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posted by Fnord666 on Monday May 14 2018, @05:27AM   Printer-friendly
from the it's-bad-luck-to-not-have-a-name dept.

China's first home-built carrier sets out for sea trials

China's first domestically developed aircraft carrier left its northeastern port to begin sea trials on Sunday, state media said, the latest milestone in the country's efforts to modernise its military.

The still-unnamed carrier was launched this time last year but since then has been undergoing fitting of weapons and other systems and has not yet entered service.

[...] "Our country's second aircraft carrier set sail from its dock in the Dalian shipyard for relevant waters to conduct a sea trial mission, mainly to inspect and verify the reliability and stability of mechanical systems and other equipment," Xinhua said.

"A sea trial is the testing phase of a watercraft (including boats, ships, and submarines). It is also referred to as a "shakedown cruise" by many naval personnel. It is usually the last phase of construction and takes place on open water, and it can last from a few hours to many days."

Also at CNN.

Previously: China Moving Full Speed Ahead in Construction of Aircraft Carriers
China Launches Aircraft Carrier


Original Submission

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China Moving Full Speed Ahead in Construction of Aircraft Carriers 34 comments

Satellite photos analyzed by IHS Janes show China has dramatically ramped up efforts to construct a second aircraft carrier—the first to be built indigenously there. While the new ship will likely not be a match for US aircraft carriers, it is important for a number of reasons, and representative of China's ambitions to be a naval superpower. The ship is in "advanced state of construction" in a Dailan shipyard, according to analysis of commercial satellite images by IHS Jane's. And China's goal is reportedly to launch the new carrier by this December (in time for Mao Zedong's 122nd birthday), and outfit it by the end of next year.

China's plans to build new carriers have not exactly been a secret. Construction of the ship started in March, and was confirmed to be a carrier by Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) officials speaking to Hong Kong Commercial Daily. The new carrier, called the Type 001A, will include technology currently only used aboard US carriers, according to PLA Navy senior officers: an electromagnetic catapult that will allow aircraft to be launched with greater fuel and weapons loads. That would put China into a very exclusive club.


Original Submission

China Launches Aircraft Carrier 24 comments

Chinese government news service Xinhua reports that a newly built aircraft carrier was floated in the sea at Dalian (also known as Port Arthur). The ship must "undergo equipment debugging, outfitting and mooring trials." As yet, the Soviet-built Liaoning is China's only operating aircraft carrier.

According to Shanghaiist and Voice of America (U.S. government outlet), the carrier is named Shandong. Some other reports said that it is unnamed.

Additional coverage:

Previously on SoylentNews: China Moving Full Speed Ahead in Construction of Aircraft Carriers
Chinese State Media Boasts About its New Electronic Reconnaissance Ship


Original Submission #1Original Submission #2

Politics: China Moves to Claim South China Sea During COVID-19 Pandamic 68 comments

China's devious move under cover of virus

As outbreaks debilitate the US navy, there are fears China may be using the coronavirus pandemic as cover for asserting control over the South China Sea.

A Vietnamese fishing boat has been rammed and sunk. Military aircraft have landed at its artificial-island fortresses. And large-scale naval exercises has let everyone know China's navy is still pushing the boundaries, hard.

Meanwhile, the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier strike group has retreated from the contested waterway in an unscheduled return to Guam – with hundreds of cases of COVID-19 on board.

China's Peoples Liberation Army knows this presents an opportunity.

"The outbreak of COVID-19 has significantly lowered the US Navy's warship deployment capability in the Asia-Pacific region," an article on its official website declares.

The website insists not a single one of its soldiers, sailors or pilots had contracted COVID-19. Instead, the crisis had served to strengthen the combat readiness and resolve of the Chinese military.

That has international affairs analysts worried that even a short-term withdrawal of US and international from the East and South China Seas could give Beijing the opportunity it has been waiting for.

"I think China is exploiting the US Navy's coronavirus challenges to improve its position in the South China Sea by giving the appearance it can and will operate there at will while the US is hamstrung," former Pacific Command Joint Intelligence Centre director Carl Schuster told CNN.

Previously:
(2020-01-09) China Initiates Conflict with Indonesia in the South China Sea
(2019-12-21) Malaysian Top Envoy: China's 'Nine-Dash Line' Claim 'Ridiculous'
(2019-11-22) US Warships Sail in Disputed South China Sea Amid Tensions
(2019-05-14) China Builds New Type 002 Mega Carrier as the Age of Sea Power Wanes
(2018-05-13) China Begins Sea Trials for its First Domestically Developed Aircraft Carrier
(2017-12-24) World's Largest Amphibious Plane in Production Takes Flight in China
(2017-05-25) US Warship Challenges China's Claims in South China Sea
(2017-04-26) China Launches Aircraft Carrier
(2017-03-14) Japan to Send its Biggest Warship to the South China Sea
(2017-01-13) Chinese State Media Boasts About its New Electronic Reconnaissance Ship
(2016-07-14) China's South China Sea Claims Rejected By "Binding" but Unenforceable Tribunal Ruling


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  • (Score: 2) by richtopia on Monday May 14 2018, @06:00AM

    by richtopia (3160) on Monday May 14 2018, @06:00AM (#679439) Homepage Journal

    Some relevant wikipedia articles:

    Overview of China's carrier program: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_aircraft_carrier_programme [wikipedia.org]

    The existing Liaoning carrier (Type 001): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_aircraft_carrier_Liaoning [wikipedia.org] This was originally laid down in 1985 for the Soviet navy but the dissolution of the USSR stopped construction, and the hulk was purchased by China. It became combat ready in 2016 with its primary role as a training ship to get the PLAN acquainted with carrier operations.

