzhen had to make do with an 8 missile launcher of short ranged (10km-15km) HQ-7 SAMs. But nearly two decades later, that mistake is being corrected.
www.fyjs.cn
Type 1130
Two Type 1130 CIWS Gatling cannons (in brown shrouds during the refit) have replaced the older four 37mm turrets. With much greater rates of fire, the Type 1130 improves the Shenzhen's survival capability against even supersonic missiles.
Put back in the shipyard in 2015, new photos now indicate that the Shenzhen is receiving a total of 32 VLS in front of its superstructure. Those 32 HQ-16 medium range (50-60km) SAMs have completely replaced the HQ-7 launcher. This is a significant gain, quadrupling the ship's available fire power and 16 times the area covered by missile. The Shenzhen is also getting two Type 1130 Gatling cannons on top of its helicopter hangar; each eleven barreled Type 1130 can spit out 10,000 one pound 30mm shells a minute at incoming supersonic missiles. These upgrades will increase the Shenzhen's defense against anti-ship missile, enemy aircraft and enable it to provide some level of air defense cover to other warships near it.
The same refits and updates are playing out for the foreign built ships in the PLAN. China has a purchased total of four Sovremennyy destroyers from Russia in the late 1990s and mid 2000s. These 7,900 ton DDGs are focused on surface warfare, with 8 Moskit P-270 supersonic antiship missiles, two dual barreled 130mm AK-130 turrets and two launchers for 48 SA-N-12 SAMs. While still powerful warships, China is looking to bring their systems up to speed on 21st century technology.
www.cjdby.net
More Missiles Always Welcome
The VLS cells in the rear of the Hangzhou (right behind the helipad, currently covered by a blue tarp), likely number 16-24 cells, each one can carry YJ-18 anti-ship missiles, HQ-9 SAMs or CJ-10 land attack cruise missiles.
Currently, Hangzhou (136), the oldest of the PLAN Sovremennyys, is undergoing a refit, entailing the removal of all its Soviet era weaponry in favor of modern Chinese systems. The AK-130 turrets will be replaced by the HJ/P-130 cannon, which has a longer range and the ability to fire a wide range of precision guided munitions. The Moskit P-270 missiles will likely be replaced with YJ-12 antiship missiles, which have a higher speed (Mach 3.5-4.0 vs. Mach 3.0) and greater range (400km vs. 250km). It is highly likely that the Hangzhou's communications and battle management system are also being refitted with more modern equipment. And just like the Shenzhen, the Hangzhou will receive VLS in the place of its older SAM launchers. The bow and stern SA-N-12 launchers are both being replaced with 2-3 sets of 8 cell VLS at each end of the warship. Those 32-48 VLS can maximize the Hangzhou's air defense capability by being able to more quickly fire SAMs, or carry land attack cruise missiles to extend its reach against land targets.
www.hobbyshanghai.net
H/PJ-38 Cannon
China's Sovremenny destroyers will replace their Russian AK-130 dual barrel turrets with single barrel H/PJ-38 130mm turrets. While the new turrets fire fewer shells, those Chinese indigenous munitions will have greater range and sophisticated precision guidance.
Giving new life to these warships is a relatively cheap fix for the PLAN when boosting its firepower. While the Shenzhen and Hangzhou may not be as fuel efficient or equipped with high tech radars like the 052D DDGs, upgrading their warfighting and survivability is a smart way to extend China's anti-air and anti-surface naval reach at low costs.
Did 6 years on an aging platform with modern updates. You can paint new lipstick on a pig, but the pig is still a pig.
Aging hulls are aging hulls. You can spend millions to stop the hemorrhaging, but it doesn’t mean you have an effective fighting force when the superstructure cracks a little more with every underway. I doubt they can even successfully perform a full-power run on that thing, much less perform effective damage control.
One SM-6 and KABOOM.
Treasure Fleet of Zheng He, perhaps?
Don’t insult our current military, please. They do the best damn job they can with the resources they have and you should be PROUD of the young men and women signing up IN WAR TIME.
I taught those kids. They’re amazing. We don’t need to spew vitriol. There is no “culture war” in the armed forces.
I am not insulting our military men and women. Our political “leaders” are destroying it.
You need a government with minimal corruption to afford a large navy. Mahand’s maxims on a powerful state needs a powerful navy still rings true.
China spends a small fraction compared to us on their navy, and gets pennies of performance for every dollar put in due to their poor leadership.
True words. Sorry for jumping. I just don’t see a military being gutted. It is hard right now, but that’s because of sequestration and the politicking of the brass and not some “culture war.”
Homosexuals in the open ranks, no one gives a shit. They work.
Let me get this part in less than 3 months so I can get this ship ready to fight. Let me get the funding so that our air boys can fly.
China’s navy, despite its aging vessels and incomplete refits, may soon surpass the US Navy, which, to all objective evidence, is on its way DOWN.
You can’t beat something with nothing.
China does have shipyards where they actually BUILD ships, and they have the cash reserves and access to technology to bring construction standards up to world class. Consider these vessels to be part of China’s learning curve, which has gotten considerably steeper in recent years.
Once China develops a true blue-water navy, most of the bets are off in regards to projecting power on international waters. Right now, they are operating in a near-vacuum as other navies are contracting their operations and active fleets.
You’d think that the shipyard wouldn’t use bare metal scaffolding. Look at all the rust stains on the ship.
Bare metal scaffolding?
Looks like bamboo to me!
And yes, they are rusty buckets.
Ships that need few personnel to operate and carry a smaller number of planes (10? .. 15?)
I'll go look, but I'm pretty sure that was their strategery ... a lot of smaller flat tops as opposed to our massive floating cities.
As far as I recall, that is totally infeasible. What you’re referring to is the baby flattop concept that wholly depends on major, significant tradeoffs.
Smaller crews endanger those crews. I’d write a more thorough reply but I’m on my phone. PM me if you’re interested and I’ll get to it in a few hours! :)
I get that feeling too.
Quantity has a quality all its own ~ Joseph Stalin
Wildly ineffient as you can’t carry a balance air wing on anything much less than 50,000 tons. It would be like sending a single combat arm — infantry — against an opposing combined-arms force. All you’re going to do is get infantrymen slaughtered.
Yep. I've got a friend in the navy, he was telling that less than 25% of their active counter measures on his carrier are working at any given time. But they hey his political officer always makes sure he knows all about gays and straight white male sexual harassment.
>I taught those kids. They’re amazing. We don’t need to spew vitriol. There is no “culture war” in the armed forces.
Dude, we have communist style political officers in every unit now.
Beyond recon, what's the point of a carrier at all? SAMs and large anti-ship missiles are the state of the game.
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