The PLAN LCAC Type 726 Yuyi Class

Zubr Class will serve PLAN well it's perfect for the overall strategy

A few Flotillas of these and you have a very fast reaction force with the ability to carry a huge load

asif iqbal said:

Zubr Class will serve PLAN well it's perfect for the overall strategy

A few Flotillas of these and you have a very fast reaction force with the ability to carry a huge load

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Yes and now the Chinese can produce almost entirely by themselves (perhaps need to pay a royalty) or produce much improve variant ......

antiterror13 said:

Yes and now the Chinese can produce almost entirely by themselves (perhaps need to pay a royalty) or produce much improve variant ......

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The second unit from Ukraine should be arriving in China soon

I hope we see the first Chinese built start doing trials too not much info on this point

No doubt China will have to pay something for thier own productions

Second Zubr under construction at Guangzhou HP

I am very suprised that China has already started the second home built Zubr when the first one from Ukraine isn't even commissioned yet this tells me China is committed to this project and that there is a requirement and need for such vessals otherwise we would not see 4 units in in two country's in such a short span

The second unit from Feodosiya should be arriving in China with the first one finished its trials and weapons integration

The 3rd one is not in the water yet and 4th is spotted, that's fast very fast I do think PLAN has a mission for these units and have thought this one through and is looking forward to adding a very capable LCAC to its fleet

Fast good range heavy load and quick Zubrs will add a serious punch to the Amphibous capability of PLAN

we will have to wait and see if a 5th emerges I think PLAN knows what the are doing here

asif iqbal said:

I am very suprised that China has already started the second home built Zubr when the first one from Ukraine isn't even commissioned yet this tells me China is committed to this project and that there is a requirement and need for such vessels

The second unit from Feodosiya should be arriving in China with the first one finished its trials and weapons integration

I do think PLAN has a mission for these units and have thought this one through

Fast good range heavy load and quick Zubrs will add a serious punch to the Amphibous capability of PLAN

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Imagine them basing a squadron of these at Woody Island (Sansha), or having a couple based at Fiery Reef in the Spratleys.

Woody Island I suppose is possible, but they would still need refueling to get down to the Spratleys. If a couple were based in the Spratleys, they could easily reach, services, and help defend all three of the major outposts at Fiery Reef, Subi Reef, and Mischief Reef.

For sure they will add a huge capability to the PLAN

Each can carry up to 500 marines so four could lift 2000 marines that's a lift capacity of a while regiment

Very powerful and a quick deployment force

Jeff Head said:

Imagine them basing a squadron of these at Woody Island (Sansha), or having a couple based at Fiery Reef in the Spratleys.

Woody Island I suppose is possible, but they would still need refueling to get down to the Spratleys. If a couple were based in the Spratleys, they could easily reach, services, and help defend all three of the major outposts at Fiery Reef, Subi Reef, and Mischief Reef.

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I think the thought of it based in the Paracels is cool but that would mean semi-permanent basing of troops and equipment. It's possible, maybe Duncan Island as it seems to be a facility of some sort that they don't publicize at all. However, I think it may simply be more efficient to base them on Hainan Island as that would mean the flexibility of deploying to SCS or Taiwan.

I don't think basing on Fiery Reef would work, unless they build out a pad for them to park it?

joshuatree said:

I think the thought of it based in the Paracels is cool but that would mean semi-permanent basing of troops and equipment. It's possible, maybe Duncan Island as it seems to be a facility of some sort that they don't publicize at all. However, I think it may simply be more efficient to base them on Hainan Island as that would mean the flexibility of deploying to SCS or Taiwan.

I don't think basing on Fiery Reef would work, unless they build out a pad for them to park it?

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I don't think these 4 were acquired with any active use in mind other than study and exercise. Out of 4 you would only have 2 ready at any given time (one in maintenance/overhaul/repair/updating, ... and one used for crew training/familiarisation) trying to get them all 4 ready for active service would be a sure giveaway for offensive action! So unless they start building more of them, my guess is that they are using them to familiarise their marines with large hovercrafts and they are not satisfied with the locally develloped (smaller) model (no additional production apart from the test batch!). If they really needed them for active use, they could easily have made a generous bid on the Helenic zubr's some years ago.
Furthermore, basing them IN any disputed area is unwise as they would be targeted in the initial attack; having them further away would create an additional difficulty/unscertainty to take into account for any assaillant.

pendragon said:

my guess is that they are using them to familiarise their marines with large hovercrafts and they are not satisfied with the locally develloped (smaller) model (no additional production apart from the test batch!). If they really needed them for active use, they could easily have made a generous bid on the Helenic zubr's some years ago

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There is a big diference betwen this hovercraft and china´s LCAC. Besides, greece is an EU member and it cant export this kind of equipment to china.