PLA Navy news, pics and videos
- Thread starter Jeff Head
- Start date
It is not a PLAN photo but I will still post it as a future reference point. It answers why larger ships are better for open ocean deployment. And also answers why loading ships to the brim with weapons is not a good idea despite it leading to impressive spec sheets. Seakeeping is really important.
To wit, the Pacific is a much rougher ocean than the Atlantic and Mediterranean the latter of which is almost glass-like in comparison. Asian theatre ships need better seakeeping than European theatre ships.
Which makes it somewhat Bizarre that the US is pursuing Ground effect aircraft now for sea lift:
While sure, it is a lot more survivable and faster than a cargo ship in an island-hopping campaign, you're really one bad storm away from grounding/Crash, which as we know, is extremely common in the area of conflict, additionally with advances in radar and missile technology, I'm not sure a faster boat essentially is going to be much of a force multiplier with PLAN/PLAAF assets swarming the theatre.
Which also kinda renders the "Look at how the Isreali Saar 6 corvettes have 72x VLS cells for SAMs and 16 AShMs on a ~2000-ton hull! Why can't just China's 6000-ton 054B frigate be equipped with 48x or even 64x VLS cells instead of just 32x?! REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE" argument rather moot.
The Mediterranean Sea is like a massive lake in comparison to the vast and wild Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. The Saar 6 isn't meant to stick around and fight in the Atlantic nor the Indian Oceans either.
The article claimed that the "Liberty Lifter" is able to fly as high as 10000 feet (i.e. 3 kilometers) above the sea to "avoid bad weather and stormy seas".
Whether that is achievable or not - I think we'll have to wait and see.
Don't those vehicles basically combine all the disadvantages of ships and aircraft?
