Rumoured Type 076 LHD/LHA discussion
- Thread starter banjex
- Start date
In conjunction with CV-18 Fujian beginning her sea trials today, here's a moment of sneak peak of the 076 LHD in the distance.
Are we sure about the two island configuration?Notional silhouette of Type 076 from USN's recognition and identification guide. It also gives its NATO reporting name as Yulan. Yulan probably stands for 玉兰, or magnolia in Chinese.
I don't think there is any confirmation.
Newest look of the 076 LHD at Changxin's Hudong-Zhonghua. Posted by @horobeyo on Twitter.
The LHD's hangar deck looked like a tunnel (visible through from bow to stern at the current stage of construction), and there should be another layer (on top of the roof of the hangar) before reaching the flight deck. This layer is where the EMCATs would be installed.
@伏尔戈星图 on Weibo illustrated the point.
Another observation by @horobeyo on Twitter - The bow section of the flight deck module (circled in yellow, located on the left side of the photo) is obviously ready. It is no longer a whole brick(-like structure) like on the 075 LHD, but has a slightly narrower transition to both sides.
The LHD's hangar deck looked like a tunnel (visible through from bow to stern at the current stage of construction), and there should be another layer (on top of the roof of the hangar) before reaching the flight deck. This layer is where the EMCATs would be installed.
@伏尔戈星图 on Weibo illustrated the point.
Another observation by @horobeyo on Twitter - The bow section of the flight deck module (circled in yellow, located on the left side of the photo) is obviously ready. It is no longer a whole brick(-like structure) like on the 075 LHD, but has a slightly narrower transition to both sides.
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I don't want to jump the gun but this looks suspiciously like the makings of an angled deck.
It looks like this way: must balance the weight of the island.
Would be great if this thing can also operate J-35.
US:
We have superior engine technology so we'll create STOVL version of F-35 that can operate from LHD although it's also very complicated, require special coating on deck to operate and the design commonality also affect the performance of the other two versions.
China:
We have superior shipbuilding capability so we'll just create LHD with catapult and angled deck that could operate CATOBAR planes.
US:
We have superior engine technology so we'll create STOVL version of F-35 that can operate from LHD although it's also very complicated, require special coating on deck to operate and the design commonality also affect the performance of the other two versions.
China:
We have superior shipbuilding capability so we'll just create LHD with catapult and angled deck that could operate CATOBAR planes.
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There is no confirmation but if it has gas turbines then a twin-island configuration is more likely. That propulsion arrangement makes it highly beneficial to have twin islands. Inlet and exhaust systems for gas turbines are huge.