CV-17 Shandong (002 carrier) Thread I ...News, Views and operations

[Tam]

Three of the four radomes on top are SATCOMs or datalinks. The one in the middle between the IFF strip of the two Type 346A is a Type 364 surface search radar, and there is another Type 364 on the other side of the island.

002 has three ledges on each side of the island for Type 726 series ESM. But on the Liaoning there are four ledges instead of three, so one of the ledges does not have an ESM unit but something else. The ECM on both ships, and like on the 075, is set on the side of the hull.

Notice the tall pyramid extending from where the SATCOMs are, and on top of which is the Type 382 search radar and a TACAN? Note the pyramid has a square panel on it, and there is one panel on each of the four sides. It looks like a small phase array radar. Its a phase array but its not a radar. Its likely to be a high speed data communication unit, possibly for CEC or cooperative engagement. Its matched to similar panel set on the Type 055's pyramid integrated mast, just right above the four set of X-band radars.

 

[Deino]

Minor update from Dalian with an image taken yesterday ... Looks more like cosmetics that painting a number?!

(Image via LKJ86/PDF)

 

[Deino]

Are these recent images?

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[lcloo]

Are these recent images?

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Images are from 5th November, i.e. two days ago.

Ship #89 went out few days ago, my guess is possibly to 002's new home port, and back to Dalian shipyard again on Nov 5th.

 

[Tam]

Images are from 5th November, i.e. two days ago.

Ship #89 went out few days ago, my guess is possibly to 002's new home port, and back to Dalian shipyard again on Nov 5th.

That sounds like "I went to pick up the crew" kind of trip.

 

[by78]

Minor update from Dalian with an image taken yesterday ... Looks more like cosmetics that painting a number?!

(Image via LKJ86/PDF)

View attachment 55020

Here's a barge park on the side. It appears she's getting cleaned up in preparation for fresh paint.

 

[H2O]

Images are from 5th November, i.e. two days ago.

Ship #89 went out few days ago, my guess is possibly to 002's new home port, and back to Dalian shipyard again on Nov 5th.

Where would the home port for 002 be?

 

[lcloo]

Where would the home port for 002 be?

Where Liaoning's is, the place is good for two aircraft carrier, judging by the short duration of #89's trip that was where it go.

There is another CV port in Hainan island, a good place to be during cold winter when sea ice forms in North Sea. Or may be 002 could be stationed there.

 

[FireyCross]

Where Liaoning's is, the place is good for two aircraft carrier, judging by the short duration of #89's trip that was where it go.

There is another CV port in Hainan island, a good place to be during cold winter when sea ice forms in North Sea. Or may be 002 could be stationed there.

The sea ice isn't severe in the Bohai sea, and I think the advantage of having a carrier group in the north and another in south on a permanent basis would more than outweigh the issues of cold water operations, and "evacuating" the carriers south for the winter (it doesn't convey a message of strength and confidence - and would tempt hostile powers to conduct "Freedom of Navigation" in the Bohai while the carriers are away - which would be very very not good).

Based on that I'd assume both are intended as year round ports, with perhaps the 002s being in the South and 001s in the North, based on the assumption that the SCS is regarded as higher priority, so getting the newest ships, and also working on the assumption that the 001s, being based on a Soviet design will have been designed with at least some degree of ice protection in mind. That said, I'd imagine both would conduct training and at least some operations in both areas to ensure that the fleets can fully support each other and swap roles as needed, especially as the North doesn't offer as many possibilities for blue water maneuvers.

 

[Tsavo Lion]

.. and would tempt hostile powers to conduct "Freedom of Navigation" in the Bohai while the carriers are away ...

the strait is 56 miles wide with 1 of the Changshan Islands in the middle of it:

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Therefore, the Bohai Gulf is totally within PRC territorial waters & no FONOPS r legally possible there.

..the 001s, being based on a Soviet design will have been designed with at least some degree of ice protection in mind.

no, it doesn't have any ice strengthening- the Murmansk area is ice free & tugs break ice in port.
The CV-16 & CV-17 will be in the North Fleet as they'll be closer to yards, training airfields & the Miyako Strait for access to the W. Pacific. They can always get to the SC Sea in less than 48 hours. Some of their CVNs may be homeported on Hainan.