[Jeff Head]

Actually it is not an old WW II vessel at all. It was the second of the Russian Carriers, newer than the Kuznetsov the Russians use.

RUSSIAN KUZNETZOV CARRIER

It is a pretty strong design...though not nearly up to our carriers.

The point is, the Chinese have been embarked for the last ten years in a massive naval buildup while we have been buisly downsizing.

It will take them years to get up to snuff on carrier ops, but they are jumoping in, putting this carrier out (and it will be an effective platform and a dangerous one if we do nmot take it seriously with its escorts and air wing), and are building two more simultabneously at Shanghai.

Their close in defense is impressive with four 18-round anti-missile launchers that are very similar to our RAM launchers, four, ten-barrell, 30mm CIWS, four multiple anti-torpedo missile launchers, etc.

No today or tomorrow, but if we continue to sit on our laurels, they could pose a significant threat in the next 10 years.

[freedumb2003]

>>No today or tomorrow, but if we continue to sit on our laurels, they could pose a significant threat in the next 10 years.<<

I admit that is the underlying point. And the current holder of that direction is barry the zero, which should scare the crap out of every American (but does not).

Thanks for clarifying — I knew it was a renovation, but I got the era wrong. Thank God the Chinese can’t put together something like Newport News - YET!