PLAN Aircraft Carrier programme...(Closed)

chuck731 · Jan 2, 2014

TerraN_EmpirE said:
Well he does have a point about the 71 it is a little odd to have a LPD attached to a carrier. I see four possibilities. One the PLAN had it there to support helicopter operations. As pops pointed out the photos show a distinct lack of both fixed wing and rotary wing assets in the deck. This might mean that there is some issue with the ship its self and the 71 was used to maintain the helicopters in the CV's stead. I find this unlikely.
option 2 the PLAN are trying to create a duel role taskforce. The idea being that the LPD would in a islands sinario move in for landings well the carrier supports via fixed wing air cover. This would however divide the battle group and potentially weaken overall defense.
option three. The LPD is being used as a stand in for a logistics ship. Its holds are full of rice not troops.
?
option four. She's there to make the picture more impressive. Just filler.

Since Liaoning is by no means operational, this assemblage can only be for the photo op, thus 71 is likely there only to complete the family portrait, ie look impressive.

In actual operation, it seems not inconceivable the 71 would pair with a CV to increase a task force's ability to support ASW helicopters.

bd popeye · Jan 2, 2014

chuck731 said:
Since Liaoning is by no means operational, this assemblage can only be for the photo op, thus 71 is likely there only to complete the family portrait, ie look impressive.

In actual operation, it seems not inconceivable the 71 would pair with a CV to increase a task force's ability to support ASW helicopters.

Exactly!! No need to expound or guess what those photos are about, it's just a photo op of a show of force. That's all.

And those photos did get our attention!!!

MwRYum · Jan 2, 2014

TerraN_EmpirE said:
Well he does have a point about the 71 it is a little odd to have a LPD attached to a carrier. I see four possibilities. One the PLAN had it there to support helicopter operations. As pops pointed out the photos show a distinct lack of both fixed wing and rotary wing assets in the deck. This might mean that there is some issue with the ship its self and the 71 was used to maintain the helicopters in the CV's stead. I find this unlikely.
option 2 the PLAN are trying to create a duel role taskforce. The idea being that the LPD would in a islands sinario move in for landings well the carrier supports via fixed wing air cover. This would however divide the battle group and potentially weaken overall defense.
option three. The LPD is being used as a stand in for a logistics ship. Its holds are full of rice not troops.
?
option four. She's there to make the picture more impressive. Just filler.

Since we can see there're other ships from the South Sea Fleet joined in the formation, it'd be more logical to assume that they were putting the "combined fleet battlegroup" arrangement into practice. As such, though, this time it's more likely to practice the big fleet formation, since the PLA as a whole doesn't have that many helicopter assets to realise the vertical assault part of a naval amphibious landing, not to mention just one 071 LPD is too small to make it practical, better to have at least two in the play.

Or just to have the 071 LPD fill in the role of the AO ship? Well that's a possibility because AFAIR all the AO ships in the PLAN are now tied down with other missions, like the Aden Gulf Expedition...but what's the point of doing that when it won't be able to practice replenishment at sea, which is a very practical aspect of battlegroup operation?

asif iqbal · Jan 2, 2014

Type 071 LPD provides a flat deck for operations at sea, and a flat deck on the sea is a very valuable piece of real estate to have

I think PLAN is good with replenishment as sea, but a 20,000 ton Type 903 just doesn't cut it anymore for a carrier strike group you need something much much bigger

Plus a carrier moves fast very fast a large tanker is needed for any sort of far away operations

You are looking at 30,000 tons minimum, replenishment at sea for the Liaoning is something PLAN will have to trained for

For everything else they are doing just fine

Sczepan · Jan 2, 2014

kwaigonegin said:
I don't know about the living quarters but below is the bridge of the Admiral Kuznetsov.
I'm going to hazard a guess and assume Lianing's bridge is a tad nicer looking and more modern.

so I'd like to add the INS Vikramaditya (R33)

SampanViking · Jan 2, 2014

TerraN_EmpirE said:
Well he does have a point about the 71 it is a little odd to have a LPD attached to a carrier. I see four possibilities. One the PLAN had it there to support helicopter operations. As pops pointed out the photos show a distinct lack of both fixed wing and rotary wing assets in the deck. This might mean that there is some issue with the ship its self and the 71 was used to maintain the helicopters in the CV's stead. I find this unlikely.
option 2 the PLAN are trying to create a duel role taskforce. The idea being that the LPD would in a islands sinario move in for landings well the carrier supports via fixed wing air cover. This would however divide the battle group and potentially weaken overall defense.
option three. The LPD is being used as a stand in for a logistics ship. Its holds are full of rice not troops.
?
option four. She's there to make the picture more impressive. Just filler.

Actually I am with Chuck on this one.
I have always looked at Chinese Naval Aviation as being the Air Cover principally for Amphibious Assault Groups. Seeing the two ships together rather reinforces that view.
I think the point about both ships not being useful in the same location was rather odd. It is hardly a stretch of the imagination for the Carrier to operate with its escorts at distance while the Amphibs move with their escorts towards shore, with Fixed Wing Aircraft operating overhead.

bd popeye · Jan 2, 2014

bd popeye said:
Exactly!! No need to expound or guess what those photos are about, it's just a photo op of a show of force. That's all.

And those photos did get our attention!!!

Still looks like a photo op to me. Nothing more..nothing less...

Jeez..

Blitzo · Jan 2, 2014

bd popeye said:
Still looks like a photo op to me. Nothing more..nothing less...

Jeez..

.... I doubt they sent all the ships out there just to take a photo, they must have had some exercises before or after the photo... Maneuvering as a fleet, testing their networks and coordination, etc.

The reason for 071 is simple, this isn't a CSG, but rather a flexible task group meant for power projection.

SampanViking · Jan 2, 2014

bd popeye said:
Still looks like a photo op to me. Nothing more..nothing less...

Jeez..

No reason to suppose that the two things are mutually exclusive.
I can think there is little doubt that the pictures are a photo op.
At the same time there is also no reason to suppose that we are also seeing a hint of the future operating doctrine.
Realistically for the foreseeable future I see this as precisely what Liaoning and the first generation indigenous carriers will be used for primarily.
I very much suspect that those who hope to see Chinese CVBG's Cruising the distant Ocean are going to be rather disappointed for many years to come.

bd popeye · Jan 2, 2014

Truth ^^^ SampanViking truth is what you've posted. Excellent post.

PLAN Aircraft Carrier programme...(Closed)

chuck731

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bd popeye

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MwRYum

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asif iqbal

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Sczepan

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SampanViking

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bd popeye

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Blitzo

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SampanViking

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bd popeye

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