PLAN Photos & Videos

The next two posts document what the Chinese indigenous crrier has done through 2015 and thus far in 2016. It will also punctuate why I believe that the carrier will not officially launch until late 2017 at the earliest, and more likely 2018.

Here are five pictures from mostly last year detailing progress:



Through this period we saw the hull growing up to the hanger deck and then the hanger being placed.

This second post details later events, mostly this year in 2016 here into mid-May. Where we have seen the sections for the flight deck overhang being prepared and the first two placed, and then further extension of the forward part of the vessel up to that deck.



The last pic shows the approximate progress to date.

They still have to extend the flight deck out over its sponson completely to the stern, and then forward to the forward weapon sponson on that side. They then have to add that sponson and the other weapons and auxillary sponsons around the ship.

Then they have to build the rest of the flight deck forward including the ski jump.

At some point during, or fter all of this, they will add the island.

Finally, they have a LOT of internal wiring, structure, HVAC/Plumbing and work to do interior to the ship to hook it all together.

Only then (normally) will the vessel be launched. I believe they have over year's worth of work to do that...as much as two from this point.

Then they will spend months, perhaps a year completing the outfitting once it is launched before it goes to sea for its intial builders trials.

We will watch that happen...but there is not rushing it.

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1st post of a two post series. The PLAN is increasing the number of places and the tempo of its operations world-wide.

2nd post of a two post series.

Nice pic of the QBZ-95 rifle with grenade launcher there.

SIMON'S TOWN (SOUTH AFRICA), May 16, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Local Chinese visit the Chinese naval guided missile destroyer Qingdao at Simon's Town, South Africa, May 16, 2016. The 22nd Chinese naval escort taskforce arrived Monday at the Simon's Town naval base of South Africa for a four-day friendly visit. During the visit, the Chinese navy will conduct friendly exchanges with the South Africa Navy, including mutual visits and open day for public visit. After the port call, the taskforce will conduct joint exercise with the South Africa Navy in South Africa's coastal waters.

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SIMON'S TOWN (SOUTH AFRICA), May 16, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Members of the South African Navy Band play music to welcome the visiting Chinese naval ships at Simon's Town, South Africa, May 16, 2016.

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SIMON'S TOWN (SOUTH AFRICA), May 16, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Photo taken on May 16, 2016 shows a helicopter aboard Chinese naval missile frigate Daqing at Simon's Town, South Africa.

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SIMON'S TOWN (SOUTH AFRICA), May 16, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Photo taken on May 16, 2016 shows the visiting Chinese naval supply ship Taihu (L) and the guided missile destroyer Qingdao at Simon's Town, South Africa.

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PEARL HARBOR (June 29, 2016) Chinese People's Liberation Army (Navy) frigate Hengshui (FFG 572) arrives at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2016. Twenty-six nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 30 to Aug. 4, in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2016 is the 25th exercise in the series that began in 1971. (U.S. Navy Photo By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Somers Steelman/Released

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PEARL HARBOR (June 29, 2016) The Chinese People's Liberation Army (Navy) (PLA(N) Luang II class guided-missile destroyer Xian (153) arrives at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2016.(U.S. Navy Photo By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Somers Steelman/Released

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(U.S. Navy Photo By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Somers Steelman/Released)

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(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Katarzyna Kobiljak/Released)

PEARL HARBOR (June 29, 2016) The Chinese People's Liberation Army (Navy) hospital ship Peace Ark (T-AH 866) arrives at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2016.(US Navy photos released for public use.)

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Could this be the island about to be lifted on CV001? Hard to say definitely could be.

bd popeye said:

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(U.S. Navy Photo By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Somers Steelman/Released)

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Another very decent contingent for RIMPAC for the PLAN.

HONOLULU, July 13, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, the United States, July 12, 2016. The Chinese fleet of missile destroyer "Xi'an", missile frigate "Hengshui" and supply ship "Gaoyou Lake" left the Pearl Harbor for the at-sea phase of the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise 2016 on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Yang Lei)

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