China's new carrier

[Spartan359]

This article was taken from Janes.com, as I can't afford that website here is the short version they give. What do you guys think about this? On top of the article I've included some of the specs for her.


Chinese shipyard workers have been repairing a badly damaged ex-Russian aircraft carrier and have repainted it with the country's military markings, raising the question once again of whether China is pursuing longer-term plans to field its first carrier.

In the latest developments, images show that workers at the Chinese Dalian Shipyard have repainted the ex-Russian Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrier Varyag with the markings and colour scheme of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy (PLAN). Additional new photographs show that other work, the specifics of which could not be determined, appears to be continuing and that the condition of the vessel is being improved.

JDW believes that PLAN technicians have also conducted thorough studies of the basic structure of the Varyag during the past few years to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the carrier's structural design. Former PLAN commander General Liu Huaqing stated in his memoirs that China had purchased blueprints for the carrier - a fact that Russian sources confirmed to JDW. Moreover, Gen Huaqing added: "The competent departments of the defence industry employed Russian aircraft carrier designers to come to China and give lectures."

Still, China's ultimate intentions for the Varyag remain unclear. One possibility is that Beijing intends to eventually have it enter into some level of service. A military strategist from a Chinese military university has commented publicly that the Varyag "would be China's first aircraft carrier".

Specifications
Designer: Nevskoye Planning and Design Bureau
Builder: Nikolayev South
Displacement (tons): 43,000 tons light
53,000-55,000 tons standard
66,600-67,500 tons full load
Speed (kts): 32 knots
Dimensions (m): 302.3-306.45 meters long overall
270.0-281.0 meters long at waterline
35.4-38.0 meters beam
72.0-73.0 meters width overall
9.14-11.0 meters draft
Propulsion: 2 x 50'000 hp gas. turbines; 8 boilers; 4 fixed pitch props., turbogenerators 9 x 1500 kW, diesel gen. 6 x 1500 kW; range: 3'850 n.m/32 kts; endurance: 45 days
Crew: 1960 + 626 air group + 40 flag
3857 rooms
Armament:
Airwing: 16 x Yak-141
12 aircraft SU-27k or MIG-29k
4 /Helicopter KA-27LD32
18/KA-27PLO
2/KA-27S
Missiles: 12 Granit (SS-N-19)
SA Klinok ADAM system (24 launchers, 192 vertical launch missiles; rate of fire: 1 missile per 3 sec)
SA Kashtan ADGM system (256 AD missiles, 48'000 cartiges; range: 0.5- 1.5 km)

Guns: 8 x 6 AK-630 gattl. AA
(6x30 mm; 6'000 rds/m/mount, 24000 cartiges)
Electronics: Combat Information Center
Aviation Combat Information Center
communications suite including satellite communications
MR-710 Fregat-MA/Top Plate 3D Air/Surface Search
2 MR-320M Topaz/Strut Pair 2D Air/Surface Search
3 Palm Frond Navigation
4 MR-360 Podkat/Cross Sword SA-N-9 Fire Control
8 3P37/Hot Flash SA-N-11 Fire Control
Fly Trap B Aircraft Control
Zvezda-2 search and attack sonar [medium and low frequency bands]
MGK-345 Bronza/Ox Yoke hull mounted Sonars

Other: UDAV-1 ASW RL (60 rockets; R: 3'000 m)

[Jack Moroney (RIP)]

It lends a lot of credibility to those analysts that feel that China is building an offensive capability. With her desire and thirst for oil, expansion of her sub fleet, and mobile rocket developments she is going to make sure of two things. First that the oil that she needs can continue to arrive and that she can/might be interested in supporting a move to secure what she sees as her legitimate claims on the Spratlys and second she is putting Taiwan on notice that she will continue to develop her ability to subdue them if they make a move towards independence.

[Bravo1-3]

I wonder if they can do anything about the Russian carriers tendencies to catch fire at frequent random intervals.

[Spartan359]

I wonder if they can do anything about the Russian carriers tendencies to catch fire at frequent random intervals.

I read somewhere that they had to ditch the "uber" radar system that they had installed on the ship because it never worked properly. Was suposed to have a 3-d tactical overlay of somesorts and it sucked something fierce. From a guy who was stationed on board a carrier and fought a majority of the fires on her, dust is a MAJOR cause of class charlie fires (electrical) on board ships. That means that they don't clean very well. Since she's a conventional carrier she can expect to have fires in the EDG's (emergency diesel generators), fire and control centers and the load centers on a constant basis. She's an old ship so hopefully she sinks during her sea trials and carrier quals. :D

[Pete]

...... From a guy who was stationed on board a carrier and fought a majority of the fires on her......

I have noticed that only the US is able to build a "Good Looking" carrier.

