Unlike the US which has open access to the oceans for most of its two coastlines, China's single coastline is boxed in by numerous peninsular and island nations, and many smaller islands under foreign control. So China will always have to maintain green water capabilities even if it grows its blue water ones.
PLAN Type 072 LST News, Pics
- Thread starter Jeff Head
- Start date
Unlike the US which has open access to the oceans for most of its two coastlines, China's single coastline is boxed in by numerous peninsular and island nations, and many smaller islands under foreign control. So China will always have to maintain green water capabilities even if it grows its blue water ones.
Because both are useful in an Amphibious Group.
The US uses three different types of large Amphibious ships in its ARGs. LHDs, LPDs and LSDs.
Right now, the PLAN has two decent types for its operations, LPDs and LSTs. At some point they will probably add LHDs as well.
asif iqbal
Lieutenant General
Check out the LST
Type 072 III in the background
Type 072 III in the background
I think both are Type 072 III LSTs, including the vessel from which the picture is being taken.
asif iqbal
Lieutenant General
Yes I believe you are right
I think both are actually 072 II's based on the open AA cannon mounts and lack of MG mounts mid-deck.
Pennant number 934 is definitely a Type 072 III. She is 丹霞山, Danxia Shan, built by Zhonghua and commissioned in September 1995. She's active in the East Sea Fleet.
They may have altered/upgraded the weapons over time and I do not know when the picture was taken...but I do know that the pennant number 934 is a Type 072 III.
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asif iqbal
Lieutenant General
Great! That's the 10th Type 072A LST. Two more coming.
They will end up with 29 Type 072s altogether.
If a PLAN ARG has one eventual LHD and two Type 071 LPDs, then you add three or four of these into the mix...you end up with some very decent carrying capacity for each PLAN ARG.