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00X/004 future nuclear CATOBAR carrier thread
- Thread starter AETHER
- Start date
Yes, and CSIS had since revised that estimate down to 40m in subsequent reports and imagery.
40m also corresponds with the higher resolution google imagery measurements that we've been able to have over the years.
In addition, 003 is some 15 meters shorter than Ford/Nimitz as well.
The physical measurements of 003, combined with the many years of rumours of 003's full displacement going back to the 2010s (none of which suggested that it would displace 100,000 tons, and which instead it was consistent that its displacement would be around 85,000 tons or even directly compared to the Kitty Hawk class), means until there is evidence to the contrary, there is no basis for us to speculate that 003 has a full displacement in the 100,000 ton category.
Please don't continue this line of discussion further, just accept that for now, our overwhelmingly best estimate for 003's full displacement is that it is 85,000 tons, some 15,000 tons lighter than a Ford, based on its external measurements of its length and waterline beam, as well as the years of consistent rumours.
This is going to be my last post on the matter in this thread.
I just want to remind you that full displacement of 85,000 tons cannot be estimated only according to length and waterline beam. For example, 1m of draft can cause huge displacement gap.
Well, get this thread back on track and please continue your excellent work.
We have an almost perfect measurement point, the unfinished 1143.7 class carrier, which in some way is almost a half-sister to 003.
Her dimensions are within meters of what was known about 003 (just a bit smaller in everything), and her displacement (79'758 t full per design) is very well known.
So 003 realistically won't be below that number, and won't go too far away from it either.
85'000 is, above all, just reasonable.
Her dimensions are within meters of what was known about 003 (just a bit smaller in everything), and her displacement (79'758 t full per design) is very well known.
So 003 realistically won't be below that number, and won't go too far away from it either.
85'000 is, above all, just reasonable.
How is 003 'almost a half sister' of a non existent carrier? Did China buy the plans?
They were developed from more or less the same starting point (Liaoning), they have very similar dimensions. Stepsis is still a sis.
And yes, while it isn't exactly verified, most probably her plans also went to China.
Intrepid
Major
We've debated long and hard about whether 003 can be narrower or needs to be as wide as a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. We looked at pictures and made drawings. Everything can be found here in the forum, I don't bother to dig everything out. In a few weeks, the next unbeliever will come and have everything chewed out again. If you want to know how it really is, you can find out for yourself.
... and question and challenge the notion that 003 is conventional, instead of nuclear ... lol.
I realize that your central view is that 004 is a design derived from 003. That is 003 is the base, 004 needs to do the change, therefor extra design work.
On the other hand, I think that it is possible that PLAN started 003 and 004 in parallel. PLAN may want a CVN as its target ship. But anticipating that their reactor design is new while their conventional power-plant is ready, so PLAN ordered 003 as a "backup" to fit the potential gap or delay of 004. They have two design works started simultaneously around the same displacement and armament, but around different power plant. In this scenario 004's design work isn't anywhere behind 003. The only time gap is the reactor's readiness.
That is also possible.
The important part, which I think we both agree on, is that if they want to start building 004 anytime in the next few years, it means its design should already be completed