What are these three ships next to and in-front of the carrier?Self-explanatory.
Type 076 LHD/LHA discussion
- Thread starter banjex
- Start date
Two of them are 054AGs, while other is for CG (based on 054A).
That being said, a conventional 40,000 ton "light" carrier is an interesting proposition. If you have one long cat on the port side and one short cat on the bow side, it's compelling.
Something like a gas turbine powered CDG, 850-900' long, 50 aircraft.
lcloo
Captain
Yes, 40,000 ton light aircraft carrier can be quite tempting for navies of limited budget or countries with lesser construction capability. Indian navy's latest INS Vikrant is 45,000 tons.
Also, an opportunity for China to use similar hull as the 076 LHDs and the gas turbines in an carrier.
A light-medium carrier operating the same engines as the 076D, and can be mass-produced from nearly the same hull as the 076.
Take the 076, remove the well deck. Add an extra cat + angled deck.
Last edited:
Can't edit so I'll reply to myself.
This ship will also be an attractive export. Countries that won't be able to buy F-35Bs for security or budget reasons can only operate CATOBAR / STOBAR carriers.
The remaining question is the value proposition of STOBAR vs CATOBAR. CATOBAR gives you the option of operating a wider range of aircrafts and drones from both the East and West.
Should a nation decides to go for a CATOBAR carrier on the open market, such a ship is the only option.
CATOBAR depends entirely on the EM Catapult being available for export.
EM systems might be advanced technology with geo-strategic implications like nuclear powerplants for subs. Nobody sells those.
Building hulls is not the issue here. Maybe China can sell the steam cat that lost out in competition for the Type 003.
STOBAR depends more on the aircraft than the ship. We'll need to see how the J-35 operates off a ramp and, again, if it is available for export. China does not export the J-20. The frontline 5Gen for the PLAN might not be allowed for export either.
The steam cats would require steam turbine engines. Might be less attractive in a smaller ship.
Speaking of the CATOBAR, someone did a light carrier for the USN that's very similar to a type 076 conversion. The only issue that I see with the deck layout is that the starboard cat should be moved to onto the angled landing strip, since the starboard cat will very rarely be used due to need for arming and parking. I would also move the first weapons elevator to where the starboard jet blast deflector currently is, and move the second weapons elevator to behind the aft island, and add an extra elevator to the port parking.
I would also remove the swastikas.
This talented PLAN watcher did a better job with his take on the type 076 a year ago. The island needs to be split into two.
Last edited: