China’s Mega Warship Plans Become Clearer With New Photos

Popular Science ^ | 07.23.2014 | Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer

[sukhoi-30mki]

Five months after the first pictures surfaced in February 2014, the Type 055 cruiser testing rig at Wuhan has taken significant steps towards completion. The advantages of a land based test rig allow Chinese naval engineers to make cheaper adjustments and modifications to the electronics, compared to rebuilding an expensive cruiser on sea trials. Once launched, the Type 055 cruiser will be among the world's most powerful surface combatant warships, giving the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) a multipurpose warship useful for both blue water expeditionary warfare and anti-access/area denial missions.

While much scaffolding remains, the photos show recent additions include a 130mm H/PJ-38 cannon turret (or a mockup, given the current lack of ammo loading machinery beneath the deck) at the bow. One Type 1130 close in weapons system (CIWS) is located in front the of the bridge superstructure on a platform behind the PJ-38 main gun (the space between the PJ-38 and Type 1130 CIWS would hold 64-72 vertical launch system (VLS) cells). The Type 1130 can fire around 10,000 rounds of two pound shells to intercept missiles flying at Mach 4. To round out the Type 055's defense armament, a HQ-10 air defense launched has been installed in the rear above the helicopter hangar. The gap forward of the hangar and behind the exhaust stacks could hold an additional 48-64 VLS cells.

[reed13k]

Yeah... I saw this: “compared to rebuilding an expensive cruiser on sea trials” and immediately thought they have a long way to go because the mockups do not substitute for sea trials in any way except for basic space and layout developments. Until they have the systems underway and see the interactions and stresses in sea lane conditions it ain’t cooked.

[BobL]

You might want to compare BATTLE TANKS, PLANES, and NUKES between the Russians and the US.

You might be surprised that, at best, we’re even...if that.

You might LEARN SOMETHING if you do.

[Ben Ficklin]

I don’t know about planes and tanks but as for nukes and nuke delivery systems we have been thru 20 plus years of START so there is parity thru reduction

[BobL]

That’s basically my point. We’re at parity on nukes, planes, and soldiers. They are still way ahead on tanks.

The dollar numbers don’t mean a thing for a number of reasons - if they did, there wouldn’t have been a Cold War and China wouldn’t have more soldiers. Just a comparison of personnel and procurement costs (for equivalent hardware) proves that out - we pay much, much, more for equivalent hardware - because we pay our people much better.

[Jeff Head]

The Chinese are building a very modern and very credible Navy. They have been working hard on it for well over 15 years.

THE RISING SEA DRAGIN IN ASIA

They are not near parity with the US Navy...but they are far more concentrated while we are spread out across the seven seas.

Their latest developments ion surface warfare include six type 052C destroyers which are similar to our Arliegh Burke class, and then a follow on, improved class called the Type 052D of which they have launched four vessels in the last two years, have two more building, and will build 12-16 of them.

More recently they have this mockup of their Type 055 cruiser, which will be on the order of 11,000 to 12,000 tons.

The mockup (which is something they also did with their carrier) is full scale and allows them to do a lot of training and logistical testing,

I took some creative license and PS'ed that photo to come up with this accurate depiction:

They will build ten to twelve of these.

As a testament of their building capabilities, they have been producing their Type056 LCS type corvette for the last two years. It is well armed (better armed than our new LCS) weighs in at just over `1,500 tons.

In the last twenty four months they have launched 22 o these and commissioned 14 of them.

[Jet Jaguar]

Active Duty ping.

[Jeff Head]

See my post 25.

[BobL]

Thanks...nice to NOT be labeled as paranoid once in a while.

We have to STOP THINKING that the rest of the world is standing still, thereby locking-in our advantage. That has never happened and never will.

No doubt the Brits thought that entering the 20th Century.