PRC Peoples Liberation Army Navy

[John Fedup]

Given the Ukraine's success with naval drones against the Russian navy, perhaps Taiwan's investment in naval drones may force China to re-assess/delay their invasion plans albeit the PLAN is likely very superior to the Russian navy (submarine force excepted).

Taiwan's New Naval Drones Could Strike Any Chinese Invasion - Naval News

 

[Volkodav]

In the last few days an incident occurred where a Chinese destroyer collided with a Chinese coast guard ship, while both were harrassing a filipino fishing boat and a filipino coast guard ship. After the collision, the PH CG ship offered medical assistance to the Chinese ships, with no reply.

What I want to point out though is the damage to the destroyer......is consisted of a few scratches and a dent. The Chinese CG ship's bow was completely crushed, in contrast. you can google search this easily.

There have been several high profile collisions in the last few years involving western ships, most of which show major damage and several being declared non salvageable.

The point is- western ships have thin steel shells and it looks like China has possibly decided to improve survivability with thicker/stronger ships.

I toured a Spruance class destroyer years ago and one of the crew mentioned she'd been involved in a collision and couldn't use any of her forward armament until she had a complete refit because of misalignment cause by the impact.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Chinese destroyer has more damage than is apparent.

 

[Redshift]

I toured a Spruance class destroyer years ago and one of the crew mentioned she'd been involved in a collision and couldn't use any of her forward armament until she had a complete refit because of misalignment cause by the impact.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Chinese destroyer has more damage than is apparent.

Many countries and Navies would, understandably, not make this public (except the UK because the Daily Telegraph would make it a front page headline) but China and the PLAN would most likely lock anyone up who even breathed a word about such news. They probably still view the coastguard vessel as operational

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

I toured a Spruance class destroyer years ago and one of the crew mentioned she'd been involved in a collision and couldn't use any of her forward armament until she had a complete refit because of misalignment cause by the impact.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Chinese destroyer has more damage than is apparent.

Imagine the misalignment of the systems on board the coastguard vessel.
Maybe even sensitive navigation systems like the INS have to be replaced, the deceleration really had to be very abrupt.

 

[Ananda]

Fujian shown trial launching J-15, J-35 on the EMALS catapult and arrested landing. However the EMALS seems become the focus, as it is shown case that China EMALS catapult works.

Add KJ-600 carrier based AEW

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[T.C.P]

I have been a member on this forum for over a decade, back when I was still in high school. Imagine someone back then saying that China would launch a 5th gen fighter from EMALS on a carrier before the US navy.

 

[spoz]

Gerald Ford has been launching aircraft using EMALS since 2017, so China is not the first by about 8 years.

Still an impressive achievement in a short time, though.

 

[John Fedup]

Delete

 

[John Fedup]

Gerald Ford has been launching aircraft using EMALS since 2017, so China is not the first by about 8 years.

Still an impressive achievement in a short time, though.

Have F-35Cs been launched off the Ford?

 

[T.C.P]

Have F-35Cs been launched off the Ford?

Ford still does not have F-35s. The US launched F-35Cs from ground based EMALS launchers, but none from any carriers. AFAIK the issue with the Ford is not its EMALS, but its missing other things that they apparently need to host F-35Cs.

 

[Ananda]

This trial on Fujian is not shown the air wing will be ready soon. It is shown:

1. The EMALS initial operation trial shown it works,
2. The three types of planes that being prepares for CATOBAR operation are so far shown they are suitable doing that.

It is also shown PLAN still mimic USN on air wing types with J-35 (for F-35), J-15 (for FA-18), and KJ-600 (for E-2D). To stress this is only talk similar function not capabilities, I don't want to enter that rabbit hole discussion.

There are still debate on Chinese forum whether the 4th carrier will be conventional power like Fujian, or CVN. Personally from the planned 6 carriers by next decade, I tend to see PLAN will move conservatively. Thus 2 STOBAR CV, 2 CATOBAR CV, and 2 CATOBAR CVN. If they can do this on the next decade means they are able to field 6 Carrier Air Wing. Still remarkable jump on Carrier operation for a Navy that until early last decade still has zero experience operating Carrier Air Wing.

