PLA Navy news, pics and videos

Hendrik_2000

Lieutenant General
Grudging respect from Raj47 for PLAN speedy built up though he can't help mentioning the usual western meme noisy,crudely built etc. It probably apply for the ship built prior to 1980's It is not valid anymore today. The news worthy item is the new facility to built submarine. They achieved that by working 24 X 7 and not sitting on their but
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High-speed production: Chinese navy built 83 ships in just eight years
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20 September, 2017
Chinese_Peoples_Liberation_Army-Navy_Jiangkai-class_frigate_Linyi_FFG_547-696x464.jpg

The Chinese People's Liberation Army-Navy Jiangkai-class frigate Linyi (FFG 547) | Source: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Johans Chavarro
Chinese navy produces designs which surpass the most modern ships of the US navy in size, volume, armament and quantity.

The Chinese navy (the People’s Liberation Army Navy or PLAN) has, over the past two decades, augmented its fleet with new capabilities and platforms to control the near seas and fulfil the country’s Blue Navy Dream. By 2050, China is likely to have the largest navy in the world, unless the US navy overcomes its resource crunch. The quality of ships, their armaments and performance is comparable with most modern countries.

Chinese shipbuilding speed has impressed everyone across the board.

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(Type 815A) evoked a big response. Many comments on social media expressed awe at the speed of construction which has been enormously high. Readers asked how China’s naval shipyards are able to produce such large ships in a short period of time. Some people compared the speed of production to making dumplings.

The PLAN first produced smaller high-speed missile carrying catamarans called Type 22 Houbei class. Around 83 were built in just over eight years. Then the Type 52C and Type 54A, surprised the whole world with speed of construction at Shanghai’s Jiangnan Changxing and Hudong Zhonghua shipyards.

And now the most modern — Type 56, Type 52D, Type 55, Type 815A AGI (Auxiliary General Intelligence), Type 71 LPD (Landing Platform Dock) and even the AOR(Auxiliary Oil Replenishment) Type 901 — are also being built at Shanghai, Wuhan, Guangzhou and Dalian.

No holidays
China’s shipyards do not have the word “holiday’ in their dictionary. There are no Sundays or special festival days observed in any of the shipyards. There are no death anniversaries of politicians, leaders or martyrs observed as holidays.

All shipyards work on three shifts of eight hours in a day. The workforce is regularly circulated. There are no unions calling for shut downs.

Designs of ships
The design bureaus work in similar fashion. The difference is that, they produce designs which surpass the most modern ships of the US navy in size, volume, armament, quantity and quality (which China is yet to prove in an actual combat).

Students in universities are being encouraged to build new designs and innovate on already existing designs.

Most Western experts feel that Chinese ships are crudely constructed and may not withstand the test of combat against a peer navy. They also feel the Chinese submarines are very noisy and would easily be detected when on long duration patrols. The focus of the designers appears to be to produce largest ships in the world.
Construction in modules

The construction of most of the large ships is done in modules, produced either at the same shipyard or at different shipyards, and brought for assembly. These modules are joined together to form the basic structure of the ship, which is later fitted out, thereby saving enormous amount of time.

image001.jpg

Google Earth image of Dalian: Type 55 in Modules. Source: Author
Different ships in a single shipyard
The monopoly of shipyards in producing a particular type of ship has been broken. Now, different ship types or classes are assembled and built in most of the shipyards.

The Type 52D and Type 55 are being built at Jiangnan Changxing, popularly known as JNCX, along with the Yuanwang and MCMVs. In December 2016, there were at least 16 different ships being constructed at Jiangnan Changxing at a particular time.

image002.jpg

Google Earth image of Jiangnan Changxing, where 16 ships are being built at a time. Source: Author
Similarly, Dalian shipyard is constructing three Type 52D, two Type 55 and also the CV-17 at the same time.

Recent trends indicate that larger shipyards like Hudong Zhonghua, Jiangnan Changxing and Dalian are constructing two ships of a class at any given time. In the case of Type 55, at both Dalian and Jiangnan Changxing they are being built simultaneously so that even the launch date would coincide.

image003.jpg

Google Earth image of JNCX and Dalian, where two type 55 ships are being built simultaneously. Source: Author
It is also rumoured that the new facility for construction of CV (carrier vessel) will be able to construct two CVs at a time.

