00X/004 future nuclear CATOBAR carrier thread

[para80]

The US Navy equivalent of the 901, Supply class also only has two ships commissioned. Four were built but high costs to operate have forced the US Navy to retire them early. The PLAN also has 8 active Type 903/903A's.

Two out of four Supply class vessels are in reserve, they are not retired. USN can bring them back into service if they are needed. In any case the USN of course operates an all nuclear powered carrier force, making the need for large combat supply ships less pressing. The mothballing of the two Supply class vessels followed about five years after the last conventionally powered US carrier, Kitty Hawk, was retired.

More significantly (as mentioned above), the USN also has 14 very large dry stores and ammunition ships (T-AKE) and 16 fleet replenishment oilers of similar size to Type 903. Of course their operational commitments are global, while PLAN has arguably regional requirements. But either way PLAN does need more large auxiliaries if they wish to support a fleet of conventionally powered carriers, esp including ships such as CV-18.

 

[Intrepid]

But either way PLAN does need more large auxiliaries if they wish to support a fleet of conventionally powered carriers, esp including ships such as CV-18.

One reason, unlike usual, to build only one conventional CATOBAR aircraft carrier.

 

[Sczepan]

The first Type 052D, the Kunming, was commissioned in 2014, and 25 have been launched since. Additional hulls were spotted under construction in August 2022. Additional Type 054A guided missile frigates, subs and some supply ships should be enough for more than 5 CBGs ...

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

The first Type 052D, the Kunming, was commissioned in 2014, and 25 have been launched since. Additional hulls were spotted under construction in August 2022. Additional Type 054A guided missile frigates, subs and some supply ships should be enough for more than 5 CBGs ...

How many cruisers (055), destroyers (052C/D) and frigates (054A) do you envision for every Chinese CBG?

 

[Cloud_Nine_]

How many cruisers (055), destroyers (052C/D) and frigates (054A) do you envision for every Chinese CBG?

Escorts for a CVBG are pretty flexible tbh. I would say, usually 3~4 destroyers with at least 1 055 and 2 frigates apart from the obligatory Type 901. Historically speaking, Liaoning's first deployment outside the island chain was escorted by 4 destroyers and 2 frigates; while Liaoning's last December deployment was escorted by 3 destroyers and 1 frigate. With more 055s in service, I wouldn't be surprised that 2 055 escort groups will be the norm from now on.

On a side note, I wonder if smaller destroyer SAGs operating along but not with CVBGs count loosely within the battlegroup (for example the DDG-102 led 2 destroyer SAG last December.

 

[ashnole]

How many cruisers (055), destroyers (052C/D) and frigates (054A) do you envision for every Chinese CBG?

There will be two category of PLAN CBGs: (1) Liaoning's & Shandong's CBGs (2) Fujian's & its follow-on's CBGs

Carriers of the first category will be very limited in the number and variety of missions they can perform so anything more than 5-6 escorts will be a waste of resources. So most probably they'll get an AAW cruiser, three multirole destroyers and a couple of ASW frigates.

Fujian & its follow-on Carriers will be the REAL DEAL and so we can expect PLAN to be very generous (=protective) and allot them escorts similar to what USN does for its CBGs during wartime. So something like two AAW Cruisers, six multirole destroyers and two-three ASW frigates is very much possible.

Now should PLAN decide to group its Carriers into Multi-Carrier Task Forces, then the number of escorts would change. In fact such Carrier Task Forces would free a few CBG-alotted destroyers for independent operations.

 

[para80]

Composition always depends on multiple factors, notably threat perception and anticipation. PLAN wont spare escorts just because a carrier is perceived as being less capable or engaging in what is perceived as less demanding mission sets. For the same reason USN regularly sends out eg their LHDs incl "Lightning carriers" with just one or two escorts but once things get a little more temperamental, escort cover will increase substantially.

 

[Sczepan]

How many cruisers (055), destroyers (052C/D) and frigates (054A) do you envision for every Chinese CBG?

Take a circle arround the carrier and place the destroyers there, overlapping the range of the anti-aircraft missiles
A number of 3 to 5 destroyers and 2 - 3 frigates most time should be enough to protect a CBG

There will be two category of PLAN CBGs: (1) Liaoning's & Shandong's CBGs (2) Fujian's & its follow-on's CBGs

For the last one, one or two Type 052D destroyers could be replaced by Type 055 large destroyers for example.

 

[kentchang]

Will there ever be a Class 004? Why wouldn't PLAN skip the '4'?

An early Happy New Year to all!

 

[Intrepid]

We will see carrier 004. We don't know what class it belongs to.

I think there are no aircraft carrier classes at the moment. These are exclusively individual objects.