PLAN carrier thread III

[AssassinsMace]

The Shanghai maglev is around a 30km trip. I believe it's an 8 minute trip. If it takes so long to accelerate to its highest speed, why bother? It does accelerate quickly. Probably more than it does on a normal trip for public safety.

[alwaysfresh]

Germany built the Maglev in Shanghai. It is around a 5 minute trip. Hitting a maximum speed of 430km/h. It is the coolest roller coaster I have ever been on. It is like being in an airplane very close to the ground.

Germany already has the contract to expand the Maglev in Shanghai.

[AssassinsMace]

The last I read is that there will be no maglev expansion because Germany won't transfer technology nor will give China a discount since Shanghai is the showroom floor for the German maglev train to the world. So it looks there will be no expansion to Hangzhou which basically kills the Beijing to Shanghai run as well. Which is also why China is working on a different maglev system from Germany and Japan. There's already a prototype where the train hangs from the rail not run on top. I believe they're building the test track right now.

So since China has its own R&D on maglev technologies, they're probably going to apply it to carrier catapults as well.

[jackbh]

That's old news. As far as I know a deal has been worked out with Germany, so they are continuing with the expansion. There is no other location in the world that is interested in running a German maglev train other than China as of right now. The Germans don't even have plans to build the maglev in Germany even unless I'm wrong. The Beijing and Shanghai run is not in the running but as for the Hangzhou expansion it is on.

[jackbh]

Appearantly the maglev expansion has been halted but not due to the Germans won't transferred the technology, but the public concern for health reasons.
Here is the link to the article: http://www.asiasentinel.com/index.ph...=512&Itemid=31

[AssassinsMace]

Hard to believe public concerns would be at play here. What is more political is that Germany wouldn't deal. The fact is maglev is expensive. China wanted to manufacture most of the train domestically which would've reduced the cost for them. Germany didn't want to deal so the maglev extension to Hangzhou and thus the Beijing line was axed for cheaper bullet trains.

[AmiGanguli]

Slightly off-topic, but I know a couple of guys who work at a company in Qingdao that manufactures engines for high speed trains. Apparently the trains that will be used in the Shanghai-Beijing run.

I tried to get a tour of the factory, but no dice. They seem to be obsessed with security.

They're also working with foreign partners, but I can't remember who.

... Ami.

[Valjean]

How did this thread get hijacked by a maglev train topic? Isn't it about the PLAN's carrier plans?

I am torn between the PLAN's need for a carrier, at least one that would give the USN a run for the money. Why would they bother? China is not really worried about projecting power like the US is at this time. I look at China as a defensive nation, with only a limited want to show long range force.

I see more of 2 or 3 larger carriers (like the present Russian ones) with some smaller carriers (like the Tia/Spanish carrier) or even a amphib carrier that would allow the PLAN to move around the Asian Pacific and into the Indian Ocean, maybe as far as Africa. But really they want just the first two covered.

[dh19440113]

May be you haven't noticed, but Ahh bien the president of taiwan is calling sucession from the mainland and officially declare taiwan an independant nation. War is a distinct possibility if the taiwanese green party is calling for sucession.

That is the exact reason why china need power projection and air superioity in the taiwan strait. If China has two carrier, taiwan will be surrounded. Air superioity can be extended and fighter loiter and cover will be enhanced.

[zyun8288]

If china's carrier plan is targeting Taiwan, don't you think it's too late?

[AssassinsMace]

How did this thread get hijacked by a maglev train topic? Isn't it about the PLAN's carrier plans?

Because someone said slow accelerating maglev technology couldn't be applied to carrier catapults because it can't launch a fully loaded fighter. The maglev train is neither slow accelerating nor lite in load.

[AmiGanguli]

Originally Posted by dh19440113

If China has two carrier, taiwan will be surrounded. Air superioity can be extended and fighter loiter and cover will be enhanced.

I don't think that's the motivation at all. Quite the opposite in fact.

For the same cost as positioning 100 aircraft on the far side of Taiwan, the PLA could base 400 aircraft on land. And a conventional airfield can't be sunk, can achieve a greater sortie-rate, and can cover all of Taiwan from the mainland anyway.

In a sense, a Chinese aircraft carrier is a sign that the Chinese leadership feel they finally have the resources to handle Taiwan and project power beyond their own backyard.

... Ami.

[nemo]

Actually, it's to trap Taiwanese AWACS (E2Cs) so it will either be driven off the effective coverage or be shot down. It will also provide air cover for the subs enforcing the blockade.

[Gollevainen]

You seem to take lot of liberties in this thread. FIrst trains, now Taiwanese invasion. A kind moderation suggestion comes now: GET BACK IN THE TOPIC!!
And to those who doesent know it, it is CHINESE AIRCRAFT CARRIERS.

Gollevainen
Super Moderator.

[Valjean]

I think what is being discussed here is not the invasion of Taiwan, but the reasoning for the Chinese to lay out the money for Aircraft Carriers.

I have to agree with Amiganguli, that the reason the Chinese want a carrier is to be able to show thier ability to extend thier navy furthur than before. This will continue to move thier standing in the world militaries towards par with the US or at least ahead of the other nations. But I think that thier main concern is teh Asian Pacific area and Indian Ocean.

So to that end if they are doing this for just a show of power, with of course a true military use. I would say that they would continue to refit the Varyag to use as a training carrier and than build two or three sloop deck carriers themselves. These would be considered the main carrier force to cover China's main area of concern. I would think that these carriers would be less expensive than a full blown super carrier and quicker to get afloat.

To add to the fleet I think the Chinese than would add some LHD's http://www.strategycenter.net/resear...pub_detail.asp

This would seem the quickest and easiest way for them to have a carrier force today and than be able to build into a better force as they gain experiance and more technology.