PLA Navy news, pics and videos
- Thread starter Jeff Head
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He's just extrapolating on less than a dozen black dots...
Also "black" ? You paint your submarine black only at the very end, when it's fully assembled. If these were blocks of the hull they would be grey or even white considering that the tiles should not be installed yet.
Assuming that is indeed a sub section, it could indicate that sections are premade in another hall, perhaps the large hall north of the object. And then moved into the large hall to the east. Since the completed sub also needs to exit through same end of the hall, the sections either need to be moved by gantry cranes inside the hall, or they are moved around on the rail set parallel to the rail set that houses the finished sub. If so, then each section would somehow be moved laterally, via some sort of movable rail blocks.
The gantry crane idea seems much simpler and efficient though.
The gantry crane idea seems much simpler and efficient though.
A rail transverser, similar to the ones used in rail locomotive construction would be an efficient way of moving sections from the fabrication hall to the assembly hall. And subsequently to the paint and finishing hall before transfer to the ship-lift and launch barge.
It may be that one is already installed, it's not easy to see on that image.
Mr Sutton must have exceptional eyesight to see what he claims.
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Henri K wrote an article years ago which clearly documented the division of work between the various buildings years before they were completed, one of them is a pressure hull workshop, the large northern building.
The large halls should only be for final assembly, while fabrication of the hull sections and other internal modules are done elsewhere.
This can pass near PLAN naval bases and prowling waters.
Sorry I can't find an English version for the news, but this is a milestone of sort and significant development for PLAN carrier-based fleet. The news says that China's first batch of pilots trained directly for carrier-based fleet have graduated recently. All the pilots were recruited from high school graduates, not converted from land-based aircraft pilots.