PLAN SCS Bases/Islands/Vessels (Not a Strategy Page)

With all that commotion over Diaoyu, new stealth fighters, aircraftcarrier and aegis-like destroyers; what about the Spratly's? Has there been any recent construction been undertaken?
Does PRC actually occupy an island or are there only reef-constructed garrisonning(scfientific research) barracks?
Google Earth isn't quite helpfull here (bristling with simplistic pro-viet propaganda).

P.S.: Recently read about how the Pillipines lost an island to Vietnam; hilarious, could be item for a humoristic film!

Hi pendragon, I'm happy to see that you're taking an interest in the South China Sea islands, not just the political maneuvering around them.

China holds all the Paracel Islands of which Woody Island is the largest and most developed. In the Spratly Islands, China does not hold a single island, only some concrete forts built on reefs and atolls. Taiwan holds the largest in the Spratlys, Itu Aba aka Taiping Island. They've recently expanded its runway, though it's not yet apparent on Google Earth. All the other good islands are held by Vietnam and the Philippines, of which Vietnam has the most, around 26. Vietnam also has a few concrete forms and platforms on stilts. The Philippines has Pengasa Island which has a small runway larger than the island itself.

China's best fort in the Spratlys is at Fiery Cross Reef which I can't find on Google Earth. It has a large garrison and SIGINT station. It's basically a small concrete base built on a reef. Here are some pictures.



Another major fort is at Johnson South Reef. You can find it on Google Earth at 9°54'36.62"N, 114°29'45.14"E

China (though I'm not positive all these forts belong to China)
Fort 1: 10°48'59.61"N, 115°49'19.00"E
Fort 2: 9°42'53.12"N, 114°17'9.60"E
Fort 3: 10°54'48.48"N, 114° 3'42.38"E

Taiwan:
Itu Aba: 10°22'44.34"N, 114°21'52.47"E

The Philippines:
Pengasa Island: 11° 3'20.36"N, 114°17'12.40"E

Malaysia's only apparent island: 7°22'24.62"N, 113°50'16.85"E

Johnson South Reef is another major Chinese fort. You can find it on Google Earth at 9°54'36.62"N, 114°29'45.14"E. Pictures are attached below.

Here are some more pictures of Johnson South Reef.



And here are some pictures of another Chinese fort at Subi Reef.

Here are some pictures of the Chinese fort at Mischief Reef.



These are the only pictures I could find of a Chinese presence at Scarborough Reef.

This is a recent picture of Itu Aba/Taiping Island with its recently extended runway. It looks like a Google Earth picture but I can't access it. The most recent GE picture I see is from 2006.



Here are some of the Vietnamese-held islands and forts.



Let me know if you want me to post more pictures of the Vietnamese installations.

Geographer said:

This is a recent picture of Itu Aba/Taiping Island with its recently extended runway. It looks like a Google Earth picture but I can't access it. The most recent GE picture I see is from 2006.

View attachment 7503

Here are some of the Vietnamese-held islands and forts.

View attachment 7504View attachment 7505View attachment 7506View attachment 7507

Let me know if you want me to post more pictures of the Vietnamese installations.

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Please do. Thanks.

wikipedia aparently ha a good list about actual occupied sites; search for "Spratly Islands dispute"

Some of these garrisons look quite impressive. Do they posses organic helicopters or are the heli-pads just for use by choppers from visiting ships?
After a first glance at the foto's my reaction was awe on the old fashioned light caliber guns. But then 1. in such hostile environment mechanical instruments (guns) are more reliable and servicable than electronical instruments (missiles) 2. these guns are just for show since any real defence would have to come from PLA Navy. Hence the multifunctional frigate 54-A design.

I only wish PRC would be able to construct a true short runway in the Spratly's; could be explained as to enable rapid delivery or medevac to the fishermen; and with J-31's claimed short take-off run the underlaying message to the opponents would be clear.

pendragon said:

wikipedia aparently ha a good list about actual occupied sites; search for "Spratly Islands dispute"

Some of these garrisons look quite impressive. Do they posses organic helicopters or are the heli-pads just for use by choppers from visiting ships?
After a first glance at the foto's my reaction was awe on the old fashioned light caliber guns. But then 1. in such hostile environment mechanical instruments (guns) are more reliable and servicable than electronical instruments (missiles) 2. these guns are just for show since any real defence would have to come from PLA Navy. Hence the multifunctional frigate 54-A design.

I only wish PRC would be able to construct a true short runway in the Spratly's; could be explained as to enable rapid delivery or medevac to the fishermen; and with J-31's claimed short take-off run the underlaying message to the opponents would be clear.

Click to expand...

I would say the new 056s would be more suited in this environment if there is an actual naval battle simply because of the dangers of shallow waters and reefs. I don't know what the power consumption a SAM or SSM battery would be but I'm guessing that plus need for real estate would be a big deterrent to why some of those forts only sport light caliber guns. The bigger islands such as Taiping or Woody Island up in the Paracels would be more self-defensible but the others are really show the flag and intel gathering sites.

The island garrison is just for presence's sake. I don't think anyone expects the smaller islands without airfields to survive an attack from air. So it probably does not make sense to arm it to the teeth if it is not expected to survive and you'll end up loosing equipments.

Geographer said:

View attachment 7505

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What island is that? That's a really short run way, not much longer than an CV it seems. Do they use arrested landing for it? If not, what possibly could land there?