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

Fujian shown trial launching J-15, J-35 on the EMALS catapult and arrested landing. However the EMALS seems become the focus, as it is shown case that China EMALS catapult works.

Add KJ-600 carrier based AEW

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtube.com

It is really frightening how fast and precisely china can copy foreign military technology and capabilities. The procedures, uniforms, hand signals... I wonder if they just watch Top Gun over and over again, or did they hire american consultants who don't have a problem to teach such things to the chinese?

This article reports about sea trials of two chinese very large underwater vehicles/unmanned submarines. China has built two similar sized drone submarines and is testing them together in the South China Sea near Hainan.

China Moves Two Super-Sized 'XXL' Uncrewed Submarines To South China Sea - Naval News

 

[Ananda]

Deino X account put photo from Weibo of what being speculate early modules block for PLAN Type 4 Carrier.

Now no official announcement on Type 4 or what kind of propulsion thar it will use. Personally I still believe it will be another Conventional power CATOBAR. PLAN usually quite conservative on progressing the type. So I'm still suspect the plan 6 carriers will still be 2 STOBAR, 2 Conventional CATOBAR, and 2 Nuclear CATOBAR.

I'm just not find enough effidence they have build substantial larger Naval Nuclear Reactor, then what they are operating in their SSBN. If they want CVN as USN operate, they need 2 larger Carrier size nuclear reactor, and not 6-8 Submarine size nuclear reactors for one CVN.

 

[John Fedup]

View attachment 53652

Deino X account put photo from Weibo of what being speculate early modules block for PLAN Type 4 Carrier.

Now no official announcement on Type 4 or what kind of propulsion thar it will use. Personally I still believe it will be another Conventional power CATOBAR. PLAN usually quite conservative on progressing the type. So I'm still suspect the plan 6 carriers will still be 2 STOBAR, 2 Conventional CATOBAR, and 2 Nuclear CATOBAR.

I'm just not find enough effidence they have build substantial larger Naval Nuclear Reactor, then what they are operating in their SSBN. If they want CVN as USN operate, they need 2 larger Carrier size nuclear reactor, and not 6-8 Submarine size nuclear reactors for one CVN.

CVN Enterprise (the 1st CVN) had several smaller reactors, 6 or 8 IIRC and all future carriers had two large reactors so I am sure the PLAN took note of this fact. The PLAN will be content with conventionally powered carriers and will wait for large reactors...just my two cents.

 

[Ananda]

The PLAN will be content with conventionally powered carriers and will wait for large reactors...just my two cents.

Yes, that's basically also my thinking in my previous posts. They can't go with French move with enlarged their Submarine reactor design. French can do it for 40K ton carrier. However China want at least twice that size or more.

Satellite images show China working on nuclear reactor for warship

Numerically, China's navy is already the worlds largest and has been rapidly modernising.

www.euronews.com

.

Last year Western media talks on satellite images of facility that being talk developing carrier reactor. Even so, if they already begin to build the #4 carrier, then two of reactors at least has to be ready 2-3 years from now. I don't think testing the prototype will be ready on that period.

So all this as I say before, not shown China ready soon enough to operate larger naval reactors for the new carrier. I still believe #4 carrier like #3 carrier Fujian will still be conventional. Considering how long they tested new generation submarine reactor before put it in their fleet, I suspect it will at least, even with China productivity, 5-6 years before carrier reactor ready.

In mean time putting 4 conventional carriers around SCS, Taiwan Strait and East China Sea is already significant enough challenge even to USN CVN Groups

 

[swerve]

CVN Enterprise (the 1st CVN) had several smaller reactors, 6 or 8 IIRC and all future carriers had two large reactors so I am sure the PLAN took note of this fact. The PLAN will be content with conventionally powered carriers and will wait for large reactors...just my two cents.

Yes, USS Enterprise, CVN-65, had eight reactors. It proved that such a configuration can be made to work, even though it has drawbacks.

 

[John Fedup]

A new Trimaran ship (unmanned) for the PLAN has appeared, possibly a arsenal ship or a drone carrier. The main take-a-way from this article is best summed up in the last two paragraphs of Sutton's article.

Unusual Black Trimaran Drone Ship Spotted In Chinese Shipyard - Naval News