The PLAN LCAC Type 726 Yuyi Class

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PanAsian

Major
Jeff Head said:
Yes...they have done everything you say.

But that tells me there is all the more reason for a working LCAC and working LCU for their well deck vessels (the LPDs and the future LHDs).

This would give the PLAN a very real and credible Over the Horizon amphibious and air assault capability...much more flexible and much more difficult to defend against.
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The PLAN wouldn't have much of an air assault capability even with LCACs and LCUs unless they actually build LHDs or inefficiently use their carriers as LHAs. Without an air assault component the PLAN is guaranteeing itself less likelihood of success in every potential amphibious operation. Not to mention the priceless capabilities naval vertical lift offers in MOOTW humanitarian missions.

Which brings me back to the mystery of why the PLAN hasn't built a LHD yet especially since the Z-10 and Z-19 have gone into service in significant numbers on land and even the Z-18 has been available for some time.

The possibilities are:
- They don't mind not having much of an air assault component in their amphibious operations.
- They see air assault in amphibious operations or amphibious operations overall as a low priority or unlikely scenario, apparently less than investing in or somehow putting to use more carriers.
- They overlooked or neglected any LHD program despite clear needs for it possibly due to politics or vested interests in other programs.
 
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Iron Man

Major
Registered Member
PanAsian said:
The possibilities are:
- They don't mind not having much of an air assault component in their amphibious operations.
- They see air assault in amphibious operations or amphibious operations overall as a low priority or unlikely scenario, apparently less than investing in or somehow putting to use more carriers.
- They overlooked or neglected any LHD program despite clear needs for it possibly due to politics or vested interests in other programs.
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You forgot the fourth and most likely possibility:
- it's coming and we just don't know about it yet.

Given where the evolution of the PLAN and PLAMC has been heading, I believe it is a virtual certainty that we will see the appearance of a "Type 081" LHD/LPH/LHA by the end of this decade or early next decade.
 
MwRYum

MwRYum

Major
PanAsian said:
The possibilities are:
- They don't mind not having much of an air assault component in their amphibious operations.
- They see air assault in amphibious operations or amphibious operations overall as a low priority or unlikely scenario, apparently less than investing in or somehow putting to use more carriers.
- They overlooked or neglected any LHD program despite clear needs for it possibly due to politics or vested interests in other programs.
Click to expand...
It's more likely a budgetary squeeze combined with the lack of crucial breakthrough in helicopter R&D, that resulted in the lacking of suitable medium and heavy utility helicopters in sufficient quantities, that'd be necessary in the amphibious warfare. It is understandable that due to PLA in its whole still playing catchup for the 2 decades of neglect, plus the high-performance helicopter powerplant still not yet reach serial production stage, helicopters have to take a backseat while they've to work out the kinks.

And without helicopters, you've to settle with WW2 style of amphibious warfare, instead of the multi-pronged, high-speed invasion type of deal that modern amphibious warfare characterised. And that would naturally make vessels like the LHD a white elephant, because the said circumstances. As such, LHD becomes something now on the "can wait" list, and since the expansion of the LPD and LHD fleet slows down, LCAC also on the "can wait" list as well...Zubr? Well that's just to fulfil the contract package at the very least. If they decided to build more (did they also purchased the production licence?) then we'd know which path the PLAN choose.
 
Jeff Head

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
PanAsian said:
The possibilities:

- They don't mind not having much of an air assault component in their amphibious operations.
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I have a hard time believing this. The TYpe 071D has a huge well deck capable of four LCUs and a =huge hanger capable of four of their heaevy lift helos, with a landing deck to go with it.

So, they know they need both the amphibious assault and the air assault and they have built a strong LPD that has been designed to use both.

PanAsian said:
- They see air assault in amphibious operations or amphibious operations overall as a low priority or unlikely scenario, apparently less than investing in or somehow putting to use more carriers.[/quote See my first answer. The LPD design they have come up with and built four of, with two more building, itself refutes this notion.

Every thing we have heard and seen of what they plan for an LHD also refutes it.

PanAsian said:
- They overlooked or neglected any LHD program despite clear needs for it possibly due to politics or vested interests in other programs.
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Perhaps other programs are talking president and using allocated funds to the point that the LPD and entire Amphibious program is being slowed down. But is that were the case, I would not have expected to see them start that fourth , fifth and sixth LPD. They know they will need a decent LCAC and helo capability as a minimum to take advantage of these ships...and those ships are not cheap.

As another poster put it, there may be another possibility and that is that we simply have bot seen it yet. I tend to lean in that direction at present because:

1) They have produced an LPD ideally designed for and capable of both air and amphibious assault.

2) They have spoken of and seem to be planning he even larger LHD vessels which will have the same design features...only larger. This means all the more that the LCAC, airlift, and even the LCU capabilities are needed for them.
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Jeff Head

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
duncanidaho said:
In the 2nd picture you can see the 3rd LCAC facing toward the camera on the raised platform on the left side of the picture.
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Good eye...and sure enough it is so.

In that picture there are three, with the single one to the left. But I believe we had determined that there were probably at least three anyway...3320, 3321, and 3322.

Right now with four Type 071 LPDs and two more coming...they need about 24-30 of them, and they simply have not built any large numbers of them to date.
 
D

duncanidaho

Junior Member
Jeff Head said:
Good eye...and sure enough it is so.

In that picture there are three, with the single one to the left. But I believe we had determined that there were probably at least three anyway...3320, 3321, and 3322.

Right now with four Type 071 LPDs and two more coming...they need about 24-30 of them, and they simply have not built any large numbers of them to date.
Click to expand...

I think the first set of LCACs is more for evaluation purpose and the PLAN hold back the production till a stronger and eventually smaller engine is available.
 
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