071 LPD thread

[delft]

re: PLAN Type 071 LPD & its Landing Craft

I think it is more likely they build four 071's and then go to another ship class of a similar size, perhaps fleet supply vessels, then a class of helicopter carriers, which might be followed by a class of small aircraft carriers. There is plenty of choice when looking at the needs of PLAN.

 

[Blitzo]

re: PLAN Type 071 LPD & its Landing Craft

LPDs are a must have for any serious blue water navy, and that's what the PLA is aiming to be. Not every scenario they are going to be involved in in the future will be Taiwan related.

And LPDs can carry far more cargo than transport craft... A C-17 can carry one M1 tank. A san antonio can carry... quite a few more. Transport craft will be able to reach the destination faster but you'll need a massive number to influence a "battle" more than a number of LPDs can. and LPDs have many other functions with their large space and generous space for helicopters. At the end of the day neither asset will be working alone, and the USN has stuck with dozens of LPDs for a reason.
Maybe Jeff Head or Popeye can give you better reasons for why LPDs are used by many navies in the world, or you could just use google.

And I don't think there are any LPDs with displacement greater than ~25000 tons... The largest is the San Antonio class. There certainly are no LPDs at 50k tons to my knowledge. That's bigger than most aircraft carriers...

 

[plawolf]

re: PLAN Type 071 LPD & its Landing Craft

The PLAN does not need anything as large or capable as the 071 if their main focus is Taiwan.

The 071s are part of the PLAN's blue water project to build up its power projection capabilities. The idea is being able to evacuate Chinese nationals and/or be ready to deploy small expeditionary forces to safeguard Chinese lives and interests, most likely in places like Africa.

The PLAN does not need, nor want the capability to launch a full scale invasion of another country half way across the world. As such, helo carrier would be much more useful, and I can easily see the PLAN shifting the building emphasis to a helo carrier after they have built up a basic core of LPDs to have the option of getting heavy armour into any battlefront within reach of a beach.

I think their recent experiences with anti-piracy as well as their evacuation mission in Libya has more than reinforced the flexibility a good LPH would offer naval planners.

With the Varyag potentially being the PLAN's only operational carrier maybe for as long as the next 10 years, LPHs become even more important as they can act as mini carriers in almost all ways a real carrier can in everything except combat missions. But since 99% of the PLAN's foreseeable future missions would not be actual combat missions, the limitations of the LPH is less noticeable in actual likely missions.

 

[Spartan95]

re: PLAN Type 071 LPD & its Landing Craft

The PLAN does not need anything as large or capable as the 071 if their main focus is Taiwan.

How will the PLA's MBTs be transported across the Taiwan Straits when the need arises? Use landing crafts to carry MBTs all the way? Or wait unable the infantry capture an airfield before flying MBTs in?

 

[delft]

re: PLAN Type 071 LPD & its Landing Craft

Taiwan is already indefensible, to the extent that an invasion has become extremely unlikely. Plawolf has no doubt the right idea about the employment of the 071's.

 

[plawolf]

re: PLAN Type 071 LPD & its Landing Craft

How will the PLA's MBTs be transported across the Taiwan Straits when the need arises? Use landing crafts to carry MBTs all the way? Or wait unable the infantry capture an airfield before flying MBTs in?

The US LCAC has a 200 mile range, and it would be silly for the Chinese equivalent to not have considered the Taiwan requirements when designed.

I would say it is extremely likely that the Chinese LCAC would be able to cross the strait themselves without the need of a mothership.

Besides, Taiwan's army is hopelessly outclassed by the PLA and even Taiwan's own generals acknowledges that its game over as soon as the PLA get ashore in any significant numbers. Which is one of the reasons why they have spent so very little arming the army. They are still relying on M60s as their best MBT for crying out loud.

The latest RPGs can probably take those things out, not to mention the dedicated anti-tank missiles the PLA employs on a massive scale.

 

[tphuang]

re: PLAN Type 071 LPD & its Landing Craft

What is with the photoshopping on those pictures?

they just do that sometimes. I'm never sure why they do it other than trying to not release all the information, but it all eventually comes out anyways.

 

[kwaigonegin]

re: PLAN Type 071 LPD & its Landing Craft

I agree. If a full scale invasion is in order, I don't think the high level strategy itself will be anything top secret. Most if not all of the fighting will occur in the air and on the straight itself. China will suffer massive losses at sea and in the air (assuming US gets involve) and Taiwan will probably be the recepient of dozens if not hundreds of missile strikes despite multiple batteries of Patriots and the indegenious Tien Kungs and AAW ships.
However like you alluded to, if PLA manages win by attrition or overwhelmed the defenses to punch a hole through and establish a beachhead and starts unloading heavy vehicles and troops using ships like the 071s it's all over.

 

[PanAsian]

re: PLAN Type 071 LPD & its Landing Craft

I have to agree that the 071 is not meant for the Taiwan scenario. Especially considering that it is likely neither side will have clear air or naval superiority early on, a Chinese landing force is more likely to survive crossing the straits by being spread across lots of smaller vessels than if they're concentrated on several 071s.

The 071 is much more useful either in OOTW, or as the provider of amphibious force in a small battle group in low intensity island disputes.

 

[KingLouis]

re: PLAN Type 071 LPD & its Landing Craft

My guess this will be used in the South China sea dispute.