Carriers are obsolete but militaries love them because they are cool toys. A carrier fleet does not really serve any purpose in China but they are getting them as a sort of bribe from the Comminist party that needs army loyalty to reinforce its rule in a time of domestic turbulence.
This is an aincient tactic. You cement your grip on power by giving the army a raise.
The problem is that once you give them something they expect in in perpetuity so over time you end up with something bloated and useless.
I’m sure there are examples out there but I don’t want to name any for fear of being carried off in the middle of the night.
Chinese figured out long ago way cheaper & infallible to use islands as unsinkable carriers, & resupply by sea.
Just ask the brits with their new 2 billion pound carrier but no budget for an air wing yet, last I heard.
Also very clever of them (ziocons didn’t see that coming) that they would just build some artificial islands right in among the sea islands, big enough to put in runways & all logistic support for air wings there, to refute any claims of their actively reclaiming anything considered ‘land’.
Although you can’t say they’re being modest by claiming all islands in these 2 groups!
China will be ready with this Navy force in about twelve years. It will find it worthless as a force that can take on anything representing a true naval power.
India, Japan and of course the US Navy all are superior powers on blue water.
What the Chinese should do to project power is continue to build what there has been some talk about and that is dual use of its merchant fleet. Thousands of freighters of enormous size that could have missiles and laser weapons aboard. Even using only a partial number of that fleet, 1000 or so, would make China formidable from the Arctic to the Indian Ocean and into the African, Arab and Persian waters. Missiles would give it far deadlier strike capacity.
Then, they could triple their submarine fleet and have an invincible force on the blue water and below.
All far cheaper in cost and training, with less loss of training planes and pilots, and serious impact in four or five years.
It may be under way. It’s not traditional. But it would be hellaciously effective.
With the depression in world trade they have hundreds of surplus freighters anchored doing nothing. Conversion would take but a few months to dual use them. Cutting their capacity to haul freight actually is realistic also. The global trade will take years to come back to anything resembling the years past. EU and US are way below standard trade partners and don’t look healthy any longer. China has an enormous navy. It just needs to arm it.
For good old war agitprop(aganda), there’s many rags out there & here’s one PopSci with articles on the theme of what will China do/use in event of war?
Well, recall the buzz just months ago at the US Winter CES show:
The LAG II is now being evaluated by the PLA for anti-drone missions. This laser is powerful enough so that when linked to a fire control radar, it could potentially also shoot down enemy artillery shells, rockets and missiles.
A top secret preview of the weapons in Ghost Fleet, a new novel about our future war with China
By Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer Posted June 30, 2015
Today, Ghost Fleet: A Novel of the Next World War, is coming out. By August Cole and Eastern Arsenal’s very own P.W. Singer, it’s a novel about what might happen if the brewing Cold War between the U.S. and China were ever to turn hot.
Carriers are obsolete but militaries love them because they are cool toys. A carrier fleet does not really serve any purpose in China but they are getting them as a sort of bribe from the Comminist party that needs army loyalty to reinforce its rule in a time of domestic turbulence.
This is an aincient tactic. You cement your grip on power by giving the army a raise.
The problem is that once you give them something they expect in in perpetuity so over time you end up with something bloated and useless.
I’m sure there are examples out there but I don’t want to name any for fear of being carried off in the middle of the night.
Recommend 2 short rants about carriers from War Nerd, old articles but very valid today.
(Defuct site long time ago)
U Sank My Carrier! – By Gary Brecher:
http://www.exile.ru/articles/detail.php?ARTICLE_ID=6779&IBLOCK_ID=35
This Is How the Carriers Will Die (Updated Version) – By Gary Brecher:
http://exiledonline.com/the-war-nerd-this-is-how-the-carriers-will-die/
IMHO: carriers are scrap metal since Prince of Wales sunk in Singapore, you know – Japan invasion-pre WW2.
Chinese figured out long ago way cheaper & infallible to use islands as unsinkable carriers, & resupply by sea.
Just ask the brits with their new 2 billion pound carrier but no budget for an air wing yet, last I heard.
Also very clever of them (ziocons didn’t see that coming) that they would just build some artificial islands right in among the sea islands, big enough to put in runways & all logistic support for air wings there, to refute any claims of their actively reclaiming anything considered ‘land’.
Although you can’t say they’re being modest by claiming all islands in these 2 groups!
http://opiniojuris.org/wp-content/uploads/China-claims-Paracel-Spratly-Islands-11.jpg
China will be ready with this Navy force in about twelve years. It will find it worthless as a force that can take on anything representing a true naval power.
India, Japan and of course the US Navy all are superior powers on blue water.
What the Chinese should do to project power is continue to build what there has been some talk about and that is dual use of its merchant fleet. Thousands of freighters of enormous size that could have missiles and laser weapons aboard. Even using only a partial number of that fleet, 1000 or so, would make China formidable from the Arctic to the Indian Ocean and into the African, Arab and Persian waters. Missiles would give it far deadlier strike capacity.
Then, they could triple their submarine fleet and have an invincible force on the blue water and below.
All far cheaper in cost and training, with less loss of training planes and pilots, and serious impact in four or five years.
It may be under way. It’s not traditional. But it would be hellaciously effective.
With the depression in world trade they have hundreds of surplus freighters anchored doing nothing. Conversion would take but a few months to dual use them. Cutting their capacity to haul freight actually is realistic also. The global trade will take years to come back to anything resembling the years past. EU and US are way below standard trade partners and don’t look healthy any longer. China has an enormous navy. It just needs to arm it.
For good old war agitprop(aganda), there’s many rags out there & here’s one PopSci with articles on the theme of what will China do/use in event of war?
Well, recall the buzz just months ago at the US Winter CES show:
http://www.popsci.com/military-applications-chinas-ces-passenger-drone
One of the most talked about products at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Shows in Las Vegas left observers wondering whether to call it a passenger drone or a self-flying helicopter.
http://www.popsci.com/new-chinese-laser-weapon-stars-on-tv
Low Altitude Guard II
The LAG II is now being evaluated by the PLA for anti-drone missions. This laser is powerful enough so that when linked to a fire control radar, it could potentially also shoot down enemy artillery shells, rockets and missiles.
http://www.popsci.com/ghost-fleet-chinas-arsenal
What Weapons Would China Use In World War III?
A top secret preview of the weapons in Ghost Fleet, a new novel about our future war with China
By Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer Posted June 30, 2015
Today, Ghost Fleet: A Novel of the Next World War, is coming out. By August Cole and Eastern Arsenal’s very own P.W. Singer, it’s a novel about what might happen if the brewing Cold War between the U.S. and China were ever to turn hot.