Yaryag undergoing work through 2004 in the Dalian Shipyards
Varyag after movement to another shipyard in 2005
Posted on 08/14/2005 6:00:25 PM PDT by Jeff Head
Is China building a carrier?
By Yihong Chang JDW Correspondent &
Andrew Koch JDW Bureau Chief
Hong Kong & Washington, DC
Chinese shipyard workers have been repairing a badly damaged ex-Russian aircraft carrier and have repainted it with the country's military markings, raising the question once again of whether China is pursuing longer-term plans to field its first carrier.
In the latest developments, images show that workers at the Chinese Dalian Shipyard have repainted the ex-Russian Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrier Varyag with the markings and colour scheme of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy (PLAN). Additional new photographs show that other work, the specifics of which could not be determined, appears to be continuing and that the condition of the vessel is being improved.
JDW believes that PLAN technicians have also conducted thorough studies of the basic structure of the Varyag during the past few years to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the carrier's structural design. Former PLAN commander General Liu Huaqing stated in his memoirs that China had purchased blueprints for the carrier - a fact that Russian sources confirmed to JDW. Moreover, Gen Huaqing added: "The competent departments of the defence industry employed Russian aircraft carrier designers to come to China and give lectures."
Still, China's ultimate intentions for the Varyag remain unclear. One possibility is that Beijing intends to eventually have it enter into some level of service. A military strategist from a Chinese military university has commented publicly that the Varyag "would be China's first aircraft carrier".
(Excerpt) Read more at janes.com ...
I'm sorry but if you have steal plans for your own carrier you not in the alpha position.
They do that, we nuke. End of story.
No sarcasm intended, I am in earnest.
I have taught war at sea for the past ten years. We have some very good weapons. But so do the bad guys. In anti-ship missiles, the Russians are second to no one. Our greatest strength lies in our professionalism and tip of the spear initiative.
A naval and air action for Taiwan would be very large in scale. On paper, we should win that fight, but wars aren't fought on paper. The Chinese certainly know that a prolonged action isn't in their interest, so I would look for them to try forcing a very fast decision.
You are welcome...thank you for the dialog as well.
Underway?...Mean rest in dock? Weve got 6-8 wet right? Man we need 5 more.
They can be offensive, but the design is defintiely limited when copmpared to our own. The Chinese are looking to the long term (and using our dollars to fund it), and they will start here and gain experience and move up from their IMHO.
I sure hope so, one of my city councilmen has a son who is an officer on her! ;-)
Actually...we have 12.
Let them have it...and feast your eyes on this little number http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/cvn-77.htm
True story: When the Soviets were building their so-called aircraft carrier, they copied the jet-blast deflectors (JBD's) from the Nimitz class based.
They missed one little detail though. Our JBD's are water cooled. Their burned straight through the first time they applied afterburner to it.
Must be one heck of a catapult.
It will make a nice reef.
A cowboy in the White House (meaning that in a positive light, someone like Reagan or W) then they will wait and keep building up rapidly as they are doing now.
Okay. Just waxing humorous with the carrier port pic. I agree we should not discount the enemy. Taiwan must not fall.
I believe we shall prevail, I aslo believe we cannot underestimate them and a key to us prevailing will in fact be to NOT underestimate them.
We have to take it seriously. Given what they are doing, the best time to put a wrench in their works is now. It would be hard economically at this point, but the cost of waiting until they do have the experience and logistics will be much, much higher. That is my point.
If they use WMDs, you are absolutely right. But if they pull it off conventionally, and we have a demo or rino in the White House...I am not sure we would make unilateral use of our nukes.
Honestly, an ASM like Harpoon is likely to scorch the paint. Exocet is a much more capable missile and couldn't since an aluminum Perry-class frigate. Bombs and torpedos is how you kill a carrier.
hehehe...now that is the school of hard knocks!
I disagree...the Harpoon is the best sub-sonic ASM on the planet.
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