China's first aircraft carrier starts sea trial: Xinhua

AFP via Breitbart ^ | 9 August 2011 | Unknown

[LSUfan]

China's first aircraft carrier on Wednesday left its shipyard in the country's northeast to start its first sea trial, the state news agency Xinhua said. The revamped old Soviet ship's sea trial was in line with the schedule of its refitting project and would not take long, the news agency said, quoting military sources.

After returning from the trial, the carrier will continue its refit and test work, the report said, adding that the vessel had set sail from its shipyard in the city of Dalian.

Beijing last month sought to downplay the capability of its first aircraft carrier, saying the vessel would be used for training and "research", amid concerns over the country's military build-up.

[mylife]

I pray this thing is the POS I think it is.

About our only hope left is that we can stop china from projecting power into this hemisphere

India should have 3 carriers up and running soon.
We cant trust them but they can hold china at bay if all goes well.

[sam_paine]

[americanophile]

"China's first aircraft carrier, the former Soviet carrier Varyag"

When does it start leaking radiation?

[mylife]

It looks like a major POS, but dont discount the chinese.

Remember, the missile that smoked Israels flag ship off Lebanon was made in China

[Little Ray]

It isn’t a CVN. Might leak oil, though.

[henkster]

This flattop will serve the Chicoms well as a training ship. It will get them accustomed to conducting carrier ops, which they will then be able to apply when they buy a bunch of our Nimitz class ships at 0bama’s “American Military Going Out of Business Sale.”

Come on down! Prices slashed so low on high-quality military hardware you’ll think we’re crazy! Everything must go!

[Little Ray]

Didn’t sink it. It detonated short of the ship and did damage.
Another one missed completely and got a freighter.

[Dick Bachert]

I hate incomplete sentences.

“About our only hope left is that we can stop china from projecting power into this hemisphere...UNTIL WE ARE RID OF OBOZO AND HIS WRECKING CREW IN 2013.”

There, I fixed it!

[mylife]

It didnt have engines when Russia sold it.

It could be running on rice for all we know.

[mylife]

That’s not the way I recall it going down, but I could be wrong.

IMHO the chinese SUCK. but they copy shit well and they sure know how to whip up nationalism.

[Little Ray]

Well, we’ll find out soon enough!

Personally, I’m sort of surprised they’re going with manned aircraft and CVs and not leapfrogging us to go for UCAVs and their support vessels.

[GonzoGOP]

Beijing last month sought to downplay the capability of its first aircraft carrier, saying the vessel would be used for training and "research", amid concerns over the country's military build-up.

The Langley wasn't much of a ship, but the experience gained on her meant that the following Lexington and Yorktown classes were some of the best pre war carriers in the world. China is showing patience and intelligence by starting cheap (purchased and refit a hulk rather than building from scratch) to gain experience. Once they have that experience they can design a ship that fills the needs of their fleet.

I would much rather prefer an enemy, like Iran, who wastes money and effort in over the top propaganda driven expenditures that never actually work. China scares me because they are taking their time and doing everything low key. They have money, patience, and manufacturing power. Worst of all it appears they have a plan.

[Clock King]

Like Bill Whittle said on PJTV, [naval aviation] it ain’t as easy as it looks. Only two nations, the US and Japan, ever did naval aviation right. And it’s not just the carrier; there’s a whole support system of AWACS, choppers, defense, tankers, repair ships, frigates, and anti-submarine force that needs to be deployed along with the carrier. Took us decades to get it right. China probably doesn’t know what they’re doing.

[Rooivalk]

The Chinese lied about this carrier when they bought it from the Ukraine. There was a clause in the purchase contract that clearly stated that they were NOT to use this ship for military purposes. In fact the Chinese claimed they were going to make a floating casino out of it. Just saying.

[Rooivalk]

"...China probably doesn’t know what they’re doing."

You got that right. If you notice the deck of this carrier of theirs there is no non-slip coating like on American carriers. This means spilled fuel and other fluids from handling aircraft on the deck will make that deck a very dangerous place. This should prove interesting.

[US Navy Vet]

One thing that China AND Russia have NEVER been able to counteract is CORROSIAN! That will EAT their ships and Airplanes ALIVE! Give ‘em about 5 years and the a/c will start falling out of the air.

[tcrlaf]

Isn’t corrosion more a problem of MAINTENANCE?

[NCC-1701]

Especially if a US made torpedo breaches her hull.

[AppyPappy]

I think that was a different carrier.