Yes. The ship and the concept, as others pointed out, existed much earlier.
But the PLAN has a way of making (or allowing) certain pictures to be "casually" available, during certain times, to make certain points.
PLA Navy news, pics and videos
- Thread starter Jeff Head
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Yes. The ship and the concept, as others pointed out, existed much earlier.
But the PLAN has a way of making (or allowing) certain pictures to be "casually" available, during certain times, to make certain points.
Apologies, where do you see the torpedoes and the possible containerized location for a towed sonar, in the pictures?
Its possible this is just a proof of concept. Outside of the VLS containers, it looks to test how to integrate everything and how it will behave in a real, purpose-built cargo ship.
Once the limitations, workarounds and the viability are identified, then work can be done on how to make the rest of the systems fit into the TEUs
Once the limitations, workarounds and the viability are identified, then work can be done on how to make the rest of the systems fit into the TEUs
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The primary mission that the Chinese military plans for is a Taiwan scenario.
As part of that, you have to plan for US intervention, and therefore a long war, with the Chinese Navy currently being significantly less powerful than the US Navy.
So yes, being able to take a 100-teu containerships and add a Type-052B Frigate-level sensor suite, combat management system and CEC would be very useful. You could quickly add a large number of Frigates.
If you use a larger container ship with more VLS cells, then it becomes an arsenal ship of sorts.
That would leave Chinese shipyards able to focus on higher-end warships (Destroyer-level and above)
If they want to go with converting containerships in Frigates or Arsenal ships, I think this does look like a proof-of-concept.
Ideally, you want the rotating AESA a lot higher, so it has an unobstructed 360degree view.
And 60 VLS cells seems like packing a lot of capability (and cost) into a single vulnerable hull.
So I think it better to use a much larger hull (which would also have a lot more compartments and be more survivable).
Alternatively, they could reduce the number of VLS cells and also be able to put the Type-344 in the middle of the ships and be able to cover both directions.
They should be able to rearrange the containers however they want.
Ideally, you want the rotating AESA a lot higher, so it has an unobstructed 360degree view.
And 60 VLS cells seems like packing a lot of capability (and cost) into a single vulnerable hull.
So I think it better to use a much larger hull (which would also have a lot more compartments and be more survivable).
Alternatively, they could reduce the number of VLS cells and also be able to put the Type-344 in the middle of the ships and be able to cover both directions.
They should be able to rearrange the containers however they want.
This is mostly likely to be manned, container ships engine require maintenance
Once the blockade starts, the main fleet might be busy. These can surround Taiwan especially the east coast to strengthen the A2AD network. Relieving the main fleet from this important duty.
The crazier thing is to make these more concealable. Loads of preprogrammed cruise missiles and be one of many container ships to CONUS or Japan or any USN bases around the globe. Once get close, it can destroy multiple US ships and ship yards Pearl Harbor style. Although would be difficult to plan this perfectly with the political escalation and how many bases there are in different locations. And the manned crew will need a very very speedy escape.
i think being a container ship with much less speed than rest of the combat fleet will relegate itself to relative mobile point defence important location.
Once the blockade starts, the main fleet might be busy. These can surround Taiwan especially the east coast to strengthen the A2AD network. Relieving the main fleet from this important duty.
The crazier thing is to make these more concealable. Loads of preprogrammed cruise missiles and be one of many container ships to CONUS or Japan or any USN bases around the globe. Once get close, it can destroy multiple US ships and ship yards Pearl Harbor style. Although would be difficult to plan this perfectly with the political escalation and how many bases there are in different locations. And the manned crew will need a very very speedy escape.