[VelociMorte]

All aircraft carriers are prone to catching fire. The combination of ordinance, fuel, electrical, people, etc. makes them an accident waiting to happen. I did two tours on carriers; three years on the U.S.S. Constellation (CV-64) and two years on the U.S.S. Midway (CV-41). Both experienced major fires at sea while I was aboard. The Constellation burned for 26 hours right off the coast of San Diego, after 28,000 gallons of JP-5 was accidentally released into the boiler uptakes due to the stupidity of a hand-full of individuals. While aboard the Midway, enroute to the R.O.K., a pinhole leak in a fuel line caused an explosion and fire that killed three, and critically burned many others. The fuel vapors exploded with enough force to blow everything, including the boots off people. If you've never experienced it, it's difficult to imagine how hard it is to fight a shipboard fire. You're wearing 50 pounds of gear, dragging a big brass nozzle attached to hundreds of feet of hose, trying to breath through a 1950's design O.B.A. , you can't see your hand in front of your face, and it's 170 degrees F. inside the space. It is only because every person in the Navy undergoes firefighting training that we don't regularly lose entire crews and ships.

[Spartan359]

All aircraft carriers are prone to catching fire. The combination of ordinance, fuel, electrical, people, etc. makes them an accident waiting to happen. I did two tours on carriers; three years on the U.S.S. Constellation (CV-64) and two years on the U.S.S. Midway (CV-41). Both experienced major fires at sea while I was aboard. The Constellation burned for 26 hours right off the coast of San Diego, after 28,000 gallons of JP-5 was accidentally released into the boiler uptakes due to the stupidity of a hand-full of individuals. While aboard the Midway, enroute to the R.O.K., a pinhole leak in a fuel line caused an explosion and fire that killed three, and critically burned many others. The fuel vapors exploded with enough force to blow everything, including the boots off people. If you've never experienced it, it's difficult to imagine how hard it is to fight a shipboard fire. You're wearing 50 pounds of gear, dragging a big brass nozzle attached to hundreds of feet of hose, trying to breath through a 1950's design O.B.A. , you can't see your hand in front of your face, and it's 170 degrees F. inside the space. It is only because every person in the Navy undergoes firefighting training that we don't regularly lose entire crews and ships.

I feel ya. Except OBA's aren't used anymore. SCOTT AirPacs are used. Imagine a SCUBA tanks turned upside down. I remember it being a little hotter than 170 degrees F. :eek: What was your rate? Ex-HT2 here.

[VelociMorte]

Got out in 1995 as a DS1 after doing 10 years. Wasn't the same Navy as when I joined, thanks to all the "kinder and gentler" B.S. Now I'm more involved with the Military than when I was in the Military.

[1026]

It's a target.

[The Reaper]

I am unimpressed, even if they get it to work.

Without trained naval aviators and a fleet of experienced supporting ships with integrated weapons systems, it is just a big target. Especially if they plan to employ it in the confines of the area around Taiwan.

TR

[Spartan359]

Got out in 1995 as a DS1 after doing 10 years. Wasn't the same Navy as when I joined, thanks to all the "kinder and gentler" B.S. Now I'm more involved with the Military than when I was in the Military.

I know what your talking about when it comes to the "kinder and gentler" Navy. It changed dramatically while I was in also. For my short stint I was in that is. Can't tack on any crows, and can't have ANY fun with wogs. What's the point of being a shellback if you can't have fun with the wogs! But I don't regret it at all.

She may be a target 1026 but she is a well armored target that is equiped to deal with the threats at bay. I'm sure she will be at the heart of the Chinese fleet surrounded by the vast amount of subs they have. A few Russian cruisers pulled into Yokosuka once, Slava class if I remember, they were quite impressive.

Most countries carriers have that stupid looking 12 degree upward angle at the end of their flight deck. Ours don't, so that's why our's looks better Pete. We don't need that 12 degree angle because our carriers use catapults. The MK V SOC....now that's a boat of beauty!

[1026]

I'd be interested in seeing how many crashes they have while learning how to trap the non-VSTOL birds. We'll probably never hear about it, only the glorious successes of the PLAN.

[HOLLiS]

Got out in 1995 as a DS1 after doing 10 years. Wasn't the same Navy as when I joined, thanks to all the "kinder and gentler" B.S. Now I'm more involved with the Military than when I was in the Military.

I think that is a common feeling. A friend retired after 30 years in the Corps says the same. My dad who was USN 1937 -1957, a China Fleet Sailor said, " When I joined the Navy we had wooden ships and Iron men. Now we have iron ships....) he never commented on the men. He too, felt the change. He said thievery was non existant when he enlisted, and was a problem when he retired.

[Bravo1-3]

Now that I think about it: Is this the same carrier that the Russians sold for scrap a few years back that some investors "purchased to convert into a casino"? that's a hell of an arms smuggling scheme.

[VelociMorte]

This will be the World's only "Brown Water Carrier" for years. Until they learn to UNREP (Underway Replenishment), and build the other 30 ships that are required as part of a Carrier Battle Group, this thing isn't going anywhere. Not that it needs to with the SS-N-19s.