Its not that easy sometimes to get credible sources on Google. Better to get that info on this forum.
Yes, but isn't it best to try and do some background research before asking for confirmation?
The thing is that china has never built an LHD before. How can customers know if china can build a quality LHD, if china has never built one? They must build one and get it to service, and then they can show that they can build quality stuff.
Now we're getting somewhere.
You're basically doubting the capability of the Chinese shipbuilding industry, in other words.
That is a fair enough view, and I agree that CSOC has never built an LHD before, but a better question is whether there is a reason to doubt that they lack the capability to do so. After all, they've built the 071 LPD, and any good and modern shipyard should be able to build ships of new types to the customer's needs. If you believe a 22k ton LHD is beyond the capability of a shipyard that can build a 25k ton LPD, then okay.
I think that its possible that this ship (or a version of it) may get to service with china, despite their saying that its for export only.
There's no reason why they can't build a 40k ton LHD for themselves. After all, building a 40k ton LHD would be as much evidence of their capability as a 22k ton LHD is... if not more.
I myself would be interested in the navy getting some 22k ton LHDs as well, to complement the 40k ton LHDs. Maybe a 2:1 ratio of 22k ton LHDs to 40k ton LHDs, eventually. But there's no reason to believe that the navy itself is intending to build and induct it anytime soon just to "prove" to potential customers that they can build a "quality ship". They can tour any real examples of their shipbuilding to get a sense of quality.
Well, according to wikipedia, china only has 10000 marines. If the america class LHD (45k ton) carries 1700 marines, then something like that would carry 17% of china´s marines in just one ship. I dont know if this is normal or what.
You are assuming that China arranges its amphibious assault forces in the same way as the USN does.
For instance, do we assume that China will permanently assign PLA marines to various LPDs and LHDs during normal operations?
And during wartime operations, is there a reason to believe that LHDs or LPDs will only carry PLA marines? There are enough regular army amphibious units which need transporting as well, by both landing craft and helicopter.
And are we assuming that China will not seek to expand its marine forces in the future?
Also, is there a reason why a 40k ton LHD is somehow beyond the "needs" of China while a 22k ton LHD is within reason for you?
PS: there are some navies which lack marine corps and still have large LHDs. For instance, the Royal Australian Navy has two large 27k ton LHDs but have no marine corps. Don't assume that China necessarily needs to have the same force structure as the US.
----
Look, here is the current lay of the land for the LHD situation:
-we know CSOC is offering a 22k ton LHD, which they say is exclusively for export
-we have had years of rumours suggesting that the Chinese Navy are looking to introduce a large LHD class, tentatively called the 075 class, and that it may displace 40k tons full
This is all the evidence we have, at present.
It's
possible that China may not actually want a 40k ton LHD or that China may end up adopting the 22k ton LHD, but we
have no rumours to suggest it at present.
So for all the doubt that we can express over the current consensus, we have n
o valid rumours to suggest anything to the contrary. There is also no reason to suggest that CSOC are lying about the 22k ton LHD being only for export, and there are also no rumours at this stage to support that the Chinese Navy are interested in buying the 22k ton LHD.
Now, if you really do not believe that China will adopt a 40k ton LHD, then I request you to first elaborate on a number of other points first so we may have a proper discussion:
-how big do you think China's amphibious assault ship fleet will be in coming years, say by 2020 and then 2025?
-do you think China may seek to increase its marine corps size in coming years?
-do you think that China may seek to deploy regular army amphibious units and/or SOF from amphibious assault ships during wartime, or only marines?
-if you believe a 22k ton LHD is more suitable to a 40k ton LHD for China, how many 22k ton LHDs do you envision versus how many 40k ton LHDs do you envision? In other words, what makes a 22k ton LHD more suitable to China than a 40k ton LHD?
These are all scenarios that you have to consider if you truly believe that China has "no need" for a 40k ton LHD, and taking together these reasons will help form your final opinion.
For instance, in my case: I believe China will seek to increase its amphibious assault and sealift capability for local and blue water contingencies, and will require a large number of large LDPs and LHDs which together provide landing craft and aviation support for amphibious assault missions. Such operations will likely include army amphibious forces (not only marines) and thus the tonnage of ships will likely be quite great. I also do not believe that the Chinese necessarily need to "start small" with a 22k ton LHD first before moving to a 40k ton LHD, as the Navy has shown their willingness to go for high end capabilities on the first try, such as developing a very large LPD for their first LPD class, seeking active phased array radars for their first class of indigenous air defence ship, or seeking a 65,000 ton carrier for their first class of carrier rather than acquiring or modifying a smaller one.
If your view is contrary to all the above, then fair enough, you're free to hold it. But it's worth remembering that none of the evidence at present supports your position if you believe that China is seeking a 22k ton LHD.
Maybe the Navy will eventually buy a 22k ton LHD, or maybe the rumours at present so far are out of date and maybe they've decided to go for a 22k ton LHD first -- but such rumours do not exist and we cannot assume them.
