Chinese Carrier Killer Works

Strategy Page ^ | April 24, 2013 | Unk

[ryan71]

The U.S. Navy believes that China has already begun deploying the DF-21D ballistic missile, which was designed for use against the U.S. Navy, particularly aircraft carriers. In response the Americans are developing defenses and countermeasures against the DF-21D. Details of this effort are, for obvious reasons, kept secret.

The basic DF-21 is a 15 ton, two stage, solid fuel missile that is 10.7 meters (35 feet) long and 140cm (4.6 feet) in diameter. Range varies (from 1,700-3,000 kilometers) depending on model. The DF-21D is believed to have a range of 1,500-2,000 kilometers. While the 500-2,000 kg (.5-2 ton) warhead usually contains a nuclear weapon, there are also several types of conventional warheads, including one designed for use against warships. Some of these conventional warheads are for use against targets in Taiwan. This is because the DF-21, as a longer range ballistic missile, comes down on the target faster than the 1,200 shorter range ballistic missiles aimed at Taiwan. That means that the DS-21 is too fast for the Pac-3 anti-missile missiles Taiwan is installing around crucial installations.

Until recently there was no evidence that the complete DF-21D system had been tested. But recently satellite photos showed a 200 meter long white rectangle in the Gobi Desert (in Western China) with two large craters in it. This would appear to be a “target” for testing the DF-21D and two of the inert practice warheads appear to have hit the target. American carriers are over 300 meters long, although the smaller carriers (amphibious ships with helicopter decks) are closer to 200 meters long. It appears China is planning on the using the DF-21D against smaller warships, or perhaps they just wanted to see exactly how accurate the missile could be.

[central_va]

Very unlikely to be a "ballistic" missile if it is meant to be aimed at a ship unless it is one in port. Ballistic means that it just follows the path of gravity rather than being able to guided to its target. You won't have a chance to get a direct hit on a ship at sea unless it is traveling at a constant speed and direction for the entire time it takes to target, launch and fly the missile without some type of terminal guidance.

The resident AC carrier haters will disagree....

[Travis McGee]

Sometimes paradigm shifts in naval warfare are learned the hard way. Draw a line between Billy Mitchell’s dive-bomber tests against ships, and this Chinese missile.

[AppyPappy]

Also, you need a way to acquire the target.

[Travis McGee]

Good point. Is Chinese sat coverage good enough for that? Our intel guys will track all of their sat passes, and make ship turns when unseen.

[Travis McGee]

Posted above.

Ballistic is no longer used in a limited sense, and ICBMs have always had mid course guidance systems. In this case, the reentry guided warhead is delivered to a “basket”, which covers all possible positions of the ship (30 kts just doesn’t take you far in 10 minutes). The reentry vehicle then guides the warhead into the ship using either radar, IR, or a combination of both.

13 posted on Wednesday, April 24, 2013 8:38:36 AM by SampleMan

[AppyPappy]

If we even thought a Chinese satellite was fixing to get ready to even think about that, it wouldn’t be able to do it anymore.

[central_va]

Ballistic is no longer used in a limited sense, and ICBMs have always had mid course guidance systems. In this case, the reentry guided warhead is delivered to a “basket”, which covers all possible positions of the ship (30 kts just doesn’t take you far in 10 minutes). The reentry vehicle then guides the warhead into the ship using either radar, IR, or a combination of both.

If it has an active terminal guidance system then it is not a ballistic weapon. It is some kind of hybrid.

Any terminal homing IR etc. will be detectable. If it uses GPS then it won't work in wartime as GPS sats will be disabled.

[KarlInOhio]

Ballistic is no longer used in a limited sense, and ICBMs have always had mid course guidance systems.

Thanks. I didn't know how much terminal guidance "ballistic" missiles had now. I suspected that ICBMs' warheads did have some type of guidance to be able to get into the hundred yard errors when shot from half way around the world, but really haven't looked into the details recently.

[agere_contra]

The Navy could also strike the DF-21D launch sites with nuclear warheads.

Defensive ABM lasers are a great idea: there’s no harm in defense in depth + its good to be able to survive a first strike + ABM lasers allow the interdiction of non-nuclear missiles as well.

But if the enemy threaten the use of tactical nukes then there’s no point in keeping the gloves on.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Large carriers are now large targets.

A friend of mine was a USN submariner. He said there are only two kinds of naval craft....submarines and targets.

[MasterGunner01]

All very true, but we'd need someone in the White Hut [Obozo] that doesn't hate America as much as the Chicoms. Collectively, I don't think Barry Soetoro-Obama and his Iranian-born puppet master and real brain, Valerie Jarrett, would allow Dear Leader to retaliate against the Chinese in a shooting war. Obamanation would send the Chicoms a very sternly worded note delivered by SecState John “Lurch” Kerry asking for surrender terms.

[0.E.O]

Until recently there was no evidence that the complete DF-21D system had been tested. But recently satellite photos showed a 200 meter long white rectangle in the Gobi Desert (in Western China) with two large craters in it.

Hitting a stationary target with a ballistic missile isn't that hard when you know where it is. Hitting a moving target...?

[ßuddaßudd]

Wonder if they will demonstrate this new weapon on a Japanese vessel anytime soon?

[matthew fuller]

This is supposedly their new carrier-

http://beforeitsnews.com/china/2013/02/new-chinese-aircraft-carriers-quantum-leaps-ahead-of-us-we-can-thank-walmart-and-outsourcing-american-labor-for-financing-it-2445430.html

[hal ogen]

I’d like to thank the clinton administration for selling China guidance systems so as to make their missiles more accurate. Oh...did I mention, their spawn is purchasing a $14 million apartment in Manhatten?

[ro_dreaming]

Large Carriers have ALWAYS been large targets. Why do you think the carriers travel with destroyers, cruisers, frigates, submarines, tankers, and a fully functional airwing?

[Strategerist]

The DF-21D is a maneuvering anti-ship ballistic missile with a variable yield nuclear warhead.

Without going into details, the DF-21D anti-carrier warhead is non-nuclear, and would be effective at disabling a carrier.

[DPMD]

“...Delivered by John Kerry OFFERING surrender terms.”

[Rebelbase]

“But recently satellite photos showed a 200 meter long white rectangle in the Gobi Desert (in Western China) with two large craters in it”

That rules out the Gobi as an operational carrier area.

[Magnum44]

Ballistic does not mean unguided.