heads up: New amphibious ship

Couldn't find this being discussed here so if it's old news, sorry....



looks like a tank transport to me, maybe MbT rather than Type-63a Amphibious tanks(?).

Also in the same set of pics is a TYPE 072-III (YUTING-II CLASS) with the hull number 941. Going by the Sinodefence page for the YutingII , that's a new hull number, so increasing the ship count to 8 in that class (Sinodefence page needs updating?)

planeman , Thanks for posting those pics! Very nice.

But some months ago I started a thread about this class of PLAN LST.
Personally as a China watcher I'm glad to see it. LST's are versitale ships. But somewhat limited by size. I would love to see the PLAN have a few LPD's...That would be most helpful for the PLAN. But they have to start somewhere and this is great for the PLAN!:china:

I posted pics of the first ship before, one of our member pointed the name out.

Sorry that it's old news. is there a page on the Sinodefence main site for this LST?

Bd Popeye, I agree it makes sense from their perspective, although I am unaligned so i won't say it's good or bad. Do you agree that it is probably capable of landing MBTs?


If China can make sufficient LSTs to land enough MBTs to be material in an amphibious assault, this could be a major shift in the strategic balance. Taiwan's tank/anti-tank assets are not particularly good but until now the somewhat lightly armoured Type-63A and old Type-63 amphibious light tanks were all they had to worry about. Now they have to readdress the armored warfare issue, at the cost of other aspects. Buying MBTs to match the Type-96/99s and/or sufficient anti-tank weapons (maybe more attack helicopters) is bound to adversely affect other areas of spending.

What is more, the LSTs will enhance the PLAs ability to land non-amphibious assets including various air-defence and artillery systems. LSTs may look unsexy to the casual observer but they represent a massive increase in amphibious might for the PLA/PLAN.

planeman said:

Sorry that it's old news. is there a page on the Sinodefence main site for this LST?

Bd Popeye, I agree it makes sense from their perspective, although I am unaligned so i won't say it's good or bad. Do you agree that it is probably capable of landing MBTs?


If China can make sufficient LSTs to land enough MBTs to be material in an amphibious assault, this could be a major shift in the strategic balance. Taiwan's tank/anti-tank assets are not particularly good but until now the somewhat lightly armoured Type-63A and old Type-63 amphibious light tanks were all they had to worry about. Now they have to readdress the armored warfare issue, at the cost of other aspects. Buying MBTs to match the Type-96/99s and/or sufficient anti-tank weapons (maybe more attack helicopters) is bound to adversely affect other areas of spending.

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Planeman I am also unalligned on this matter.

I have to tell you that I'm not filimar with PLA land warfare. But since you asked about the capacity of this LST. It has the capacity to hold 250 troops, 10 tanks, and 4 LCVPs. I just looked that up. So one would have to figure out how many tanks it would take to secure a beach head somewhere in Taiwan. That is a question I do not have an answer for.

LST's are a start for the Chinese side. But a long way from having a real amphipous force. They need LPD's and perhaps a LPH type ship for any possible incursion on Taiwan. How many?? Depends on the number of forces needed for an invasion.

LST are capable ships but someway obsolete since modern amphibious operations try to avoid WW2 stile of amphibious landing.
The PLAN should build more advanced and efficient amphibious assault ships (LHA/LHD) and dock landing ships (LSD/LPD) in the future.
Does someone have some new information about China National Shipbuilding Co LHD design?
They really need something like that. 3 to 4 LHD would greatly improve PLAN expeditionary capabilities s and not joust in Taiwan scenarios but would finally give them capability to operate any where in the World.

isthvan said:

LST are capable ships but someway obsolete since modern amphibious operations try to avoid WW2 stile of amphibious landing.
The PLAN should build more advanced and efficient amphibious assault ships (LHA/LHD) and dock landing ships (LSD/LPD) in the future.
Does someone have some new information about China National Shipbuilding Co LHD design?
They really need something like that. 3 to 4 LHD would greatly improve PLAN expeditionary capabilities s and not joust in Taiwan scenarios but would finally give them capability to operate any where in the World.

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LHA/LHD or LPH would be great for the PLAN. I think those plans you may have seen for a China National Shipbuilding Co LHD were actually the new USN LHA(R) ship. I saw a pic like this with a diffrent type of aircraft on deck claiming to be PLAN LHD. I can no longer find it. This is actually an USN new LHA design.



Or are you refering to the design in this link below? Actually that ship looks like an LPD to me.

bd popeye said:

LHA/LHD or LPH would be great for the PLAN. I think those plans you may have seen for a China National Shipbuilding Co LHD were actually the new USN LHA(R) ship. I saw a pic like this with a diffrent type of aircraft on deck claiming to be PLAN LHD. I can no longer find it. This is actually an USN new LHA design.

[qimg]http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/images/SHIP_LHA-R_lg.jpg[/qimg]

Or are you refering to the design in this link below? Actually that ship looks like an LPD to me.

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

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Yes Popeye I was thinking about this design…



It is more inspired whit European designs then whit US ships… Still it would quite increase PLAN power projection and offshore offensive capabiliteies…

Ps. You are right; it looks more like LPD (looks like Chinese version of San Antonio or Rotterdam classes)

Yes that LPD looks like a step in the right direction for the PLAN. To bad we can'r find any real info on it. I mean how about some real pics of the building of the ships. And some real info about it's capablities?? Oh we can dream!

bd popeye said:

Yes that LPD looks like a step in the right direction for the PLAN. To bad we can'r find any real info on it. I mean how about some real pics of the building of the ships. And some real info about it's capablities?? Oh we can dream!

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I totally agree whit you Popeye… Trying to find credible information about inventory numbers and capabilities for any Chinese military system is like trying to guess lottery numbers; completely impossible…
Nevertheless I think that we would already hear if they started building LPD/LHD… You joust cant hide ship big as that…