CV-16, CV-17 STOBAR carrier thread (001/Liaoning, 002/Shandong)

Strangelove

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PLA aircraft carrier Shandong holds drills in South China Sea in full combat group

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Published: Aug 25, 2022 08:27 PM

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's aircraft carrier Shandong conducts realistic combat-oriented exercises in the South China Sea in the early autumn of 2022. Photo: Screenshot from the WeChat account of the PLA South Sea Fleet

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's aircraft carrier Shandong conducts realistic combat-oriented exercises in the South China Sea in the early autumn of 2022. Photo: Screenshot from the WeChat account of the PLA South Sea Fleet

The Shandong, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's second aircraft carrier and the first domestically built, recently held comprehensive drills in the South China Sea in a group consisting of full combat elements, which analysts said on Thursday showed the carrier is becoming ready for far sea operations.

The aircraft carrier Shandong conducted realistic combat-oriented exercises in an undisclosed area in the South China Sea in early autumn to comprehensively test the force's combat capabilities, the PLA South Sea Fleet said in a press release on Wednesday.

During the drills, the Shandong hosted takeoff and landing operations of J-15 carrier-based fighter jets, and practiced replenishment-at-sea operations, according to the press release.

A video attached to the press release showed that the aircraft carrier maneuvered in a combat group featuring a Type 055 large destroyer, a Type 052D destroyer, a Type 054A frigate and a Type 901 comprehensive supply ship.

This means the Shandong practiced in a flotilla consisting of full combat elements, and such a carrier combat group configuration is basically the same as the one that would be used in a real operation, a Chinese military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Thursday.

Previously, the aircraft carrier Liaoning, the PLA Navy's first aircraft carrier, led a group reportedly consisting of a Type 055 large destroyer, three Type 052D destroyers, a Type 052C destroyer, a Type 054A frigate and a Type 901 comprehensive supply ship for a
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In comparison, the Liaoning carrier group featured more vessels, but the Shandong carrier group generally has all those ship types, namely the large destroyer, destroyer, frigate and supply ship. As the Shandong further gains capabilities, more ships will join the group, the expert said.

Generally speaking, a nuclear-powered attack submarine would also be part of an aircraft carrier group, the expert noted.

The Shandong reportedly underwent maintenance earlier this year at the shipyard where it was built. It is now ready for far sea operations, analysts said.

As China's first domestically built aircraft carrier and the second one overall, the Shandong entered service with the PLA Navy on December 17, 2019 in Sanya, South China's Hainan Province.
 

Canton_pop

Junior Member
Registered Member
Doing that would be wasting precious fuel onboard the J-35s for:
1. Taking off from Liaoning/Shandong;
2. Flying from Liaoning/Shandong to the 076; and
3. Taking off again from the 076.

Plus, doing this would also waste a lot of time - Time that would be very crucial during war conditions.

Considering that the J-35 (est. 28 tons MTOW) is several tonnes lighter than the J-15 (~32 tons MTOW) while being fitted with engines that have near-peer power output to those on the later, I think that J-35s would have easier time (even if only marginally) taking off from Liaoning/Shandong than J-15s at full load.

If I am mistaken on this J-35 vs J-15 MTOW assumption, please do correct me.

Or else, once CATOBAR supercarriers are operating in sufficient numbers in the PLAN, then Liaoning/Shandong might as well be retrofitted to carry only drones instead, and serve in the same role as the 076s (minus the amphibious assault capability part).
Probably I didn't make myself clear enuf, 076 will be in front by just few hundred miles ( within the J-35 max range without air-refueling) from Liaoning/Shangdong, enroute to enemy's line , 076 will be the first to attack with all the full J35 on board unloaded , Lioning/Shangdong will be the "supply" J35 to 076 which act as launching pad. with this I don't think it will waste fuel but opposite it will make the J35 on Shangdong/lioning deadlier and go further , and liaoning and shangdong will also act as landing pad for the returned J35, and it goes in cycle - land >replenish > launch > attack> back and repeat
 

Canton_pop

Junior Member
Registered Member
You don't have to come up with fantastic things to justify an 076. If a 076 were in position en route, probably the easiest way would be to launch a tanker drone and use it to refuel the J-35.

There's a lot of air-to-air refueling in modern warfare.
yes you are correct it's enroute, I am not justifying on 076 but rather justifying Shandong/Liaoning relevance in the future war say 10-20 years from now when catapult system already widely use in PLN. Tanker drone does not make sense as how much fuel can a tanker drone carries and how many tanker drones must 076 carries for each fleet of J35?
 

FairAndUnbiased

Brigadier
Registered Member
yes you are correct it's enroute, I am not justifying on 076 but rather justifying Shandong/Liaoning relevance in the future war say 10-20 years from now when catapult system already widely use in PLN. Tanker drone does not make sense as how much fuel can a tanker drone carries and how many tanker drones must 076 carries for each fleet of J35?
Based on the estimated TW ratio, J-35 can still just take off from Shandong and Liaoning, they just conduct fleet defense with lighter air to air munitions instead of strike munitions.

You don't need anything other than a tailhook to operate from STOBAR carriers I think, so J-15 and J-35 will both be able to do it, the catapult bar will just be minor wasted mass in that case.
 

asif iqbal

Lieutenant General
Based on the estimated TW ratio, J-35 can still just take off from Shandong and Liaoning, they just conduct fleet defense with lighter air to air munitions instead of strike munitions.

You don't need anything other than a tailhook to operate from STOBAR carriers I think, so J-15 and J-35 will both be able to do it, the catapult bar will just be minor wasted mass in that case.

it will take YEARS AND YEARS before J-35 will be capable to do air opps

or are you suggesting just one take off for show? no one does that and even JL-10 never did it

so I dont know exactly what your comment means
 
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