PLAN Carrier Strike Group and Airwing

Re: Latest Varyag Pics

bd popeye said:

That's it! It's just to bad that we can't get any up-to-date pics of the Varyag. I will keep searching though!

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Popeye, what is that in the center, down-low, just above the water line on the aft portion of the ship. Is that something standing on the protective barrier in front of the ship...or is that some kind of opening on the aft end of the Varyag.

Re: Latest Varyag Pics

Jeff, I think that is just a deck. Much like on USN CVN's. Maybe their "Jet Shop" is back aft like on USN carriers.

Re: Latest Varyag Pics

Not Varyag but another Chinese carrier....

31 06'15" N, 121 00' 55" E

Now how did that get there ???? !!!!!

Don't get TOO excited....it's a theme park at Dianshan Lake, west of Shanghai. The "carrier" is a mock up. There are also some artillery guns under funny little covered postions and a "trench system" next to it. All very wierd. They sure love their carriers huh !

On the lake itself, the long enclosed stretches of water are part of a canoe training school - where they train Olympic canoeists I believe. I was out there with some sailing friends couple of years ago.

Re: Latest Varyag Pics

bd popeye said:

Jeff, I think that is just a deck. Much like on USN CVN's. Maybe their "Jet Shop" is back aft like on USN carriers.

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PE, I am familiar with that lower deck on the aft side...but I am speaking of the opening below that. Here's a pic. IS this what ou were speaking of?

Re: Latest Varyag Pics

Jeff, If that old Russian Cv is like an American CV in any way that's some sort of accomodation hatch/door/deck. That's what was in place in the same position on the JFK and America...Kinda hard to tell on that pick...No guys it's not some towed sonar ....

Re: Latest Varyag Pics

bd popeye said:

Jeff, If that old Russian Cv is like an American CV in any way that's some sort of accomodation hatch/door/deck. That's what was in place in the same position on the JFK and America.

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Accomodation deck or hatch I would suppose is to accomodate access to that area...for crew? equipment?

Could they be doing some refit through there...it seems to be pretty good size.

Re: Latest Varyag Pics

Jeff Head said:

Accomodation deck or hatch I would suppose is to accomodate access to that area...for crew? equipment?

Could they be doing some refit through there...it seems to be pretty good size.

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On the JFK and America that was so a barge could be tied up so when we were anchored out somewhere we could go on liberty(shore leave).. No kidding..

Re: Latest Varyag Pics

bd popeye said:

On the JFK and America that was so a barge could be tied up so when we were anchored out somewhere we could go on liberty(shore leave).. No kidding..

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Sounds perfectly reasonable to me. Thanks for the explanation and detail...perhaps it is intended for the same use on the Varyag and her sister ship, the Russian Kuznetzov.

Re: Latest Varyag Pics

Re: Latest Varyag Pics

Well, swimmer, that certainly looks like a newer pic of the Varyag. The deck, which had most recently been primed with some sort of zinc chromate looking cover for anti-skid, now seems to be painted over and looking much more ready for use...as far as a protective coating goes.

Also, I clearly see two 51Cs in final outfitting there. NO doubt in my mind that like the 52Cs and 52Bs, the PLAN will launch and commission two of them. I guess we will see at some point which designs they actually put into some serial production so they have a sufficient number of the newer, modern vessels.