Submarines
The newly built facilities for construction of submarines at Huludao and Jiangnan Changxing are very large. The sizes of 290m X 135m are indicative that at any given time a minimum of four submarines will be under construction at these two yards.

image004.jpg

Google Earth image of Jiangnan Changxing and Huludao Submarine Construction Facilities. Source: Author
Implications
China is likely to produce ships at this fast pace for another 30 years. India needs to learn a thing or two from its adversary to improve its shipyards. Permitting private sector to participate in shipbuilding alone will not suffice. The public sector too has to be a willing and strong partner.
 
Last edited:

by78

General
By78,

I don't suppose you have any images of those digital displays behind the D3000 and other USV models?

The D3000 is clearly so badly built that it almost certainly bears only the most fleeting resemblance to the actual concept (I mean, look at those missile canisters!). If there was an Oscars for bad military model making, this would sweep not just this year, but retroactively sweep the three previous years as well.

Unfortunately, I have no images of the background displays.
 

Figaro

Senior Member
Registered Member
Grudging respect from Raj47 for PLAN speedy built up though he can't help mentioning the usual western meme noisy,crudely built etc. It probably apply for the ship built prior to 1980's It is not valid anymore today. The news worthy item is the new facility to built submarine. They achieved that by working 24 X 7 and not sitting on their but
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High-speed production: Chinese navy built 83 ships in just eight years
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20 September, 2017
Chinese_Peoples_Liberation_Army-Navy_Jiangkai-class_frigate_Linyi_FFG_547-696x464.jpg

The Chinese People's Liberation Army-Navy Jiangkai-class frigate Linyi (FFG 547) | Source: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Johans Chavarro
Chinese navy produces designs which surpass the most modern ships of the US navy in size, volume, armament and quantity.

The Chinese navy (the People’s Liberation Army Navy or PLAN) has, over the past two decades, augmented its fleet with new capabilities and platforms to control the near seas and fulfil the country’s Blue Navy Dream. By 2050, China is likely to have the largest navy in the world, unless the US navy overcomes its resource crunch. The quality of ships, their armaments and performance is comparable with most modern countries.

Chinese shipbuilding speed has impressed everyone across the board.

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
(Type 815A) evoked a big response. Many comments on social media expressed awe at the speed of construction which has been enormously high. Readers asked how China’s naval shipyards are able to produce such large ships in a short period of time. Some people compared the speed of production to making dumplings.

The PLAN first produced smaller high-speed missile carrying catamarans called Type 22 Houbei class. Around 83 were built in just over eight years. Then the Type 52C and Type 54A, surprised the whole world with speed of construction at Shanghai’s Jiangnan Changxing and Hudong Zhonghua shipyards.

And now the most modern — Type 56, Type 52D, Type 55, Type 815A AGI (Auxiliary General Intelligence), Type 71 LPD (Landing Platform Dock) and even the AOR(Auxiliary Oil Replenishment) Type 901 — are also being built at Shanghai, Wuhan, Guangzhou and Dalian.

No holidays
China’s shipyards do not have the word “holiday’ in their dictionary. There are no Sundays or special festival days observed in any of the shipyards. There are no death anniversaries of politicians, leaders or martyrs observed as holidays.

All shipyards work on three shifts of eight hours in a day. The workforce is regularly circulated. There are no unions calling for shut downs.

Designs of ships
The design bureaus work in similar fashion. The difference is that, they produce designs which surpass the most modern ships of the US navy in size, volume, armament, quantity and quality (which China is yet to prove in an actual combat).

Students in universities are being encouraged to build new designs and innovate on already existing designs.

Most Western experts feel that Chinese ships are crudely constructed and may not withstand the test of combat against a peer navy. They also feel the Chinese submarines are very noisy and would easily be detected when on long duration patrols. The focus of the designers appears to be to produce largest ships in the world.
Construction in modules

The construction of most of the large ships is done in modules, produced either at the same shipyard or at different shipyards, and brought for assembly. These modules are joined together to form the basic structure of the ship, which is later fitted out, thereby saving enormous amount of time.

image001.jpg

Google Earth image of Dalian: Type 55 in Modules. Source: Author
Different ships in a single shipyard
The monopoly of shipyards in producing a particular type of ship has been broken. Now, different ship types or classes are assembled and built in most of the shipyards.

