CV-16, CV-17 STOBAR carrier thread (001/Liaoning, 002/Shandong)

[escobar]

CV-16 sailing toward the Pacific Ocean through the Miyako Straits

 

[johncliu88]

CV-16 Sortie rate documented by the Japanese SDF

 

[AndrewJ]

A must watcher: CV-17 Shandong conducts "total deck strike". Dozens of J-15 got airborne in a quick load.

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[ACuriousPLAFan]

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The flotilla went really far - This time reaching as far as between Iwo Jima and Minamitorishima. For note: Minamitorishima is the easternmost Japanese territory.

That means the Liaoning-led naval flotilla actually passed through the 2IC for the first time.

Furthermore, given the discontinuity of tracking records between the east of the Philippines on May 30th and near Minamitorishima on June 7th - Did the flotilla also circled around Guam before reaching their present locations?

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

Furthermore, given the discontinuity of tracking records between the east of the Philippines on May 30th and near Minamitorishima on June 7th - Did the flotilla also circled around Guam before reaching their present locations?

To illustrate my point:



Red path = Tracked path
Yellow path = Estimated path
Purple line = The Mariana Islands (US)
Green line = Bonin and Ogasawara Islands (Japan)
Approximate locations of Iwo Jima (#1) and Minamitorishima (#2) in light blue dots

 

[00CuriousObserver]

The flotilla went really far - This time reaching as far as between Iwo Jima and Minamitorishima. For note: Minamitorishima is the easternmost Japanese territory.

That means the Liaoning-led naval flotilla actually passed through the 2IC for the first time.

Furthermore, given the discontinuity of tracking records between the east of the Philippines on May 30th and near Minamitorishima on June 7th - Did the flotilla also circled around Guam before reaching their present locations?

View attachment 153871
View attachment 153872

538 and 903 went through the Miyako Strait on the 5th, so they certainly didn't loop around Guam. It's interesting that we have parts of the fleet, including a replenishment ship, joining at a later time.

Also this piece written by Ayi, very inspiring:

Just my personal guess, but I’d imagine the officers and crew of the Liaoning aircraft carrier must be having some unique feelings during this extended blue-water mission. After all, this special operation beyond the Second Island Chain passes through quite a few former battlegrounds where the Japanese and Americans fought fierce sea and air battles in the Pacific.

For those in our carrier force who are deeply familiar with the history of the Imperial Japanese Navy, no amount of reading about the great carrier battles between Japan and the U.S. can compare to actually sailing to the sites in person. Now that they’re piloting the carrier through these historic waters—visiting the very places where Showa-era staff officers clashed with Nimitz and Halsey—their outlook is bound to be different.

Never mind the more well-known sites like the battles east of the Philippines or places like Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Take Minamitorishima (Marcus Island) for instance. If I remember correctly, this is where the U.S. Essex-class carriers first saw combat. The Essex (CV-9) and Yorktown (CV-10) launched their first strikes here using F6F Hellcats. It has some historical weight to it. If the Fujian carrier is deployed in the future, there’s a good chance it’ll sail through these same waters just like the Liaoning.

This grand cruise by the Liaoning isn’t over yet—China’s carriers are still breaking new ground. All in all, it’s genuinely exciting to see our carrier sailing through these iconic WWII battlegrounds. The Japanese, having lost all their chips at the table, can now only act as record-keepers. When it comes to big carrier face-offs, it’s finally our turn.

 

[escobar]

CV-17 also in Western Pacific.

 

[Deino]

indeed:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1932082152843440165

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

CV-17 also in Western Pacific.
View attachment 153989View attachment 153990

indeed:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1932082152843440165

In the meantime, would there will be a meetup between these two STOBAR twins for a second dual-CV formation sailing?

 

[00CuriousObserver]

That's also the first time Shandong (and her CSG escorts) passes through the 1IC, if I remembered correctly.

Hmm? No, Shandong has went through the 1IC many times. The first was April 2023.

Also, it's worth noting the massive number of ships in WESTPAC right now. We have both carriers, four 055s, four 052Ds, six 054As, and three replenishment ships.