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China Expects to Open New Shanghai Shipyard for Navy Construction in 2023

beijingwalker

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China Expects to Open New Shanghai Shipyard for Navy Construction in 2023
The new shipyard is expected to build amphibious assault ships, amphibious landing ships, frigates, and other vessels.
December 27, 2021

15-Destroyers-1-Aircraft-Carrier-Under-Construction-at-Chinas-Jiangnan-Shipyard-1.jpg

There is already concern within the Department of Defense that the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is now larger than the U.S. Navy. That threat is compounded by the rapid pace of Chinese shipbuilding.

China’s second aircraft carrier is now operational, and its third could launch from the shipyard in early 2022. The Chinese Navy is also fast-tracking a new fleet of Type 075 amphibious assault ships which appear similar to the U.S. Navy’s America-class landing helicopter assault ships. The PLAN is also adding new destroyers and other surface ships at an alarming rate.

Now, the Chinese government-backed Global Times newspaper reports that China is progressing quickly building a new shipyard. The first stage of construction is expected to be complete in late 2023.

“The new site is expected to allow China to build a range of warships - including amphibious assault ships, amphibious landing ships and frigates - faster, better and more efficiently,” according to the newspaper.

The shipyard raises an interesting question about fleet size versus quality. Many maintain that even if the Chinese do now operate a larger number of warships, that does not mean the PLAN has surpassed the U.S. Navy. A superior warship in terms of sensors, weapons, computing, and range could be well-positioned to outperform a larger number of less capable ships.

While China may not match U.S. Navy’s technological superiority despite how many ships it has, there is broad discussion that it is closing the gap quickly. Given this scenario, building a larger and much more threatening group of new warships which are also competitive technologically presents what could be seen as an unprecedented threat.

As an example of quality, the Chinese are also adding a new generation of destroyers called the Type 055. While particulars and many details related to the technology and weapons on board the ship are unavailable, the ship appears to be a mix between both the stealthy Zumwalt-class destroyers and high-tech DDG Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.

 
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Damn... how many construction ports chi9na wants to have? theya re already manufacturing more than any one else? WOW :tup:
 
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Why do PLAN need more frigates? They already have many Type 054A's.
 
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Why do PLAN need more frigates? They already have many Type 054A's.

Probably a lot of upgrades that could be done on the current ships as well as a lot of maintenance work that can be done at these yards. The Type 054A could be upgraded with an integrated mast; lots of integration work, especially cyber/comms/datalink and EW hardening into something like the New French FDI frigates. In a Taiwan invasion scenario and the aftermath, China won’t have time to build up, and will need to have all the ships it can get its hands on at the start of the conflict.

These yards could start pumping out Post-Taiwan Heavy ASW 6000 ton Frigates (universal VLS) for the second island chain and beyond. In the same class as the US Constellation class Frigates. Getting Universal VLS numbers is probably also a priority of the PLAN; to be able to match US and allied Firepower; at least within the first two island chains.

US Carrier Battle groups decades ago use to travel with two dozen escorts and support ships. If you figure at least 2 Chinese carrier battle groups at sea; one Near China and one in the Indian Ocean protecting the SLOC; you have 50 ships at sea. And for every 1 ship at sea there might be 2-3 ships in port in different states of readiness (which would include carriers; so they would need 6-8 carriers to have two out at sea at all times). Then you have ships in independent “Surface Action Groups/Task Forces” and Submarines in layers on their own missions; SSK closer to the coast and SSN further out. China could easily go for a 500 ship navy to have at least 100-150 ships at sea at any given time.

If we look at tonnage, China has a lot to build if it wants to catch up with not just with the US but with the combined US and Allies navies building up against her. If we look at sensors; the Type 052D GaA based AESA could in their next overhaul get GaN based AESA radars, if the money is there.

BTW; here is a great video on the PLAN modernization I recently found. It’s a good overview. Raises some interesting points.

 
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I have been to the island for the new yard, basically most Chinese yards are choked full of civilian projects, they really need a purpose built naval yard.

All of the great trading empires of the past 4 centuries were the masters of the seas. If China wants to be the next great commercial empire, it will need at least three dedicated massive naval shipyards.
 
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Just imagine that one day China has 20 Aircraft carriers, and ten of them along with their Flotilla of warships and nuclear submarines are surrounding the USA from both East and West coasts !! :angel:
 
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I have been to the island for the new yard, basically most Chinese yards are choked full of civilian projects, they really need a purpose built naval yard.
Is this yard also going to build both military and civilian ships as well?
 
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I have been to the island for the new yard, basically most Chinese yards are choked full of civilian projects, they really need a purpose built naval yard.

These civilian shipyards won’t improve China’s national security. Need more naval shipyards instead of civilian shipyards.
 
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Why do PLAN need more frigates? They already have many Type 054A's.
Answer: ASW

It usually takes a multiple of distributed sonars to triangulate one single sub, and there are over a hundred subs out there threatening Chinese ships or even inland cities. A lot of frigates with towed/variable-depth array are needed to build a comprehensive ASW grid, there are 056A (+ 039C + Y9 ASW/AEW + UAV) operating in littoral waters, and 054A (or next gen with improved stealthy propulsion + UUV + advanced mine countermeasure) for open seas, both needed in BIG quantities.

If PLAN is given a choice, it's better to hunt down those SSBNs with ASW task groups before they launch Tridents than intercepting those Tridents flying at mid-course with 055-led ABM task groups. Hunt down the sniper before his fires.
 
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