PLAN Carrier Strike Group and Airwing

Re: Latest Varyag Pics

PLABUDDY said:

Guys let's not give up our faith so easily..like i said before...if ur the leader of china and u know everyone is curious about what ur doing with Varyag..would u install the weapons and engines at a rapid speed?
Sczepan u need to stop blow our faith in the PLAN. Ur doubts are understandable but please stop saying things that don't make sense...such as varyag had engine when it reached China. i believe the they did for some reason remove some things from varyag but i think they are just equipments that were left by the unkainians and were useless after so many years. I still think the PLAN will commission the carrier...spending so much money and effort to get the carrier home and not using it doesn't sound very logical!:china: The rails can be fold down when necessary...that's standard russian design...once again please don't give up hope on Varyag and the PLAN.

Where's Jeff Head? He should have a good answer to all of Sczepan's doubts.

Click to expand...

chinas leaders have a tough time balancing out propaganda with security interests. another of migleaders varyag theories:

the chinese make almost all the preparations that make it seem like the ship is going to be a casino, but the complete the carrier when its goes to be fitted.

the company that bought the ship is out of business.
macao cannot house varyag size ships
the leaders of the company had pla associations
the ship has been dormant for 3-4 years.

thats my biggest evidence

Re: Latest Varyag Pics

MIGleader said:

chinas leaders have a tough time balancing out propaganda with security interests. another of migleaders varyag theories:

the chinese make almost all the preparations that make it seem like the ship is going to be a casino, but the complete the carrier when its goes to be fitted.

the company that bought the ship is out of business.
macao cannot house varyag size ships
the leaders of the company had pla associations
the ship has been dormant for 3-4 years.

thats my biggest evidence

Click to expand...

I agree with u 100%.

Re: Latest Varyag Pics

I also have my doubts about the "casino" theory. It really is looking more and more like an operational carrier. Isn't there anybody near that shipyard that can ask around and try to get some info?

Re: Latest Varyag Pics

maybe varyag will be scrapped to metals, but it is used as a decoy, where the real AC is build somewhere else. This is my theory. As you can see that the first 2 carrier has become amusment park and the third one will lead to others to think that this has no significant military purpose

tricking eye method

Re: Latest Varyag Pics

ahho said:

maybe varyag will be scrapped to metals, but it is used as a decoy, where the real AC is build somewhere else. This is my theory. As you can see that the first 2 carrier has become amusment park and the third one will lead to others to think that this has no significant military purpose

tricking eye method

Click to expand...

That's a very interesting theory. So you're saying that China is developing their own carrier indigineously in secret, while everyone's focus is on Varyag. That would surely shock everyone when they rolled it out. I definitely believe China has studied the Varyag to use in their own design. So it could be true. China certainly surprised and impressed everyone with the YUAN SSK.

Re: Latest Varyag Pics

Sczepan said:

I think, this clearly show, that the engines was installed in the Ukrainian Yard

Click to expand...

The engines were installed by the Soviets before the fall. The ship was transferred to the Ukraine after the fall...and building stopped. Before the transfer of the ship to the PRC, the engines, electronics, and armament that had been installed earlier...which were also in poor condition...were all removed then. There has never been any doubt about this in my opinion.

Sczepan said:

no new engines are installed now !

Click to expand...

Most probably true...but not necessarily. There are many, many other things that add great weight abd ballast to such a vessel. (Fuel, ordinance, other machinary, stocks, supplies, armament, aircraft, etc.). I would like to have a good picture of the aft end of the vessel. I notice that good clear photos of the aft end have never really been available.

Sczepan said:

! this empty hull will never go to sea, no engines, no radar, no electronic equipment - this hull will be more used for entertainments as every other russian carriers (Kiew, Minsk) before ....

Click to expand...

Well, in my opinion, you are jumping to a conclusion here about the Varyag, though what you say about the two Kiev class carriers is true.

I believe differently about the Varyag. The Chinese clearly have had great interest over many years in obtaining/building a carrier. They now have the best used hull for a relatively modern carrier in their shipyards...outside of the hulls in the US reserve (and they are all older than the Varyag).

I do not think the PLAN will consign it to a casino (that company is long since out of business), or an amuzement park. That hull has many years service life left if it is cleaned up, repaired and maintained. The Chinese clearly have the capacity to add engines and electronics. It would be easier to do it to a finished hull like this (I am quite certain that they do have the engineering drawings), than to build from scratch, particularly if they are wanting to gain some experience.

I predict that during the 2008 Olympics, we will see the Varyag shown off by the PLAN in some state of operation. But I could easily be wrong. It's just my opinion.

But we shall see.

Re: Latest Varyag Pics

PLABUDDY said:

Where's Jeff Head? He should have a good answer to all of Sczepan's doubts.

Click to expand...

Sorry, I have been out of town with my work duties. I responded to some of the issues in my last post to Sczepan.

Re: Latest Varyag Pics

time will see
a clear pic of the Bospors Waterline at


new Image at Dalian


and Ol Image Ukraina

Re: My trip to the US Navy Reserve Fleet in Bremerton, WA

bd popeye said:

Great drawings of CVN-78 and pics of the steel cutting. CVN-21 is the program. CVN-78 will be the hull number. I don't know why.

Click to expand...

I have added a complete section for the CVN-21 to the aircraft carrier site popeye. Since initial steel cutting has been accomplished, it is officially, "under construction" and so I placed it there right at the top.

I know the Kitty Hawk will be decomm'ed in 2008...but hope she remains in reserve for some time to come.

Where do you think they will retire her? Bremerton?

I hope so, then on one of my trips over there I can get good pics of her too!

Re: Latest Varyag Pics

Sczepan said:

time will see

Click to expand...

Yes it will. She is clearly sitting high in the water. But a lot of effort is going into her to some purpose...including time in dry docks. That is very expensive time and I believe involved more than just a painting. Whatever the ultimate purpose (and I believe it is PLAN military related), the Varyag is certainly looking good as compared to her condition three years ago.