The Type 52D and Type 55 are being built at Jiangnan Changxing, popularly known as JNCX, along with the Yuanwang and MCMVs. In December 2016, there were at least 16 different ships being constructed at Jiangnan Changxing at a particular time.

image002.jpg

Google Earth image of Jiangnan Changxing, where 16 ships are being built at a time. Source: Author
Similarly, Dalian shipyard is constructing three Type 52D, two Type 55 and also the CV-17 at the same time.

Recent trends indicate that larger shipyards like Hudong Zhonghua, Jiangnan Changxing and Dalian are constructing two ships of a class at any given time. In the case of Type 55, at both Dalian and Jiangnan Changxing they are being built simultaneously so that even the launch date would coincide.

image003.jpg

Google Earth image of JNCX and Dalian, where two type 55 ships are being built simultaneously. Source: Author
It is also rumoured that the new facility for construction of CV (carrier vessel) will be able to construct two CVs at a time.

Submarines
The newly built facilities for construction of submarines at Huludao and Jiangnan Changxing are very large. The sizes of 290m X 135m are indicative that at any given time a minimum of four submarines will be under construction at these two yards.

image004.jpg

Google Earth image of Jiangnan Changxing and Huludao Submarine Construction Facilities. Source: Author
Implications
China is likely to produce ships at this fast pace for another 30 years. India needs to learn a thing or two from its adversary to improve its shipyards. Permitting private sector to participate in shipbuilding alone will not suffice. The public sector too has to be a willing and strong partner.
The crudely built portion really needs to go away. I've heard very few Western analysts in recent years make degenerating remarks about Chinese shipbuilding/workmanship. Most regard the 052D as a direct competitor to the Arleigh Burke and Atago class. Remember it wasn't in a Chinese shipyard that a warship tipped over on itself ... Of course the, submarine noise thing is going to be mentioned repeatedly, courtesy of that 2009 ONI report.
 

Iron Man

Major
Registered Member
The crudely built portion really needs to go away. I've heard very few Western analysts in recent years make degenerating remarks about Chinese shipbuilding/workmanship. Most regard the 052D as a direct competitor to the Arleigh Burke and Atago class. Remember it wasn't in a Chinese shipyard that a warship tipped over on itself ... Of course the, submarine noise thing is going to be mentioned repeatedly, courtesy of that 2009 ONI report.
Who regards a 7,000t 052D as a "direct competitor" to a 9,000t Arleigh Burke? Not any "analyst" worth his salt. That's like saying the 9,000t Arleigh Burke is a "direct competitor" to the 12,000t 055. You want to compare a ship to the 052D, try the Daring, the Horizon, the Alvaro De Bazan/Hobart, or the Iver Huitfeldt.
 

weig2000

Captain
Grudging respect from Raj47 for PLAN speedy built up though he can't help mentioning the usual western meme noisy,crudely built etc. It probably apply for the ship built prior to 1980's It is not valid anymore today. The news worthy item is the new facility to built submarine. They achieved that by working 24 X 7 and not sitting on their but
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

High-speed production: Chinese navy built 83 ships in just eight years
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
20 September, 2017
Chinese_Peoples_Liberation_Army-Navy_Jiangkai-class_frigate_Linyi_FFG_547-696x464.jpg

The Chinese People's Liberation Army-Navy Jiangkai-class frigate Linyi (FFG 547) | Source: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Johans Chavarro
Chinese navy produces designs which surpass the most modern ships of the US navy in size, volume, armament and quantity.

... skipped.

Who is Raj47?
 

Hendrik_2000

Lieutenant General
Who is Raj47?
He is retired ex Indian army intelligence colonel who went to china to learn mandarin and act as interpreter for Indian army.
His specialty is Reconnaissance photo interpretation. He has his own blog. He is regular contributor to CDF and the press, Indian defense blog, cited frequently by Andrew Erickson, FAS,
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Holt_Allen

New Member
Registered Member
He is retired ex Indian army intelligence colonel who went to china to learn mandarin and act as interpreter for Indian army.
His specialty is Reconnaissance photo interpretation. He has his own blog. He is regular contributor to CDF and the press, Indian defense blog, cited frequently by Andrew Erickson, FAS,
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Do you happen to know how much the United States produced during a similar time period? Also, a breakdown of the type of ships both nations built would be great. The article really could have used something like that to put the sheer number of ships and size in perspective.
 

jobjed

Captain
Do you happen to know how much the United States produced during a similar time period? Also, a breakdown of the type of ships both nations built would be great. The article really could have used something like that to put the sheer number of ships and size in perspective.

