Hongjian
Posts: 834
Joined: 1/2/2015
Status: offline
|
Some big news. I'm sure Dysta has also read about it.
A new "high speed semi-submersible combat platform" is in the works now. The PLAN high brass has authorized the construction of three of these still undesignated vessels that are known by their cryptic name "cqshygszzpt", which stands for 常潜式海洋高速作战平台 or "semi-submersible oceanic high speed battle platform". Major leakers in mainland chinese defense forums (like the user called "Pop3", who is proven to be an PLAN insider) have confirmed that this project is now being realized.
It is understood that this ship is basically a high-speed semi-submersible arsenal ship in the 20.000 ton class. Yes, you read that right. It sounds like something from a fanboy wet-dream and many PLA watchers, including me, have completely disregarded all the rumors that pointed to this project from years before.
hmmwv from China-Defense forum has more on this:
quote:
Did more digging, this thing has been in the works since 2010 or earlier. The head of the project Prof Dong Wencai passed away in Jan 2016 after battling cancer for over 2 years, at that time the pool test model has completed. Pop3 has also mentioned something like this before, but all pretty vague and sounded outlandish, and most people dismissed it (including me). But it looks like it'll be the real deal. The recent rumor that three very large combat vessels are under construction at JN (TL-Note; Jiangnan shipyard, Shanghai), DL (Dalian shipyard), and BH (Bohai nuclear submarine yard) may actually be correct, that'll be CV-18, CV-19, and this thing.
This Xinhua article described in detail how Prof. Dong's group advocated for this new type of platform and got approval for R&D.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2016-04/07/c_128873297.htm
Quote:
2010年，董文才带领团队向具有探索性的科研课题进军——提出了一种既可以在水面高速航行又可以在水下潜航，并能够在“水面-水下”间快速变换的新概念船型。
讨论会上，这种想法几乎遭到了所有与会专家的否定，“这是把水面高速艇和潜艇的优势集于一身了，但水面船和潜艇的设计差别简直是天壤之别，这怎么可能？”
董文才丝毫没有动摇坚持原创新船型的想法。他悉心听取并记录着每一条与会专家的疑问，逐条通过机理分析论证了新船型的可行性。
在项目申请终审评审会上，在场专家无不被董文才激情昂扬又非常缜密的汇报所折服，成功申报并最终圆满完成了探索一代“新型快速作战平台”的研究。
Prof. Dong Wen-Cai inspecting the floating model:
Leaks from his previously classified paper:
Some fan-made CGs depicting a more submarine-looking ship:
https://picload.org/image/riairria/arsenalship-1.jpg
https://picload.org/image/riairril/arsenalship-2.jpg
A fan-graphic based on the official model as depicted from the leaks:
Basically, the idea is simple: An arsenal ship is a fine and dandy thing, but it is vulnerable due to its size. So, the best way to solve that issue, is to reduce its radar and IR signature as well as possible - and nothing's better than just make it into a semi-submersible ship. In fact, some USNI thinkers have also thought about something like this:
Blitzo from Sinodefence:
quote:
This article (https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2015-05/breaking-anti-access-wall), I think gives a good rundown of the basic hallmarks of an arsenal ship.
Interestingly, the author says it would be of interest to reduce such a ship's RCS, and says "A long series of VLSs encased in a largely submerged hull would be optimal" as well as: "the ship’s freeboard should be as low as possible and not have a substantial superstructure—think of an iceberg with its top flattened. The most efficient method of doing this is by having the capability of ballasting down, similar to that of amphibious warships. With ballast tanks, voids, and fuel tanks along its underwater hull, and an internal double hull, a modicum of protection might be achieved against torpedoes and mines." The author envisions a mostly conventional hull surface ship with low freeboard that can be achieved by ballasts.... BUT, of course a natural but more extreme extension of this idea, is to have a semi submersible hull, which leaves only the conning towers exposed on the top, to further reduce RCS.
So, the semi-submersible idea offers two advantages: Signature reduction and being pretty much invulnerable to AShM itself, while the drawbacks of a submarine (like limited space as required of a tube-shaped hull-design that is built to withstand intense water-pressure) do not apply. I think this ship will pretty much look like those WWII "submarine battleships", as in the hull being optimized for surface cruise primarily, with its limited and temporal diving feature being merely a defensive technique.
A few more sources:
https://lt.cjdby.net/thread-2388635-1-1.html
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2016-04/07/c_128873297.htm
http://www.whst.gov.cn/xwzx/show/31732.aspx
http://www.sohu.com/a/144000241_621017
Added a de-classified research paper talking about this concept:
http://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTotal-CANB201603007.htm
EDIT:
The Idea doesnt seem to be as outlandish as previously thought. Here, a 2002 Canadian Military Journal article:
http://www.journal.forces.gc.ca/vo3/no2/doc/19-24-eng.pdf
Especially at this part on page 20:
quote:
CONCRETE STEPS
And yet, an examination in practical terms of the concrete steps the US military services are taking to transform their forces reveals a mixed picture. The US Navy has elements of a strategy in place — for example, its ‘network centric warfare’ concept and its shift in focus to the littoral battlefield — but these concepts have not yet been expanded into a complete roadmap for transformation. As a result, some of the Navy’s planned acquisitions may be inconsistent with the new security environment. It continues to centre its fleet on the aircraft carrier, even though these large platforms are likely to be increasingly at risk from landbased anti-ship missiles. It is also purchasing a significant number of new carrier-based fighters, such as the Joint Strike Fighter, which would be similarly at risk. In this context, it may make more sense for the Navy to focus on a force projection platform such as the Arsenal ship, a semi-submersible, stealthy barge armed with hundreds of missiles, few sailors and no (manned) tactical aircraft.
< Message edited by Hongjian -- 5/27/2017 11:53:30 PM >
|
Printable Version
RE: Naval and Defense News - 
Really... What's with this wave of chinese military transparency lately? 
New Messages
No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages
Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages
Locked w/o New Messages
Post New Thread