China's first aircraft carrier

China has an aircraft carrier now, it isn't new, it's an old Soviet one they refurbished, but it's still an aircraft carrier. According to reports, this carrier is going to be used for training purposes, and they're about to begin construction of a new completely home-grown carrier that will be nuclear powered.
I wonder how this will effect the balance of power in the pacific?
Here's a link to the first article:
www.defensenews.com...
Here's a link to the second article. This link has pics :
www.jeffhead.com...

where is it?

Lol.is that the point?they dont have one?

reply to post by jlv70


Cool, I knew China was advanced but a Stealth Carrier???
That's insane...

It's soooo elusive! wow!

sorry, i hit enter after i typed in the title.

Originally posted by jlv70
sorry, i hit enter after i typed in the title.

lol, it happens..

IMO China don't care that much for carriers..
They are working on weapons that make large ships just very big targets...

reply to post by backinblack


Yeah, I wanted to make the post better, but after I screwed it up I just rushed it out, check out that second link, its got pics of it.

reply to post by jlv70


We are going to be at war with the chinese in the next 20 years.

Originally posted by mydarkpassenger
reply to post by jlv70

 

We are going to be at war with the chinese in the next 20 years.

Correction: We're going to be in a cold war with China & they've got far more $$ to fund it than we do.

Originally posted by jlv70
reply to post by backinblack

 

Yeah, I wanted to make the post better, but after I screwed it up I just rushed it out, check out that second link, its got pics of it.

Second link is great..
Carrier looks small compared to US super carriers..
I love the mock up though...

the question for what does China need an aircraft carrier? The us always has needed an aircraft carrier to escort material headed towards europe, keep getting supplies and support for amphibious landings. Afaik china only could be interested in the latter if they directly want to invade the US or something. For attacking taiwan they certainly dont need carriers.

reply to post by tomcat ha

Afaik china only could be interested in the latter if they directly want to invade the US or something. For attacking taiwan they certainly dont need carriers.

Attacking the US? That's one big assumption by you..
Maybe they simply want carriers to match the US..
Maybe simply a deterent...

reply to post by tomcat ha


It won't change the balance of power at all, the US has 15 - 20 ? aircraft carriers.
China wants one for possible use against Taiwan, I;m sure.

Originally posted by tomcat ha
the question for what does China need an aircraft carrier? The us always has needed an aircraft carrier to escort material headed towards europe, keep getting supplies and support for amphibious landings. Afaik china only could be interested in the latter if they directly want to invade the US or something. For attacking taiwan they certainly dont need carriers.

You are right in terms of Taiwan. They don't need an aircraft carrier for that (They do need a gator navy but thats a topic for another thread) But you simply cannot project power beyond your shores without either bases located in other countries OR a carrier.

Couple of things with this. Yes its an old Russian design, however, the Ford class carriers represent decades of R&D and the US has perfected the art of the Supper Carrier. With this one the ChiComs have shaved decades off development and this is no doubt a "learning carrier on which they will build one of their own from the keel up.

Originally posted by Asktheanimals
reply to post by tomcat ha

 

It won't change the balance of power at all, the US has 15 - 20 ? aircraft carriers.
China wants one for possible use against Taiwan, I;m sure.

Not now, but if you have 10+ then you can challange the USN in the pacific.

Its not likely that they could use a carrier to invade Taiwan. they could but given the USN lead in subs, its most likely to have a short but exciting time of it. It would be much better used in a decoy role like heading towards Diego Garcia or something. Force the USN to send assets against it away from the Taiwanese straight.

Also there is really NO need to have a carrier if you are going after Taiwan given the size of thier airforce.

reply to post by FredT


No doubt to protect their interests in the regional area of Asia especially South China Sea with Vietnam, Phillippines claiming over it, as well as possible conflict with Japan and other Asian countries. Asia is becoming China's backyard.

reply to post by FredT


You're exactly right. just the fact that it exists means that we would have to devote assets to contend with it. I know that China has really been making an effort to tap into African natural resources, a carrier sitting offshore would really make an indelible impression on all concerned. Something like that would give pause to anyone thinking about horning in on their action.

Their one "refurbished" Soviet Carrier, in addition to the one they're building...only have these to contend with...sooo:

USS Enterprise
(CVN 65) 25 Nov 1961 /
-- Active -- see Fact File

USS Nimitz
(CVN 68) 3 May 1975 /
-- Active -- see Fact File

USS Dwight D. Eisenhower
(CVN 69) 18 Oct 1977 /
-- Active -- see Fact File

USS Carl Vinson
(CVN 70) 13 Mar 1982 /
-- Active -- see Fact File

USS Theodore Roosevelt
(CVN 71) 25 Oct 1986 /
-- Active -- see Fact File

USS Abraham Lincoln
(CVN 72) 11 Nov 1989 /
-- Active -- see Fact File

USS George Washington
(CVN 73) 4 July 1992 /
-- Active -- see Fact File

USS John C. Stennis
(CVN 74) 9 Dec 1995 /
-- Active -- see Fact File

USS Harry S. Truman
(CVN 75) 25 July 1998 /
-- Active -- see Fact File

USS Ronald Reagan
(CVN 76) 12 July 2003 /
-- Active -- see Fact File

USS George H.W. Bush
(CVN 77) -- /
Active -- see Fact File

Source

Just saying, it had better be one Bad Ass carrier!

reply to post by deltaboy


Yes, but one carrier is not enough to project power, nor is two, or even 3.

Warships require refitt and have to spend up to a year in the yard. im not sure the exact interval, but the US always hase at least one carrier in drydock undergoing a refit.

When you have a limited number of carriers like say France, that means for a period you almost nothing to project power with.

It's kind of another thing like their space program, now they can say they're in the big boy club. I'm sure they can make a lot of hay on the homefront with it, at the same time telling the rest of the world to stick it.