    The carrier from the article (Type 001A or CV-17): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_001A_aircraft_carrier [wikipedia.org] Largely based on the Liaoning carrier with upgraded subsystems

    Future designs (Type 002): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_002_aircraft_carrier [wikipedia.org] Little is known. Expected to launch in 2020 and be active around 2023 with a displacement of 85000 tons.

    Quick comparison chart of active carriers around the world: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:World_Navy_Aircraft_carries_chart.svg [wikipedia.org]

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 14 2018, @06:01AM (10 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 14 2018, @06:01AM (#679440)

    Isn't carrier group outdated battle tactic? A volley of cruise missiles can take out a carrier battle group.

    • (Score: 3, Interesting) by takyon on Monday May 14 2018, @06:37AM

      by takyon (881) <reversethis-{gro ... s} {ta} {noykat}> on Monday May 14 2018, @06:37AM (#679445) Journal

      It lets you project power against weaker enemies, giving you the ability to launch airstrikes against countries you don't have bases near. Maybe China will gain an appetite for U.S.-style world policing national interest protection.

      Even if relatively small missiles, drones [nationalinterest.org], etc. can devastate these ships, they can prevent damage by keeping it well offshore from where they want to bomb. It's also said that China is more aggressively pursuing naval laser and railgun [popsci.com] technology than the U.S. is (the laser is applicable to protecting the ship against small threats).

      China Sends Troops to Djibouti Ahead of Establishment of its First Overseas Military Base [soylentnews.org]
      U.S. Complains That Chinese Military Personnel Are Injuring American Pilots With Lasers in Africa [soylentnews.org]
      'China has conquered Kenya': Inside Beijing's new strategy to win African hearts and minds [latimes.com]
      My family had never seen a Kenyan: The Chinese making a new life in Africa [bbc.com]
      The new scramble for Africa: how China became the partner of choice [theguardian.com]
      China-Africa Development Fund [wikipedia.org]

      China is using soft power for now, but they may be going hard later.

      --
      [SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
    • (Score: 3, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 14 2018, @06:44AM (2 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 14 2018, @06:44AM (#679449)

      This is generally how: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Close-in_weapon_system [wikipedia.org]

      The USA uses this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phalanx_CIWS [wikipedia.org]

      It fires 4,500 20mm shells per minute and turns at 115 degrees per second. It tracks its own shells with radar, allowing dynamic adjustment for stuff like gusts of wind. It walks the stream of shells right onto the target.

      China uses a newer version of this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_730_CIWS [wikipedia.org]

      For their aircraft carrier, they use a Type 1130. It fires 10,000 30mm shells per minute and turns at 100 degrees per second. Think of it like 3 to 5 of the A-10 Warthog's GAU-8 Avenger. Chinese TV has claimed that it is able to intercept incoming anti-ship missiles up to a speed of Mach 4 with a 96% success rate. (Mach 0.9 is normal for a cruise missile)

      All of those specifications may be better than publicly admitted.

      • (Score: 4, Interesting) by corey on Monday May 14 2018, @07:10AM (1 child)

        by corey (2202) on Monday May 14 2018, @07:10AM (#679459)

        Yep. These work against missiles that use active radar to target. Missiles in dev these days aim to be silent all the way.

        • (Score: 2, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 14 2018, @08:01AM

          by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 14 2018, @08:01AM (#679473)

          The land-based version of the US system works on artillery shells and mortars.

          The US system sends out its own radar. The incoming trouble can be radio-silent and it won't matter. China's system also does optical tracking.

    • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Monday May 14 2018, @06:57AM (5 children)

      by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Monday May 14 2018, @06:57AM (#679452) Journal

      It's not as easy as you make it sound. Aircraft *can* intercept missiles. Their chances may or may not be very high, depending on the aircraft, the pilot, and the missile - not to mention the loadout of the aircraft. There's your first line of defense, though. Next, the carrier GROUP consists of screening destroyers and cruisers. Their main guns, secondary guns, and point defense systems are pretty formidable - and we haven't mentioned their missiles. And, finally, the aircraft carrier will have it's own defenses - some guns, point defense, and probably some missiles. Carriers aren't designed to have a lot of guns, so maybe all they have are some 50, 30, or 20 mm cannon, but they have some. They probably have a nice anti-missile missile array.

