055 DDG Large Destroyer Thread
- Thread starter FarkTypeSoldier
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The upfront cost of the 055 might be higher due to all the solid state parts, but the operating cost of the 052D in the longer run may end up higher, due to the needed overhaul of all the mechanical and rotating radars that requires a cathode ray tube for an amp. This is the advantage of having your radar sensors in fixed panels and in solid state. You don't have to take down an entire radar set --- we have seen this happen in some 054A during their maintenance --- repairing, and more likely replacing the whole set. In an AESA solid state radar, diagnostics will check for the whole panel, identify broken or failing elements, then you have the technician go to that section of the array, pull out the broken module set on a tray from the cabinet, then insert a new one. The array will then be recalibrated. The cool part about this is this can be done on sea, so the ship doesn't have to return to port. All it needs is to keep a sufficient number of spare modules.
While this can be said of the 052D's main AESA, the Type 346, the 052D is still full of secondary radars that are old school and mechanical, such as the Type 364 surface search radar, the Type 344 gunnery radar and the Type 366 antiship radar. If any of these fail, the ship will likely head back to port, and the repairs of these radars won't be easy as they are on top of the deck house and one is on top of the mast, requiring you to open their radomes.
Another thing is that once more 055s are made, the price curve of all these solid state parts will drop like a stone, which means it will eventually take down the upfront cost of the 055. We are talking of things that are fabbed, then inserted into printed circuit boards, not things that have to be precision machined, requires hardened bearings, lubrication, requires periodic inspection and replacement.
When it comes to a midlife upgrade, all you need to do to improve the sensor performance is to switch out all the modules for a new set. Its not unlike switching out older server blades for new blades on a data center. The only limits you have is the number of modules you can insert with your housing predetermined by what's already on place. I suspect the older 052C has already gone through this process.
Of course all these are arguments for an all solid state sensor 052X and XX4B.
In such IShips, which are more like floating data centers with arrays of fixed panel sensors, there is hardly a moving part above the machinery citadel of the ship other than the hatches of the VLS, air conditioning and ventilation. Future upgrades to these IShips are done by changing circuit boards and blades off the cabinets, installing new software, training the officers for those upgrades.
asif iqbal
Lieutenant General
what China needs is the formation of a Surface Action Group (SAG)
4 x Type 055 with 8 x naval Z20 with a fast Tanker Type 901 with Type 095 SSN as escort total VLS count 448
such a formation can sustain 30 knots anywhere anytime against anyone
very powerful formation very strong deterrence just short of a full strength carrier battle group
imagine 2 of the SAG roaming the Pacific on a 24/7 basis, one North and one South
China would need 6 x SAG to make that possible around the clock 365 presence which mean 24 x Type 055 are the minimum
4 x Type 055 with 8 x naval Z20 with a fast Tanker Type 901 with Type 095 SSN as escort total VLS count 448
such a formation can sustain 30 knots anywhere anytime against anyone
very powerful formation very strong deterrence just short of a full strength carrier battle group
imagine 2 of the SAG roaming the Pacific on a 24/7 basis, one North and one South
China would need 6 x SAG to make that possible around the clock 365 presence which mean 24 x Type 055 are the minimum
Chinese SAGs which are deep in the Pacific without air cover are going to be slaughtered.
A ship at 30 knots can't outrun a surveillance plane.
Submarines are a better option.
FriedRiceNSpice
Captain
Wouldn't you get even cheaper "cost per missile launch" or even more "missiles per fixed cost" by taking a container ship and loading it up with 200 missiles? Then you only need one salvo / no reloads!
You would yes.
But any ship carrying 200 missiles is a high-priority target.
Especially a container ship which has few defences.
It's just too risky.
If you have 200 LRASMs for example, that comes to $600M worth of missiles.
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If you really want to use a container ship, you could buy a second hand 500box container ship for about $4M.
Then load it up with as many missiles as you deem prudent.
I guess it would be viable even at 8 missiles, given how cheap the ship is.
Why didn't you include 2 type 075 for each SAG? That would provide even more Z10 and Z20 for the group. That means they will need 12 type 075 for these 6 SAG.
FriedRiceNSpice
Captain
So how about instead of building destroyers, just buy a few dozen $4M cargo ships and put 16 missiles on each?
Possible, but cargo ships are slow, and would need to keep up with the destroyers in a high-threat environment in the Western Pacific.
You need something faster and with basic self-defence capabilities at a minimum
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