Posted on 06/29/2005 5:33:55 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
/begin my translation
China Secretly Constructing an Aircraft Carrier
China recently completed the final design for an Chinese aircraft carrier, and start in early August to construct it in secret at Jiang-nan Shipyard, Zhang-xing Island near Shanghai, reported the June 29th issue of Hong Kong Economic Daily(Jing-ji-ri-bao,) quoting (Chinese) high-level military sources.
Costing 3 billion yuan(390 million dollars), which takes up 3% of Chinese military budget, this carrier, due to be completed next year if everything goes well, has top speed 30 knots per hour and its maximal displacement is 78,000 ton. It is equipped with Russian engines and radars.
It will carry 54 fighter planes and 13 anti-submarine helicopters, and the introduction of latest Russian fighters(Su-33) is also in the works. When it would be in service in 2008, it is expected to boost Chinese naval strength.
The paper reports, "Zhang Guang-qin, vice minister of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, denied the rumor that a carrier is under construction. However, he emphasized it is the sacred duty of the Chinese navy to safeguard the country's sovereignty of territorial waters. It is in this context which they go for the construction of the carrier."
(Song Ui-dal, reporting from Hong Kong)
/end my translation
I am sure many Chinese would be impressed with the sight of fighters taking-off and landing on the carrier's flight deck.:-)
Ping!
They can sure build them cheaper than we can.
"I am sure many Chinese would be impressed with the sight of fighters taking-off and landing on the carrier's flight deck.:-)"
If they fly like that idiot that midaired the EP-3 back in 2001, whoever's working deck crew will be hating life.
Yeah. They have so much experience with carrier landings.
Hmmmm.....Come on at us Chicoms, perhaps the Japanese can instruct you about the futility of going against the USN.
LOL! Speaking as former flight deck crew, I can second THAT!
$390 Million, is that like an Essex class carrier?
I wonder when we will start taking the Chinese seriously. The companies I used to work for gave away the farm to set up manufacturing and distribution in China and I keep wondering when that short sightedness will come back to haunt us.
Sub target practice to start in 2008 in the China SEA. HE HE HE HA HA HA.
No angled deck?
I thought you needed 40 knots of wind to launch a plane? I guess they are banking on head winds.
It's really difficult to build an Air Craft Carrier in secret.
I believe every American carrier pilot since the early 1930s has been trained somewhere along the way by men who had experience in deck landings with whatever was "hot" in their day. Never been able to imagine how China, Russia or any other nation could start from scratch.
I'll almost feel sorry for them when a 688 sinks that sucker with a full spread of Mark V torpedoes. If it's anything like the Charles DeGaulle, it'll be fun to keep around for awhile, though.
Slave labor has a way of keeping your costs down.
Translation problem. It should say "top speed of 30 knots". You don't say "knots per hour."
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