PLAN Aircraft Carrier programme...(Closed)

bd popeye said:

Thanks to all the members that posted the excellent photos of the "Combined PLAN Fleet".

Now I have to play devils advocate..sorry.

I realize this is a photo op..however where are the PLAN helos? Seems to me some should be flying about. those decks on those escorts look barren of helicopters. The only helo flying is the one that took these great photos.

And the Liaoning..the flight deck is devoid of any activity.

Just my observation.

Click to expand...

Popeye, I think they did this at this time for some very specific reasons, despite the fact that the PLAN air wing is not present yet:

1) To show other nations, particularly in the region, that they are building a significant capability. That they are well advanced in the development of that capability.

2) To show their own people what they are doing, and how these assets are coming together. There is, and will be a LOT of national pride regarding such a development...and very understandably so.

3) To offset the messages other nations are also sending with their own buildups, and perhaps to pre-empt those messages, particularly from India, Japan, and Australia...and perhaps Korea. But mainly from India who will be conducting exercises this with week and next in the Gulf of Oman with both of their carriers, the new Virkamaditya and the Viraat.

The fact is, outside of the United States, the Indians are now the only other country on earth who can conduct exercises with two of their own fixed wing carriers, and you can bet that the Indians will be putting out pictures of those exercises to send that message to the world.

China is pre-empting that message (and others) with this one.

The release timing is interesting as it is just before the Indian fleet is due to welcome the Vikramaditya off the indian ocean. No doubt photos and videos would be taken of that event too, and people and the media would no doubt be making comparisons. I also expect the US to release a series of high quality carrier fleet/ops media soon.

Franklin said:

Here are some pictures of the interior of the Liaoning.

kitchen

galley

medical bay

ship store

post office

Click to expand...

Awesome. Thanks Frankin! very nice pictures and I do like the galley and chow hall! Now if I'm Russian sailor in the Kutz I would be really really jeolous!!!

Jeff Head said:

Particularly since this week the Indian Vikramaditya and Viraat are going to both be performing similar exercises in the Gulf of Oman and you can bet that they will have beaucoup pictures of that event for their own nation and enthusiasts.

Click to expand...

Well this is a important point because we know we will see a two carrier strike group coming soon from the Indian Navy

PLAN threw everything into this, fly past by two types of aircraft and 11 warships

A standard carrier strike group would have two FFG , two DDG and a SSN, maybe 8 warships in total but adding in a Type 071 LPD and three SSN this message is clear and loud, PLAN is on the scene and I bet people who are not updated with Chinese navy would look at this pic and say its USN but it's not it's PLAN!!!

Huge huge show of force massive task force and a photo opp, no aircraft but this pics is saying one thing, progress progress and more progress is being made

We can expect 4-6 more J15 this year on the Liaoning who knows maybe they even have them but PLAN is very incremental in releasing pictures and information they are playing the media game they will not show all thier best stuff all in one go

I just can't get over the force they sailed out with hell that's the biggest PLAN force I have ever seen, 3 x FFG and 3 x DDG!

Sino-Russia excercise last year was big but this is bigger, makes me wonder if Russia throws in it's Mistral Class LHD amphibious ready group with PLAN carrier strike group we could have upwards of 15 warships taking part in a naval drill

That would mean a LPD, LHD and a carrier sailing together! Wow

kwaigonegin said:

I don't know if that's the captain's quarters and head, XO's cabin or flag offices (doubt it) or what not but if I'm a soviet sailor who served on board the Varyag I would be immensely jeolous of those pictures!!
I've never been on board a Soviet carrier but I have been on board an Udaloy class destroyer and let's just say their living quarters and accomodations leave a lot to be desired!! The captain or political officer's room are nice but not anywhere else!!!

It's good to know that the modern PLAN not only cares about their warfighting capabilities but put serious efforts in making the crew comfortable as well. A happy well fed crew is a good productive crew. I like to see pictures of the galley and chow hall of the Liaoning.

It's natural to talk about weapons, systems, sensors, aircrafts etc however what interest me almost as much are the 'boring' type of things that make a ship a ship and how the crew live their lives on board etc.

Click to expand...

I think the living quarter shown in the picture is a VIP quarter. There are pictures of berthing space for regular sailors on the Liaoning, and those sailors sleep on bunks just like their counterparts in other navy.

With the removal of the Granit launchers and nothing useful to fill up the empty space, the Liaoning is able to dedicate a large volume to the crew. This should be seen as a special case rather than the norm of PLAN's crew accommodation. On PLAN's next carrier, the engineers will be able to have more freedom in the internal arrangement. At that time, we should see more space devoted to the hangar and less room for the crew as a result.

Jeff Head said:

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

​

Click to expand...

Sniff...sniff....ya smell that? Somewhere in Tokyo those Shinzo Abe War Hawkish fan club must be pooping their pants when they saw this.

Jeff Head said:

Popeye, I think they did this at this time for some very specific reasons, despite the fact that the PLAN air wing is not present yet:

1) To show other nations, particularly in the region, that they are building a significant capability. That they are well advanced in the development of that capability.

2) To show their own people what they are doing, and how these assets are coming together. There is, and will be a LOT of national pride regarding such a development...and very understandably so.

3) To offset the messages other nations are also sending with their own buildups, and perhaps to pre-empt those messages, particularly from India, Japan, and Australia...and perhaps Korea. But mainly from India who will be conducting exercises this with week and next in the Gulf of Oman with both of their carriers, the new Virkamaditya and the Viraat.

The fact is, outside of the United States, the Indians are now the only other country on earth who can conduct exercises with two of their own fixed wing carriers, and you can bet that the Indians will be putting out pictures of those exercises to send that message to the world.

China is pre-empting that message (and others) with this one.

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

Click to expand...

I think all your points are right on Jeff. Now knowing the PLAN they are also pretty reserved and won't release 'photo-op' pictures unless they can back it up as well in the near future. What I mean is the aviation component will soon follow. I wouldn't be surprise if a few months from now we see the same type of pictures but this time with an airwing and deck activities going on and actual formation of Liaoning's J-15s instead of 'staging' land based JH-7s in those pictures.

I think the Liaoning carrier ops training will have a rest now and a stagnant period until lunar new year is over before resume again.

Engineer said:

I think the living quarter shown in the picture is a VIP quarter. There are pictures of berthing space for regular sailors on the Liaoning, and those sailors sleep on bunks just like their counterparts in other navy.

With the removal of the Granit launchers and nothing useful to fill up the empty space, the Liaoning is able to dedicate a large volume to the crew. This should be seen as a special case rather than the norm of PLAN's crew accommodation. On PLAN's next carrier, the engineers will be able to have more freedom in the internal arrangement. At that time, we should see more space devoted to the hangar and less room for the crew as a result.

Click to expand...

You're probably right. the Granits were huge! I'm sure the entire missile system probably took up a lot of internal volume as well. I guess Liaoning being a 'special' one off ship would be a choice assignment for any sailor in the future if what you say is indeed true. The interior pics that Franklin posted look very nice. Dare I say even nicer than on the US Navy's supercarriers.

Equation said:

Sniff...sniff....ya smell that? Somewhere in Tokyo those Shinzo Abe War Hawkish fan club must be pooping their pants when they saw this.

Click to expand...

I do not really think so, Equation...I would not go that far. The JMSDF has all of these that they can exercise at any time...and have just added the Izumo (last picture):

Two Hyuga Class CVH:


Three Osumi Class LPDS:


One Zumo Class CVH (2nd building):


And of course numerous strong escorts to go with them.

The Japanese are certainly taking note though...and it will probably lead to them building fixed wing carrier capable vessels soon.