Ask anything Thread

[lcloo]

Why is the navy only planning on building 16 type 055s? Do they have something better planned by now that’ll start production right after the 055s? What’s wrong with having more 055s? The more the better?

I don't speak for PLAN nor the PLAN has announced their plans. However, in normal situation procurement of navy ships depends on needs and the perceived external threats.

In PLAN's procurement, my two cents is
1) the need for a large destroyer as lead escort ship for a battle group which could be aircraft carrier group or an amphibious assault group or others. Type 055 can be alternate command ship to an aircraft carrier or a type 076, or type 075. It can also be the command ship if the ships under its escort do not have fleet command capability.

2) Perceived external threats from US Navy, AUKUS, NATO, Japan and South Korea etc. How many type 055 should be procured to counter these threats, and how many is needed ready to replace battle damaged type 055 or take the place of those in dockyard under repair and maintenance. I can't give you how they calculate the number of type 055 required to counter these threats because it was never made known.

IMO, there should be at least 1 type 055 for protection of each aircraft carrier, type 076, type 075 and may be type 071 as well. If true, then they would need around 20 to 24 type 055.

Ship procurements are always in batches due to financial budget allocation, "16 types 055" procurement does not mean that 16 total type 055 is the definite total number. If there is need and there is allocation of funds, more could be built in future batches, and these are decided in each of the 5 years planning. You have to understand the relationship between national budget and military spendings.

 

[Blitzo]

Why is the navy only planning on building 16 type 055s?

Technically we don't know if 16 will be the final number. It might be, it might not be.

Do they have something better planned by now that’ll start production right after the 055s?

They'll have something after the 055s, but it doesn't necessarily need to start production right after the 055s.

What’s wrong with having more 055s? The more the better?

Because ultimately even for the PLAN, personnel and funding is not infinite and they operate within constraints of opportunity-cost and economics.

"The more the better" is not a useful way of looking at procurement.
Instead, think of it by asking "what do they need, what do they have currently to meet the need, what do they have in the pipeline that can better meet the need in the future, what are their resource/economic/industry/personnel limitations?"


If "the more the better" or "what's wrong with more XYZ" applied to procurement, then no military would have a finite limit for any of their systems.

Instead of looking at it from a perspective of "why can't they buy more?" -- instead ask "why should they buy more?"

 

[GiantCanofWater]

Are US submarines sitting outside the first island chain a super critical problem for the PLAN? I haven’t heard very much about Chinese ASW. Whether those helicopters or underground networks are truly effective. Will American submarines be effectively hampered with the bombing of local bases and thus shutting down their supply points? They can always come back and whittle down the PLAN even if it takes a long time can’t they?