Type 001A, China’s second aircraft carrier, is docked alongside Hulun Lake, a combat support vessel, at Dalian Shipyard. Photo: Weibo
Asia Times: Fuel constraints will limit PLA’s 2nd carrier
Vessel can only last six days at sea without resupply but a new base is being built on Fiery Cross Reef
Replenishment issues may emerge as a big drag on the combat capabilities of China’s second aircraft carrier, known only as “Type 001A”, which is now in its final stage of trials and tweaks before going into service, likely by the end of this year.
The homemade carrier, which runs on marine fuel, is modeled on its predecessor, the Soviet-built Liaoning, and it has the same basic propulsion and powertrain systems as her sister ship.
As with the Liaoning and other Kuznetsov–class vessels from the Soviet era, the new carrier will need to store around 13,000 metric tons of marine fuel for its operations, plus the six to eight guided missile destroyers and corvettes that form a larger combat group.
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Update: Running on E? China's Second Aircraft Carrier May Experience Fuel Constraints (Sputnik)
WNU Editor: And this why the an aircraft carrier should be nuclear.
5 comments:
We had it easy in the Pacific in WWII. Japanese Navy's use of submarines let us off the logistical hook.
Conventionally powered carriers like the USS Forestall, Kennedy, Kitty Hawk and America were able to carry out sustained blue water operations with much less fuel tending. The chinese problem tells us a couple things. Its too light in the water. It displaces about 50,000 tons vs 90,000 tone for the Kennedy. Doesn't carry near the stores (fuel) necessary for long range ops. It also tells us that the boilers are very inefficient. Similar in that regard to the Kuznetsov. Stolen tech not working out there.
Compounding the problem for the Chinese is the fact that they have no friendly ports to land for resupply if they ever did try to project power.
China's 1939-style ethno-fascist model of world domination is hitting a snag in the mobile air superiority department.
Lucky for the U.S. that all its carriers in WW2 and after were all nukes otherwise they could not be effective!
Nuclear carrier in ww2?
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