PLAN Carrier Strike Group and Airwing

Jeff Head

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
Re: Aircraft Carriers II

thunderchief said:
Well , I told you that those troop facilities take up space ;) .

Nevertheless , this is very interesting development , unlike 22DDH 26DDH looks like true aircraft carrier and I don't think China would allow that . My prediction - if Japans starts construction of these ships China would attempt to trigger sell-off of Japanese bonds or something similar . We shall see ...
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Well, you will note that these vessels would be 3,000 tons less than the Kaga (22DDH) vessels, and yet will hold more aircraft. The displacement was not the issue in whether it could hold the aircraft or not...it is just allowing them to open up more space for them. I honestly think that this vessel is going to be very close to what a Kaga (22DDH) vessel is, but with an extended flight deck, and probably a longer hanger too.

Also with somewhat more defensive weaponry.

Finally, with only a 12 F-35B capability, I believe it is clear that this vessel's role is not an offensive one. It seems like they are designing it so they can use it to defend their ASW Tasf Force carriers when they are out to sea...so they will be able to keep it within their Self-Defense constituional limits with such a strategy.

As to how China will respond, I seriously doubt that they will start a full fledged economic/trade war over such an occurrance. These carriers simply do not have enough power projection to warrant it. Since they intend one for each of their destroyer flotillas, it further underscores their intended use to defend their principal ASW vessels.

In other words, they will probably use these to escort a Hyuga or a Kaga class DDH which are loaded with ASW helicopters to perform ASW screening for allied task forces so that when far out to sea, away from the Japanes Self Defence Air Force coverage, they can still protect those ASW task forces from arial attack.

Anyhow, right now it is a proposal for planning purposes and will not become reality in the least until funding is actually reserved for it.
 
Jeff Head

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
Re: PLAN LHD/LPH/LHA discussion

usaf0314 said:
I believe the cutout is too small for a hanger deck, its far too short and narrow to house a fix winged aircraft. unless its a tailless UAV like the X47B lol
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I can't say if it is or isn't big enough because we do not have anything to tell us how tall that is. If that opening is 20 or more feet tall, then it could be big enough (ie. an F/A-18F Superhornet is 16ft tall, an E-2C/D Hawkeye is 18 ft. tall). If it is ony 12 feet tall, it clearly would not be.

Until we know what it's dimension are, we cannot make that call.

I am more intrigued with the picture of the ship on the construiction ways that I pointed out. How big is that ship? Is that structure on the starboard side an island? Is that indentation at the port aft quarter an elevator?

We just do no know. I have enlarged it and enhanced it and can still not tell from that photo. It may just be the lighing or the stage of construction that is making it look that way. In which case it is some large cargo/container ship being built. On the other hand, if that is an ilsand, and if that is an elevator, it is mot probably an LHD or LPH vessel.

We'll just have to wait and see.
 
asif iqbal

asif iqbal

Lieutenant General
Re: PLAN LHD/LPH/LHA discussion

no_name said:
Over at cjdby they say it could be a half scale carrier mock up for study.
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2:1 scale model, unheard of and highly doubtful who does that? They do all these study's on computer these days entire carrier with all it's components are built in labs

It's clear this is a warship, there's clearly a hanger to this module and it's also got a clear imagine of a elevator, it can be nothing other than a LHD or a carrier

I would say its a very large LHD or a Liaoning sized carrier, or slightly larger than Liaoning, but the Chinese naval officers have said the second carrier will be larger than the Liaoning so I would guess this is a LHD

Chinas second carrier would likely carry 36 or 48 aircraft, this doesn't look like it could do that but certainly for a LHD it makes a perfect fit

Also building a LHD prior to the carrier would also make sense as it would give China shipyards very good experience in building flat tops lessons which they can translate into building the first true indigenous carrier

After three pretty big Type 071 LPD which can already carry 4 x LCAC and 4 x Z8 I would think its logical to build a LHD of this size
 
thunderchief

thunderchief

Senior Member
Re: Aircraft Carriers II

Jeff Head said:
Finally, with only a 12 F-35B capability, I believe it is clear that this vessel's role is not an offensive one. It seems like they are designing it so they can use it to defend their ASW Tasf Force carriers when they are out to sea...so they will be able to keep it within their Self-Defense constituional limits with such a strategy.

As to how China will respond, I seriously doubt that they will start a full fledged economic/trade war over such an occurrance. These carriers simply do not have enough power projection to warrant it. Since they intend one for each of their destroyer flotillas, it further underscores their intended use to defend their principal ASW vessels.
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Well , I somehow doubt China would regard this so benevolently ;) . For reasons historical and strategical China will oppose strong blue-water Japanese navy . Bear in mind , 12 fifth gen fighters are 12 fifth gen fighters , multiplied by four flotillas it is powerful force . They could give upper hand to Japanese in hypothetical conflict at open sea , especially because China still doesn't have project for its own naval 5th gen fighter ,and F-35B is few years away from service .

For years , PLAN has been effectively bottled-up inside first island chain . Now , when they are finally emerging as new marine power they simply cannot afford to let Japanese Navy put them back again . So , I believe they would use every available means to thwart this , including economic war . Of course , this is just my prediction , we shall see what will actually transpire in next few years .
 
Jeff Head

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
Re: Aircraft Carriers II

thunderchief said:
Of course , this is just my prediction , we shall see what will actually transpire in next few years .
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Yes, we shall see, and it will be some time before it materializes, though we will know in 2-3 years if the Japanese plan to fund these.

If you see a 26DDH line item on the 2015 or 2016 JMSDF funding report, then they are coming.

Until that happens...it is just a proposal from their Technical Research Institute in the Ministry of Defense.
 
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