First Chinese Aircraft Carrier - When?

[VetLegion]

I've just looked up the developments of ex-Soviet Varyag, aircraft carrier that was 70% complete when they decided to scrap her for lack of money to complete her.

The Chinese decided to buy her to use as a floating casino. Well, that was suspicious. But now that they've towed the thing to China (took over two years), they've dropped the pretending and colored it in their navy colors.

My questions to the all knowledgeable savants of Apolyton:

1) Is this it then? China finally has its first real carrier?

2) Will this ship, when equipped with excellent Chinese electronics and solid new Russian planes be able to compete with American carriers (which are slightly larger)?

3) Or are they going to keep it in dock, tuck in a hundred good engineers and have them reverse engineer the design in one giant effort?

More info with images here:

http://www.varyagworld.com/

[Zulu Elephant]

We're all doomed!

[Patroklos]

1.) No, this is going to be a proof or concept sort of thing. Theys still don't have carrier capable aircraft, zero knowledge/experiance running a carrier, and zero pilots trained to man an airwing.

2.) HAHAHAHAHA

3.) That is the idea. I don't think they will reverse engineer it persay, but they will learn from it.

A carrier has been on the Chinese wishlist for a long time, but it is subordinate to the submarine fleet.

[Colonâ„¢]

Looks pretty. More elegant than most other carriers.

[Serb]

Re: First Chinese Aircraft Carrier - When?

Originally posted by VetLegion
I've just looked up the developments of ex-Soviet Varyag, aircraft carrier that was 70% complete when they decided to scrap her for lack of money to complete her.

Not us, stupid Ukranians did so And it was 99% ready lacking only armaments and electronics.

The Chinese decided to buy her to use as a floating casino. Well, that was suspicious. But now that they've towed the thing to China (took over two years), they've dropped the pretending and colored it in their navy colors.

That casino thing was crap from the beggining. And Ukraninan government of that time were just plain bastards.

My questions to the all knowledgeable savants of Apolyton:

1) Is this it then? China finally has its first real carrier?

Not first, iirc, they (just like India) bought another carrier from us too.

2) Will this ship, when equipped with excellent Chinese electronics and solid new Russian planes be able to compete with American carriers (which are slightly larger)?

They are different. Soviets/Russians have different aproach. In addition to carrier air wings, we equip our carriers with ship-to-ship, anti-aircraft, anti-missile, ASW and anti-torpedoe missile armament of a heavy cruiser.

3) Or are they going to keep it in dock, tuck in a hundred good engineers and have them reverse engineer the design in one giant effort?

I don't think so.

[Victor Galis]

Should have stuck with the casino idea.

[LordShiva]

Re: Re: First Chinese Aircraft Carrier - When?

Originally posted by Serb
Not first, iirc, they (just like India) bought another carrier from us too.

It is their first real carrier; the Shichang is a multi-role support ship that carries helicopters. They bought the Minsk, but are using it as a museum.

I don't think the Indian purchase of the Gorshkhov is finalised, either (nor do I think it ever will be). The Vikrant was decommissioned, but the Viraat is still in service, and we're apparently building our own for delivery by 2010 (though if it's following an Indian construction schedule, that's extremely unlikely).

[Patroklos]

They are different. Soviets/Russians have different aproach. In addition to carrier air wings, we equip our carriers with ship-to-ship, anti-aircraft, anti-missile, ASW and anti-torpedoe missile armament of a heavy cruiser.

I mentioned that in another thread, very cool even if it is overkill

[Dauphin]

The thing looks so far out of the water. Is it supposed to look like that, is it an optical illusion or is it just really empty inside?

[C0ckney]

Originally posted by Victor Galis
Should have stuck with the casino idea.

QFT.

[Dauphin]

You can't deny that buying the thing was a big gamble.

[Az]

Looks pretty. More elegant than most other carriers.

Russian warships have probably the most elegant hulls around.


And, well, I am not really surprised.

[Dr Strangelove]

The forward deck slopes up. Was this carrier designed for VSTOL aircarft? If so it's more along the lines of the British carriers which frankly aren't in the same class as the American carriers. VSTOL jets gnerally aren't a real match for regular jets.

[Az]

Isn't the sloped-up deck a compensation for the shorter deck length, or somesuch, i.e. planes not being able to reach the needed speed to get airborne, so this is achieved by them leaving the deck at an angle?

[Patroklos]

The thing looks so far out of the water. Is it supposed to look like that, is it an optical illusion or is it just really empty inside?

No ammunition, fuel, crew, stores, or aircraft.

Russian warships have probably the most elegant hulls around.

I think it has alot to do with the extended bows, very cool. Though when your warships aren't crowded with useful weapons and comms gear you have time/space to make things look good

Thats what we told the Indian officers when they commented on why our Wardroom didn't have wood paneling and leather chairs etc. Captain told them "we spend our money on weapons."

I'll take a DDG51 any day, the Flight IIAs look sweet.