Who's is bigger? Russia or the good old US of A? Do we need to get out the measuring tape? Maybe we do, after China completes what looks to be the latest generation naval defense: the Type 002 aircraft carrier that is currently under construction in a floodable dry dock. Tinfoil hatters among us will be glad to hear that updates of the progress for the construction of this mighty vessel come from satellite imagery. Now that battleships are pretty much obsolete with maybe carriers to follow this latest addition to China's growing fleet may just be an expensive showboat.
Entry for the carrier on Wikipedia.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 15 2019, @04:15AM (13 children)
Carriers will not be obsolete for a very long time. In a full out war against other high tech militaries they will probably be a liability, but not obsolete.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 15 2019, @04:20AM (6 children)
They're also very handy when you're invading a much less militarised country.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 15 2019, @04:32AM (5 children)
You don't pick a fight with someone who might beat you.
(Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 15 2019, @05:15AM (3 children)
And remember: "Never get involved in a land war in Asia" and "Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line!"
(Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 15 2019, @06:57AM (1 child)
That would be inconceivable!
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Wednesday May 15 2019, @02:53PM
You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 2) by Kell on Wednesday May 15 2019, @08:13AM
And don't invade Moscow in the winter.
Scientists ask questions. Engineers solve problems.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 15 2019, @01:00PM
> You don't pick a fight with someone who might beat you.
Well, there was "The Mouse That Roared", they managed quite well!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mouse_That_Roared [wikipedia.org]
(Score: 3, Touché) by c0lo on Wednesday May 15 2019, @06:46AM (1 child)
What 'obsolete' means: not enough profit margin and/or cashflow for MIC.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 3, Insightful) by DeathMonkey on Wednesday May 15 2019, @05:42PM
Carriers are very good for occupying territory in the South China Sea. [cfr.org]
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 15 2019, @10:01AM (2 children)
From the very article linked at that point in the summary:
(Score: 1) by khallow on Wednesday May 15 2019, @11:52AM
The US doesn't need a fleet that big either. These things often have a life of their own.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 16 2019, @02:37AM
China needs a few more near Washington to make sure Americans have no funny ideas about paying their debt.
(Score: 1) by biffulator on Wednesday May 15 2019, @05:31PM
They've been obsolete (for all-out sea warfare) for decades.
To a submarine(r), all surface vessels are targets.