      Yes, of course a carrier group can be taken out. We saw it happen in World War Two. It is no easy task, and cruise missiles aren't exactly a magic wand. Missiles can be taken down.

      I'll not even attempt to guess what the odds are, of course. We haven't seen such a battle, no one can make any more than wild guesses how it would go.

      I will, however, point out that China is not a traditional sea power. They can have all the best hardware and armament in the world, and still lose a battle and a war. We've seen THAT happen, down through history. Ultimately, it always comes down to which side has the better seamen, as well as the better commanders.

      And, I'll end this post with a salute to HMS Sheffield and her crew. A single Exocet missile ended her life.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 14 2018, @07:10AM (3 children)

        by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 14 2018, @07:10AM (#679458)

        See other comment. Some more:

        That 30 mm autocannon, the Type 1130, shoots more than 166 shells per second. That would sound like the E below middle C, almost perfectly in tune.

        I feel that flying straight into that would pose a problem.

        • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Monday May 14 2018, @07:41AM (2 children)

          by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Monday May 14 2018, @07:41AM (#679463) Journal

          In fairness, GP did mention a "volley" of cruise missiles. I suppose that if enough misiles were launched, the defenses could be overwhelmed. A better strategy might be going for kills in the screen, first, to minimize the defenses available. Ten missiles inbound, all targeting the closest ship, and each has a secondary target of the next closest ship. Ten minutes later, a similar volley of missiles. Just keep stepping in toward the carrier itself. It's going to take a lot of missiles, though. Few nations have the resources to even attempt such a thing.

          • (Score: 4, Interesting) by deimtee on Monday May 14 2018, @08:31AM (1 child)

            by deimtee (3272) on Monday May 14 2018, @08:31AM (#679485) Journal

            If you are trying to overwhelm the defences though, those missiles can be cheap as shit. All they need is a rocket motor, enough dumb guidance to head towards the carrier group, and a radar profile the same as your real missiles.
            Doesn't even matter if half of them fall out of the sky on their own, the carrier group still has to spend ammo and counter-missiles on the rest, and that dilutes their defences to the point real missiles start getting through.

            --
            If you cough while drinking cheap red wine it really cleans out your sinuses.
            • (Score: 4, Interesting) by Runaway1956 on Monday May 14 2018, @09:49AM

              by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Monday May 14 2018, @09:49AM (#679500) Journal

              I think you've tipped the game in favor of the defenders with the cheap(er) rockets. Now, the aggressor is unable to launch from hundreds of miles, or thousands of miles away. He has to get a bit closer, and more personal. Meaning, the launch platform(s) are trying to hide just over the horizon. That doesn't work real well against aircraft. Or, if there is a submarine or two with the carrier group, they are going to negate that horizon anyway. The carrier need only launch a strike at the attacker now. When the platform(s) are gone, there are no more attacks.

      • (Score: 2) by DannyB on Monday May 14 2018, @07:05PM

        by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Monday May 14 2018, @07:05PM (#679722) Journal

        Yes, of course a carrier group can be taken out. We saw it happen in World War Two. It is no easy task, and cruise missiles aren't exactly a magic wand. Missiles can be taken down.

        In my mind a kamikaze piloted aircraft IS a cruise missile. And they can be taken down. Even though kamikaze pilots have an AI-like level of intelligence at trying to evade incoming fire.

        Ultimately, it always comes down to which side has the better seamen, as well as the better commanders.

        That might be one of the US failings. I don't know. Can't say. But a navy ship in a collision? Then reports of seamen not being proficient at the basics prior to modern technology. And as for commanders, just look to the president for inspiration.

        --
        People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
  • (Score: 2) by stretch611 on Monday May 14 2018, @09:58AM (3 children)

    by stretch611 (6199) on Monday May 14 2018, @09:58AM (#679502)

    Built locally... but made with technology stolen from every other major nation in the world.

    --
    Now with 5 covid vaccine shots/boosters altering my DNA :P
    • (Score: 3, Insightful) by takyon on Monday May 14 2018, @10:04AM (1 child)

      by takyon (881) <reversethis-{gro ... s} {ta} {noykat}> on Monday May 14 2018, @10:04AM (#679503) Journal

      Sour grapes.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opium_Wars [wikipedia.org]

      As China develops its own technological advancements, those will get stolen too.

      --
      [SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 14 2018, @08:46PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 14 2018, @08:46PM (#679770)

        nanos gigantum humeris insidentes

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 15 2018, @01:29AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 15 2018, @01:29AM (#679878)
      And how has that has been in any way different from the way things have always been since... the dawn of human history? Innovations tend to spread around the world no matter what kind of barriers are put in the way. If a nation really wants nuclear weapons, they will find a way: North Korea proved that in the most dramatic way possible.
  • (Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Monday May 14 2018, @03:56PM

    by Phoenix666 (552) on Monday May 14 2018, @03:56PM (#679607) Journal

    To defeat a Chinese carrier battlegroup, one only need attack at 2pm local time when the crews are in the middle of their xiuxi (siesta).

    --
    Washington DC delenda est.
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