Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Type 56 Corvette (China's LCS) underway via Chinese Military Review.




This was something from the transcript that I didn't state as an eye opener.  Admiral Greenert stated that the Chinese looked like they were taking preperations for the RimPac exercise next year seriously.  That they even sent mid level officers to the initial planning and that it was really a non-event.

I think China is going to come to play and play hard.  An eye opening display of military power AND competence is what I believe we'll be seeing.  This can serve as a real coming out party and serve as a warning to enemies, while acting to reassure wavering friends.

I think RimPac just went from an annual event with not much to it, to now being an event that will likely shape defense stances throughout the Pacific.  If I'm right, I can't wait to see it.

Note:  In a post I pitted the LCS vs Chinese Fast Attack Missile Boats.  That was the wrong opponent.  LCS vs Type 56 is probably correct.

15 comments :

  1. The Chinese are not very original, its almost a ripoff of the Sigma class... it also resembles the Pery's more then it does the LCS... and then those choppers what are they Dauphin's ?? and the chinese version of the ram... omg

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    Replies
    1. They were put into production around the same time, I'm not sure the point of calling one or the other a rip-off...
      Putting a hull together competently is not advanced capability, as seen by Damen moving hull production to Romania.
      In SE Asia, Bangladesh and Thailand are operating variants of Type 56, and Nigeria has bought a larger upgraded model.

      The choppers are Z-9's, which are licensed Dauphins now with Chinese engine option, operated by quite a few countries by now.

      Delete
  2. Since we have sold out and buy everything else from the PRC, why don't we save a bunch of money and just buy Type 56s from the Chinese as well.

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  3. Hey - I can almost see my office!

    When was this baby in Hong Kong? I would have grabbed the binoculars and had a good look.

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    1. Chinese Military Review posted the pics on Sunday so assuming no delay.....

      Hey. is the duck still floating in the harbor???????

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    2. I visited Hong Kong before they put that thing into the water. One afternoon I was duped into buying a 24K gold chain when the market price for gold on that particular day was around $1,650 per ounce. At the time, I thought that was a sound investment. Oops.

      Delete
    3. Sol,

      The duck is now gone.

      The next bit of excitement in the harbour might be a visiting Marine group with a couple of LHD/LHA.

      Did manage to get a tour of the USS Cowpens when it was in town last year.

      Delete
    4. no, i wasn't anywhere near...even if i was Hong Kong has attractions that would make a tour of a Navy ship seem like VERY weak sauce.

      Delete
  4. #1 Reason why the LCS needs the forward 8-Pack of Harpoons. I wonder how long it would take to mount & certify them in time of need?

    That and add mk54s & NSM to the Seahawks.

    Don't forget to UpGun the LCS

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  5. China's Type 56 Corvette would make the US LCS look like a real warship. This why the US should have Multi role frigates to counter something like this. The LCS stands no chance and would be sunk with one shot

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    1. It’s not that cut and dry. Too many people look at a baseline LCS and think that is the way it will always be. The LCS was designed for modularity and will have additional weapons mounted over time.

      Look at the F-16A compared to a F-16 Blk52+ as an example.

      Btw, the 56’s aviation assets SUCK. Really, no hanger? The LCS can carry (internally) two choppers and multiple VTOL & catapult drones. Put a AShM on any of those and it’s game over for the 56.

      Given that, they should still UpGun the LCS.

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    2. China’s Type 056 LCS corvette should have sent a powerful message to the US Navy. If China can produce this in massive numbers and sell it to countries such as Bangladesh, Thailand and Nigeria. That should be enough for the US Navy to wake up and get it's ass out of the LCS and into the Multi role frigate to counter the Type 056 Corvette. The Type 056 Corvette with ASCM would surely kill the LCS with one missile. A multi Role Frigate or a Fletcher/Sumner class destroyer would surely sink the Type 056 Corvette.

      Delete
    3. You seem to forget that the LCS carries a SeaRAM system and that the 57mm is capable of CIWS (but I don't know if they have it setup for it). Do you think a subsonic AShM can dodge a SeaRAM?

      Given that, they should still UpGun the LCS.

      Delete
  6. The LCS is undergunned and needs more armament.

    This is what should scare us:

    "As China’s Type 056 production run continues to expand, it would not be a surprise to eventually see the PLAN’s unit cost end up in the U.S. $110-120 million per vessel cost range"

    http://thediplomat.com/2012/11/01/u-s-navy-take-notice-china-is-becoming-a-world-class-military-shipbuilder/?all=true

    Economy of scale. We can build one LCS for $450 million ea, the Chinese could build 3-4 Type 056.

    I'm not afraid of what the PLAN will look like in 2020, but I am concerned as to what size it will be in 2040.

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  7. Oh God. Not another "LCS vs..." BS. A "Chinese LCS" that goes half as fast, can't do any of the missions of the LCS, and is simply a run of the mill frigate.

    I;m not sure why it's so difficult to understand that the LCS is not a multi-purpose frigate. This Chinese frigate is an absolute joke, nothing more.

    Also, what is LCS doing sailing near Chinese waters...alone? The LCS is part of a whole system.

    ReplyDelete

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