"Chinese Type 081 LPH / LHA" Topic

Some observers believe China may build a total of three or more Type 081s, and that constructin was already underway as of 2010.

China Defense Mashup reported 09 May 2009 that "Hudong Shipbuilding Company, another shipbuilder in Shanghai, will carry the task of producing 6-8 23,000-tonne class "flush deck" amphibious transport dock ships." Ted Parsons reported in March 2012 ["Chinese Shipbuilder Unveils Possible Type 081 LHD Design," Jane's Defence Weekly, March 28, 2012: 15] that "China Shipbuilding Corporation (CSC) has revealed what may be a design for the Type 081 landing helicopter dock (LHD) amphibious assault ship. The design was shown in model form at the Defense & Security 2012 exhibition in Bangkok in early March. It is unclear whether this is the Type 081 LHD design long expected to complement the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's Type 071 land platform dock (LPD) vessels, the third of which was launched in September 2011. However, China did reveal a model of the Type 071 in 2004 ahead of the first-in-class vessel's launch in December 2006.

link

How would the Philippines, Vietnam, etc. oppose a task force of these? I guess that the Chinese are building them with a view to disputes in the South China Sea.

Do they need the US?

Vietnam has a half-dozen Improved kilos. These would be their most credible counter, by far. They also have a ton of fast attack craft sorts of things, and a noticeable air force, but these would likely be pretty overwhelmed/neutralized in any war with the PRC.

The Philippines wouldn't be able to oppose much of anything. their navy is more of a coast guard and they no longer even have any credible air strike capability.
-Kle.

Vietnam's subs would do pretty well, there's excellent hunting in the western Pacific for diesel subs. Lots of shallow water, lots of iron shipwrecks to play hell with a MAD. And lots of diesel-powered fishing boats.

Taiwan may be getting a bit nervous, bigdeck LHAs are effectively WW2 carriers (and similarly difficult to sink).

And the PI is just flat screwed.

I think Vietnam also has their Russian made Gepard class frigates, with SS-N-25 missiles….two more are being planned, but these will emphasize ASW. Oh….and the Philippines might take a big step forward if they get those Maestrale class frigates from Italy. I think they are finally serious about adding new modern fighters, since right now they have none.

With their conventional carrier to back them up, China would seem to be well equipped to assert themselves in the South China Sea. China's vulnerability will be her need to protect her extended SLOC's….and China's ASW capabilities are pretty pitiful.

I think the force to watch is India. India is not going to take kindly to a China that seeks to dominate a region full of key shipping lanes. India could exert tremendous pressure on Chinese shipping in a region where China does not yet have enough bases or assets. Japan is another navy to watch. China is already provoking them and Japan absolutely will not allow China to control the shipping lanes on which Japan's survival depends.

All this illustrates why American naval policies are trending towards an emphasis in the Pacific.

Vietnam also has 4 new Gepard Class Frigates (Russian built) that are no slouches either, with several more on order. They each carry 8 SS-N-25 Switchblade missiles, which are also called "Harpoonskis' in the west since they are fairly similar in form and function.

China has found out that building and operating large multitask carriers is a lot more difficult then they thought. so smaller carriers are an option. VTOL planes could be used on these ships as well giving an additional option.

Another advantage of the Type 81s will be the impact they will have domestically in China. The PLA operates their own TV stations and has lots of media overage. Showing these would greatly impress the Chinese masses who would see them as carriers. Pictures of helicopter assaults and tank landings from these ships will be widely circulated. This will greatly improve the status and esteem for the PLA Navy within China In Asia the concept of face and status is actually more important then we in the West know. India will have kittens of course and a shipbuilding race will begin.

BTW shipbuilding is great for the economy and once China starts building these in larger quantities exports will be an option. Countries will buy them along with Chinese advisers giving China a presence and influence in other areas. China always does things for the long term.

The problem with VTOL aircraft is that China has none. There's the Yak38, which was outdated when the Harrier was new, and there's the Yak141. Better, but still takes a huge hit in useful load because the main engine isn't powerful enough (so it has lift engines that don't provide thrust).

The Harrier has a 25,000lb thrust engine, which is roughly as powerful as the two engines on an F18A. China could conceivably copy a Harrier, the engine isn't very different from one used in cargo/passenger jets: roughly equal thrust from the fan and from the hot section.

The F35 has a 40,000lb thrust engine, and that's in a league of it's own. The SR71 engines were not as powerful as the engine in the F35!

Phillippines have nothing – their Navy is mainly WWII vintage with some second hand US Coast Guard cutters, albeit without any weapon systems upgrades.

If they have no ski jump, then VTOL aircraft using a rolling takeoff will suffer from low load carrying abilities, meaning short range and less weaponry.

My guess is that in a shooting war ships like this 'Phib are a larger and higher priority target than even a carrier.

I was counting the Gepards as FAC. I don;t think they would be a major threat. Too easy to sink with airpower.
-Kle.

They won't be called 081 I'm afraid (shades of the persistent Western media mis-naming of the CV001 Liaoning as Shilang).

081 is already a class of minehunter.

China is apparently testing a VTOL fighter but who knows how serious they are It could be a long way off and similar to their"stealth" fighter being in early development

link

Looks like a clone of a Yak141. link

It works, but it has a huge penalty in lift engines (which would be fuel/weapons in a conventional aircraft).