Type 076 LHD/LHA discussion

plawolf

plawolf

Lieutenant General
Biscuits said:
My guess is actually that PLAN will send carriers out in much larger groups of 2-4 each, at least. Because 1. They don't have as much basing around the world 2. They're not as limited by running costs and repairs as US.

076 have well deck, so it's not greatly designed for CV role to begin with. It's main role should still be amphibious assault, something China will have to do fairly often.
Click to expand...

2-4 carriers is for a full scale war and would be essentially the entire PLAN carrier fleet for the next 20 years. China will not be sending such a massive force far from home before the Taiwan issue is permanently resolved.

That’s where the 076s primary role comes it. These are meant to be the PLAN’s long range power projection assets for the foreseeable future, assuming AR doesn’t conclude beforehand. They are meant to address both the problems of China’s lack of foreign military bases and the expected unavailability of its true carrier force far from China’s shores.

However, they are also expected to be able to provide a massive power boost to 001 and 002 in a near-peer fight against the US and friends around China’s coast. By bring fixed wing AWACS and future fullfat carrier tankers as well as more airframes to boost 001 and 002 up to almost 003 levels of combat capabilities and plugging those gaping gaps in their current air wings.

The lack of an angled deck makes sense when you realise they are meant to bring heavy fixed wing airframe like AWACS, tankers and UCAVs to the table instead of merely adding more of the same type of planes 001 and 002 can already bring themselves. The longer deck is meant to give those bigger, heavier and slower aircraft the ability to do touch and go’s in the event of missed wires and other abortive landing attempts. Something that is going to be either much higher risk, or maybe even outright impossible with an angled deck unless you scale up to full carrier size to give the angled deck sufficient length.
 
lcloo

lcloo

Captain
The size of the parking area painted in white boxes indicates the main type of aircraft, most likely UCAV like GJ-11, seem a bit too small for manned fighter jets. Note that GJ-11 mockups were spotted on Changxing island shipyard area owned by Hudong.

The aircraft lifts are large enough for Z8 helicopters. Its size is similar to that on Type 075.

Lack of arresting cable gear may indicate manned fixed wing jets were not considered when the ship was designed and built. If there is any arrestor cable to be installed later during the current fitting out, it may not be strong enough to stop a J35 size aircraft. We can take the arrestor cable gear on Fujian for reference.

I consider this a LHA Drone ship whose primary mission is massive drone support for landing operation. Then of course its transport and attack helicopters, LCAC and other amphibious capabilities should not be overlooked.0 49c6e7743_k.jpg
 
Last edited:
TK3600

TK3600

Major
Registered Member
It is a generalist that can perform different mission profile. If needed it can function as a light carrier where fixed wings are direly needed in small quantity, without commiting a full carrier. Low intensity operation mostly. But just because it has EMAL doesnt mean it must carry planes. It is not taking that much space. It can be left unused without interfering other load outs which use no plane.
 
kwaigonegin

kwaigonegin

Colonel
TK3600 said:
It is a generalist that can perform different mission profile. If needed it can function as a light carrier where fixed wings are direly needed in small quantity, without commiting a full carrier. Low intensity operation mostly. But just because it has EMAL doesnt mean it must carry planes. It is not taking that much space. It can be left unused without interfering other load outs which use no plane.
Click to expand...
I guess this is where my thinking differs from some here. In almost all military applications, and I'm sure PLAN or PLA is no exception you don't just install something, nevermind something as complicated like a friddin EMALs just for fun or for the very rare occasional launch of a FW aircraft.
If it's there it's being used. It's not there to decorate the deck nor is it there just to shoot something off once a month.
 
kwaigonegin

kwaigonegin

Colonel
Gloire_bb said:
We all are stuck. 076 is essentially USS Lexington-sized, especially since this bloody thing is in fact gas-, i.e. it's quite likely much faster than 075, too - and, say, beyond effective escort by frigates.
It is well beyond normal LHA in all aspects, basically. EM Catapult, 30t lifts(J-35 at MTOW!) and advanced weapon elevators, gas IEP, carrier self-defense suit.
All those aspects cost a lot of money, both in production and operation. There should be meaning behind.
Click to expand...
Exactly! The only thing I can think of is future proofing for STOVL but to my knowledge PLAN has no such project at least nowhere close to reality anytime soon.
 
asif iqbal

asif iqbal

Lieutenant General
kwaigonegin said:
Still don't understand how they do traps on it if it launches FW aircrafts with the cat. And w/o an angled deck it would mean having to clear most everything up top ea. time there's a landing.
The ONLY feasible explanation is STOVL but that would be an even bigger surprise than the recent 2 demos.
Am I missing something here?
Click to expand...

a very good point

could be that the UCAVS are too heavy and need cats to take off and when they return they have vertical landing

or they have a rolling landing like the Queen Elizabeth carriers which does have a ski jump for heavy load take off
 
M

MC530

New Member
Registered Member
asif iqbal said:
Wow very nice the Type 076 LHA + Type 075 LHD in the same shot !

looks well squared away

I remember the time when the question was raised , can China even build modules for flat deck ships ?

around 2010 I think
Click to expand...
First, in the event of emergency dispatch, 076 will receive a rapid response from J35 within 2 hours, instead of waiting for the arrival of the 30-knot aircraft carrier battle group. The necessary war window is worth taking any risks. The 40,000-ton battleship cannot just watch the landing force be repelled by the enemy's air force.
Second, China will not have to fight the Americans every time. Any "other" country will feel tremendous pressure when facing a light aircraft carrier like the 076, and the 076 will have enough time to safely adjust the J35 take-off and landing sequence.
Third, it needs to be turned into a light aircraft carrier "when necessary". Please call 076 the standard name at any time: amphibious assault ship.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top