Go to the USN article on Wikipedia and write down the surface combatant classes of the USN. The Burkes, Ticos, Zumwalts, and LCS are the first to come to mind. Then go to the specific Wikipedia articles on the individual classes and scroll down to the list of ships in class. Count the number of them that were built from 2009-2017. Do this for every class of ship. Then add all the numbers at the end and voila, there's your answer.
 
Go to the USN article on Wikipedia and write down the surface combatant classes of the USN. The Burkes, Ticos, Zumwalts, and LCS are the first to come to mind. Then go to the specific Wikipedia articles on the individual classes and scroll down to the list of ships in class. Count the number of them that were built from 2009-2017. Do this for every class of ship. Then add all the numbers at the end and voila, there's your answer.
here's what I now scrambled while waiting in a mall:
5dd2af6d954a50f6d1fcecbc01f0db61.jpg

it's based on
US Ship Force Levels

1886-present
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data

I'm appalled! it's ... sinking
I'll put here kinda summary of what I've been posting over years:
Sep 12, 2017
not sure what you meant "they indicated 18 months ago" Jeff ... now I looked into history a little bit:
Jan 20, 2016
well, I've been following the LCS Project for something like one year and a half now, so I think
  • it was actually the US Navy which had to be "pushed" to prepare alternatives to LCS in 2014 (so called Hagel's memo):
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    but
  • I think the USN then actually tried to change LCSs as LITTLE as possible, under the circumstances:
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  • and I think this "backfired" on the USN in the end of 2015:
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...
(the Jane's link is broken above, but fortunately the article was posted by a member:
#1221 steve_rolfe, Dec 19, 2015)

so, the USN was told like half a decade ago to get serious, and what the USN did then was a PR STUNT: so called beefed up LCS "unveiled" in the end of 2014;
one year after this PR STUNT the previous administration quote unquote trimmed the LCS numbers, which of course has had no impact on the LCS procurement as the CURRENT administration got involved in LCS PORK:
Jul 10, 2017
Jul 1, 2017

... details emerging:

"On May 23, the U.S. Navy rolled out its 2018 budget request that included one littoral combat ship, or LCS. The logic was that since Congress had given the Navy three in fiscal year 2017, an additional one would keep both builders — Wisconsin-based Marinette Marine and Alabama-based Austal USA — afloat.

But inside the White House, alarm bells went off in some sectors. Peter Navarro, the head of U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade and industrial policy office, was looking at information indicating one ship could trigger layoffs at both shipyards. Those concerns were shared by senior Trump aides Rick Dearborn and Stephen Miller — both old hands of long-time Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions — and together they lobbied and prevailed upon Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney to add a second ship to the request."

Life support: The Navy's struggle to define a LCS bare minimum
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goes on below due to size limit

what recently happened was the USN called for FFG(X) proposals:
Aug 18, 2017
according to a link inside Jul 12, 2017

Response Date:
Aug 24, 2017

for RFI of FFG(X) ...
... and I haven't heard anything since then

for me this is UNBELIEVABLE MESS full of 'a new paradigm' USN kidding itself and its fanbois (and I keep this mess documented LOL!)

well it's the UK Thread here, so I briefly finish by telling you the USN spends billions on ships as useful as the Zumwalts, and while the billions spent this way support the shipbuilding industry, they're missing elsewhere
it's self-inflicting wound! (I mean the USN LCS Project in combination with rushed retirement of USN Frigates)
 

weig2000

Captain
There is a difference between your "force level" and the "new builds" during a given time period. Countries can build a lot of new ships while maintaining or even shrinking force level. In fact, China's destroyer fleet have not expanded that all much during the said period (2008-2016): they retired some old destroyers and commissioned approximately similar number of new destroyers. Same about frigates. The quality, of course, is vastly different.
 
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