Sunday, August 25, 2013

Type 56 Frigates. China is pumping them out like candy. via Chinese Military Review.






China is pumping out the highly capable and thoroughly modern Type 56 Frigate like candy.  Meanwhile, the US is struggling to produce a working LCS...mechanically working that is, we won't even touch the mission module issue.

What should concern everyone and have every naval blog in the US on fire is the fact that China is demonstrating not only the ability to produce large numbers of warships but that they've practically attained technical equivalence with US designs.

There is no doubt that China has regional superiority.  There is no doubt that they can attain local dominance in a given region in the Pacific.

What remains to be seen is how the US will counter their moves.

9 comments :

  1. It just goes to show that China can crank out Frigates faster than the US. That should scare the US navy into cranking out Frigates to counter China as well.

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  2. I would be curious to see how well the crews are doing, is China following thru with new crews, maintenance, weapons,training,etc...? That's quite a lot of ships that they are pushing out and they almost always seem to be attached to a pier....just saying. We should start to see major uptempo ops and major exercises on a regular basis.

    http://china-pla.blogspot.com/2013/07/chinas-type-32-class-submarine.html

    Don't know if you have seen this or commented about it. In Jane's latest issue, it was said this is the heaviest conventional sub ever produced? It will be the new platform to test future SLBMs but also test new cruise missiles/vertical tubes. I find it interesting that it seemed that it wasn't really a big deal but this is the first Chinese sub equipped to carry SEALs,gear and operate as a mother ship to a small sub.

    This is supposed to be a one off but I would wager that a lot of the features tested on this sub will migrate to new SSN or conventional SS. Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if this isn't a one off but a new class of very modular subs...kind of like USN refurbished OHIO class subs....

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  3. corvette, but still, the point is made. The Economy of scale is scary.

    Here's all you need to know:

    Building: 9
    Planned: 42 for 1st batch
    Completed: 9
    Active: 7

    1st Batch? 1ST BATCH?! Holy Nightmare, Batman.

    The build rate is 8 per year. We've talked about this class before, but if they build 8 per year, it will take less than 3.5 more years to reach their 1st batch goal.

    They built 83 Type 022 FAC.
    http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/08/china-builds-warships/all/

    the article is enlightening. It compares our taking out Iran's FACs with China's, a major mistake IMO.

    1)Iran cannot achieve air superiority and could not provide air cover if it wanted to.
    2) It compares the employment of small numbers of FACs by Iran and assume China will do the same.

    Bullshit, China is going to swarm anything that comes into the South China Sea not with just Type 022, but Type 054 frigates, Type 056 corvettes and Type 052 destroyer, Song and Yuan-class subs all with air cover by J-10, J-11, J-15, J20 and J-31s while strike aircraft launch barrages of supersonic anti-ship missiles.

    As a lone platform, the FAC is inadequate, but as part of a massive wave of mutually supported Chinese vessels, it will overwhelm any enemy trying to approach the Chinese coast.

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    Replies
    1. i didn't read the article but its plain for anyone to see.

      quite honestly i expected a bit of blow back when i stated that China has regional superiority in the Pacific. the fact that i got none is telling. everyone knows it and everyone seems to accept it.

      we're super screwed....

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  4. A bit more range would be nice which would mean a 1500t to 1750t ship. Is very short legged.

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  5. let's not forget as well that interest that US is paying on loans from China is building those ships

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  6. Since we are pouring billions into a class of under-armed and mechanically complicated ships that are apparently more suitable for escorting oil tankers out of the gulf and around the Arabian Peninsula and taking down oil platforms and oilfields via SPECOPS deployment than open surface warfare in the deep ocean, Taiwan has to be getting the ugly message from D.C. (District of Choom) by now....

    that message being the next time China looks like it's going to make its move....y'all are on your own...

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    Replies
    1. without a doubt. all we could do is protest and watch the Taiwanese military die on the beach.

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  7. Hillary plans on surrendering to the Chinese as her first official act.

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