CV-18 Fujian/003 CATOBAR carrier thread

[SINCHIKI]

Time to say goodbye to the ugly ski jump deck

 

[Mirabo]

Tieba is convinced this ship is nuclear.

Again, this is the same debate we've had for the last three years if not longer.

Just wait for a clear picture of the island and we can all see if it is conventional or nuclear.

We're only a week away or less, no point making another fuss now.

 

[Deino]

ok i will stop commenting nuclear power stuff as it is not welcomed.

I don't think it not "not welcomed", but as I noted, there is NO evidence so far for a CVN, and quite to the contrary all signs, details and rumours say it will be a CV. As such if you explain, why and what makes you believe - and surely not such jokes like "permanently deployed to Arctic Ocean so island room temperature can remain high" - it is fine, but it must be a convincing argument, not wishful thinking alone.

Reminds me otherwise to claims, the J-20 are all using +240 kN thrust capable WS-15s from day one!

 

[Blitzo]

I know and most likely I am simply too naive or not knowledgeable enough - since indeed naval issues is not my topic! - but thru all the build-up process I have not seen a single hint towards being a CVN.

You can be more severe than that.

I would say that as of now, in June 2021, the only people who even entertain the idea that 003 might be nuclear powered are either:

1. Completely new to PLA watching aka casuals...
or
2. Have not paid any attention to the last 3-4 years of credible rumours, information on relevant powerplant development (or rather therelackof) in China for nuclear purposes, or the construction pictures of 003 over the last year or so...
or
3. Are still "hoping" that it is nuclear due to fanboy reasons...
or
4. Any combination of the above...

 

[Deino]

Tieba is convinced this ship is nuclear.

Again, this is the same debate we've had for the last three years if not longer.

Just wait for a clear picture of the island and we can all see if it is conventional or nuclear.

We're only a week away or less, no point making another fuss now.

Who is "Tieba"? ... and what's his evidence?

 

[Mirabo]

Who is "Tieba"? ... and what's his evidence?

I mean, some Chinese forums.

 

[Juan B.]

My bet it is conventional.
Too fast construction. Building modules with nuclear equipment need time consuming and special raw materials that seems not be employed in this damn fast construction race (it is more like a race build).

A second reason could be the low chinese surface nuclear propulsion experience. Even french navy experienced some nuclear issues in construction of the sole CVN aside US Navy. So my question is, Has the PLAN any other nuclear surface vessel?. Maybe they could gain some experience from a icebreaker or even some AOR first before jumping at a high demanding CVN.

So IMHO, the most logic propulsion could be a low risk COGAG, more powerful than that of the Type 055 for feeding EMALS and sensors & comm, before going to nuclear propulsion.

Here in he west, we´re shocked with this 10 years carrier flotilla buildup. Impressive.

 

[xiabonan]

Why do people still think this is going to be nuclear is beyond it. By this point it's just wishcasting.

 

[sndef888]

Any countries who might be interested in buying used STOBAR carrier?

Russia, if they can put it past their ego, and Brazil maybe.

 

[Gloire_bb]

The Unryus were a belated war emergency program to match anticipated US carrier flight deck numbers using a far smaller industrial and ship building capacity, and requiring the program to deliver the results in the shortest time. How long these carriers would remain valuable after the end of the current war was also not a major concern.

They were actually way more capable than British LFCs. And - in this way - they're really valuable as example. They represented a basic standard of what's really necessary for a fully capable ww2 fleet carrier, and not a single ton other that.

US WW2 experience(nearly unlimited industrial capacity unreachable by foes with a blank check as a bonus) shall not be used in China:US scenario. A key difference is that we're talking about comparable economies. This is not a situation where individual superiority matters, it's about optimal decisions.

Uhh, do you have a source for 60 Su-33s on Ulyanovsk?
I find that difficult to believe.

I've seen 44 fixed wing combat aircraft listed before but even that was split between Su-33 and the smaller Mig-29K

It will take a while, but I'll send them when I'll get my hands on them.
Mixed setups were combined with a very substantial rotary-wing complement - heritage of original legacy of "asw cruiser".