Any country with access to the sea or ocean is simply obliged to keep on its balance sheet the navy, whose main task is to protect the coastline and territorial waters. China was no exception in this matter - the state, which today is one of the fastest growing economically and militarily. The nascent superpower is taking the first steps in the development of the carrier fleet, which is confirmed by the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning - so far the only one of its kind warship of the Celestial Empire.
Historical reference
After the collapse of the USSR, a ship called "Varangian" was inherited by Ukraine. Its construction was discontinued in 1998. As a result, China bought this cruiser for 25 million US dollars. The Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning was towed to the country's coast for several years. This turn of events is explained by the fact that at first sixteen months the ship sailed the Black Sea due to Turkey’s disagreement to let it pass through the Bosphorus. All this time negotiations were going on. In November 2001, passing through the straits, the aircraft carrier was captured by the elements - a severe storm. As a result, there was a loss of control over the ship, but after three days the aircraft carrier was again controlled by sailors.
Since the Suez Canal does not provide for passage of ships without the presence of power engines, the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning was forced to bypass the African continent through Gibraltar. It is worth noting that the ship was moved by two tugboats. Moreover, the average speed was only 11 kilometers per hour, and the total length of the route is about 28 thousand kilometers. The ship ultimately ended up in China on March 3, 2002.
Refitting
The Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning was moved to the dry dock in 2005, where for the next six years it was completed and modernized with the latest technology. During these operations, his body was cleaned by sandblasting and painted.
Three years later, the ship was already in another dock, where engines and heavy equipment were installed on it. The latest radars and weapons were also delivered, and mines for anti-ship missiles of the Granite system were equipped.
In June 2011, the head of the General Staff, Chen Bingde, officially announced that the ship would be in service precisely as an aircraft carrier. However, the general also noted the use of the vessel as a training and experimental base, which will serve in the future to help build aircraft carriers of Chinese manufacture.
In August 2011, the ship conducted a four-day chassis test. In the middle of the month he returned to the port, where he stayed until November 29. In the period from December 2011 to July 2012, the aircraft carrier took off and landing helicopters, checking weapons. It is noteworthy that the landing of the aircraft was not performed.
Admission to the Navy
Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning (Liaoning cv 16) became the official military unit on September 25, 2012, and this despite the fact that the aircraft had never before touched his deck.
November 25, 2012 it became known about the first successful landings of J-15 fighters on the ship.
Specifications
The Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning, the photo of which is shown below, was created with the following parameters:
- Displacement - 59500 tons.
- Length - 304 and a half meters.
- Width - 38 meters.
- The draft of the ship is 10.5 meters.
- Ship power - 4 × 50 000 horsepower
- Speed - 29 knots (about 54 kilometers per hour).
- Cruising range can reach 8000 nautical miles.
- The crew consists of 1980 people, of which 520 officers.
Naval weapons
On board the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning cv 16 is:
- Anti-aircraft artillery: Type 1130, 3 × 11 × 30 mm.
- Missiles: launchers FL-3000N, 3 × 18-charge.
- Anti-submarine protection: two twelve-charge units of unknown type.
- Aviation: twenty-four Shenyang J-15 fighters, four Z-18 long-range radar detection helicopters, six Z-18F anti-submarine helicopters, a couple of Z-9C search and rescue helicopters.
Expert opinion
"Liaoning," according to military experts, has fairly weak weapons systems. Judging objectively, this ship is able to defend itself only from a very small group of attacking ships. For the full implementation of the tasks assigned to it, Liaoning needs the constant presence of an impressive guard next to it. At the same time, it is capable of carrying more aircraft and ammunition than its closest analogue in the form of the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov. Experts argue that, in essence, the aircraft carrier of the Chinese army is the best weapon for attacking and attacking, because it is designed for a sufficiently long autonomous campaign and is capable of delivering combat aircraft to almost anywhere on our planet for their subsequent combat and reconnaissance missions.
“Campaign” to Syria
IN Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning docked at Tartus port! It was such sensational news that was one of the most discussed in the fall of 2015. According to many world media reports, this warship passed the Suez Canal on September 22 and entered the Syrian water area. As stated in many reports, this ship’s campaign was connected with its connection to the anti-terrorist operation conducted by the Russian Federation against the so-called “Islamic State”. However, after some time, the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, Hua Chunying, stated in the press that the Celestial Empire did not send and does not plan to send Liaoning to Syria. Moreover, the ship, as before, is operated solely for scientific purposes. It should also be noted that China adheres to a position that is based on the self-determination of the Syrian people. Thus, the headlines of the print media stating that the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning docked in the port of Tartus, turned out to be nothing more than another journalistic “duck”, which has nothing to do with reality.
Indirect confirmation of the truthfulness of the words of the Chinese top managers can also serve as the words of the professor of the Naval Academy of China, Zhang Junshe, who pointed out the presence in the region of the Middle East of a special detachment to combat pirates.
I am sure that the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning in Tartus absent, and Russian expert at the Center for Analysis of Technologies and Strategies Vasily Kashin. According to him, the ship is a training ship, so it cannot be seconded to the place of hostilities. And if China really wanted to intervene in the Syrian conflict, it would most likely send Project 071 type ships to fight terrorists. Although everyone already understands that the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning in Tartus is nonsense, because the Chinese leadership has taken a wait-and-see attitude regarding the situation in Syria.
China's ambitions
The Ministry of Defense of the largest country in the world officially confirmed that the construction of the second aircraft carrier has begun. Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun said that this ship is fully developed by Chinese experts. The ship is under construction in the port of Dalian (Liaoning Province).
He also reports that the displacement of the new military unit will be within 50 thousand tons. Its operation is planned for the transportation of fighter type J -15.
Ship features
So, where is the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning, we more or less understood. Now it’s worth sorting out its aircraft equipment. It almost completely retained those elements that were originally laid down in it by the Soviet project 11435, namely:
- Trampoline (no catapults).
- Three start positions with retractable delays and gas shields.
- Optical landing system.
- Four cable aerofinisher with hydraulic brakes.
The American-style landing supervisor post is installed on the left edge of the flight deck at the stern of the ship. The sailors serving in the Liaoning deck divisions are as well dressed as their American counterparts. Judging by the color scheme of the uniform of the Chinese sailors, the form is fully copied.