Latest update on Chinese carrier - the former Russian Varyag - prep for non-skid surface

World Wide Aircraft Carriers ^ | March 22, 2006 | Jeff Head

[Jeff Head]

For those following the continuing development and re-outfitting of the former Russian carrier Varyag in the Chinese naval shipyards, this photo should prove very interesting:

That new yellow painting on the deck is a special primer used (normally) for laying down a non-skid surface on the deck of the carrier. If this proves to be true...then that is another clear indication that the Chineze intend to commission her militarily and to operate military combat aircraft off of her decks.

This development is in addition to the two new carriers the Chinese have announced they wikk be building of their own.

[Jeff Head]

FYI.

[Jeff Head]

Latest on the continuing saga of the Varyag in China.

[mylife]

looks like zinc chromate primer to me

[FormerACLUmember]

The former Russian carrier Varyag is a rusting piece of obsolete debris. I am unimpressed.

[Jeff Head]

They're getting her prettied up for the dance...but it will still be a good while before she can dance. They have to train their pilots and their entire fleet in carrier operations and that will take a long time.

My guess is that they will get their feet wet so to speak with the Varyag in preparation for the two of their own that they plan on building...ultimately having at least those three.

Still, a critical shift in the balance in the western Pacific.

[MD_Willington_1976]

Munitions don't care what it's coated with.. lol

[Eaker]

Was there any real doubt?

[RightWhale]

They have to train their pilots and their entire fleet in carrier operations

Right. The carrier by itself wouldn't be useful or powerful.

[Eaker]

Even Flubber?

[JerseyHighlander]

I thought this was in preparation for turning the Varyag into a floating "museum of military history of the Communists" for the local tourism commission. I read that on FR.

Who knows.

[Jeff Head]

Actually...not. She has been in the Chinese shipyards for several years now being progessively cleaned up and reoutfitted.

Here's how she looked going in...

Here's how she looks now:

Lots of time and money spent on getting her this far...my guess is they will use her to train in preparation for commissioning of their own carriers in the future.

[null and void]

♩ ♪ ♫ ♬
We all live on a yellow...

♩ ♪ ♫ ♬
We all live on a yellow...

[Fishing-guy]

Looks like the carrier is going to be used for practice in landing and take off. However, does China have carrier-based aircrafts?

[Jeff Head]

That's exactly right...but we best not underestimate them. As we found out in WWII, the munitions work both ways and though we licked the Japanese good...we lost a lot of men and ships doiug so.

[Jeff Head]

Nope...not for me.

[mylife]

While aircraft carriers are of concern.
Id keep an eye on their subfleet, and ballistic missiles

[RightWhale]

use her to train

Yep. A learning platform.

[Jeff Head]

Never heard of any such plan. The original stated plan that got the Ukraine to sell it was that she was going to be a casino.

But that holding company is long since out of business and she has been in the naval shipyards for over two years getting progressively more dressed up. Late last year she was painted in the official naval colors and they are now working on what appears to be a military non-skid surface on her deck.

[Jeff Head]

They are modernizing abd building up their sub fleet too. Major naval buildup across the board of all combatants.

[yarddog]

The thing which has always bothered me about aircraft carriers is the amount of treasure invested in a single item which can be destroyed farily easily.

I know the navy has all kinds of defense for them but one nuclear torpedo or missile is all it takes.