The PLAN's Amphibious Warship Inventory

[Ray]

PLAN appears to have PLANned!

 

[ice berg]

Speaking of amphibious assets:

China Military Online English Edition
The "Qingshandao" large-scale passenger ro-ro ship (China Military Online/Chen Li and Du Mingjun)

　　Escorted by related personnel of the military representative office of navigation affairs under the Shenyang Military Area Command (MAC) of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the Passenger Ship Co., Ltd of the China Shipping Co., the 23,000-ton "Qingshandao" large-scale passenger ro-ro ship smoothly arrived at the Dalian Port from the Guangzhou Shipyard on Jan. 12, 2012. The commission of this most advanced ship lays a solid foundation for improving the maritime strategic projection capability of the Chinese Navy.(China Military Online/Chen Li and Du Mingjun)




Let us just say that this is probably the top of the ice berg.

 

[Ray]

China has to have an amphibious capability.

There are many Pacific Islands and there is, Taiwan!

 

[ice berg]

China has to have an amphibious capability.

There are many Pacific Islands and there is, Taiwan!

Well, according to DoD report, China can only send one division at a time. So no worry there.

 

[Ray]

Well, according to DoD report, China can only send one division at a time. So no worry there.

Rome was not built in one day!

 

[J20!]

Speaking of amphibious assets:

China Military Online English Edition
The "Qingshandao" large-scale passenger ro-ro ship (China Military Online/Chen Li and Du Mingjun)

　　Escorted by related personnel of the military representative office of navigation affairs under the Shenyang Military Area Command (MAC) of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the Passenger Ship Co., Ltd of the China Shipping Co., the 23,000-ton "Qingshandao" large-scale passenger ro-ro ship smoothly arrived at the Dalian Port from the Guangzhou Shipyard on Jan. 12, 2012. The commission of this most advanced ship lays a solid foundation for improving the maritime strategic projection capability of the Chinese Navy.(China Military Online/Chen Li and Du Mingjun)




Let us just say that this is probably the top of the ice berg.

Hahaha! Nice

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Well, according to DoD report, China can only send one division at a time. So no worry there.

And what is exactly a size of one PLAN marine division ?

 

[Armand2REP]

Yes actually. Unlike you I dont just assume things (eg a whole class has been retired because its 29 years old). People's Liberation Army Navy

At least 10 ships had been built by 2000. One ship was sold to Sri Lanka in December 1995. Of the 13 ships known to have been constructed, three are based in the North, four in the East, and six in the South Sea Fleet. According to Jane's Fighting Ships 2003-04, it is not clear whether construction is still taking place.

Yuhai-class

 

[J20!]

At least 10 ships had been built by 2000. One ship was sold to Sri Lanka in December 1995. Of the 13 ships known to have been constructed, three are based in the North, four in the East, and six in the South Sea Fleet. According to Jane's Fighting Ships 2003-04, it is not clear whether construction is still taking place.

Yuhai-class

Consult the link I gave you. The 074 is still being produced. There's even an estimate on numbers in service by 2015 and 2020. There are 20 in service as of 2011.

 

[Armand2REP]

I consulted the link you gave, click on Yuhai link and that is what you get. It is unclear whether construction is still taking place. GS database are just projections.

 

[J20!]

And what is exactly a size of one PLAN marine division ?

Considering that the People's liberation Army Marine Corps is made up of two 6000 man brigades, I'm guessing that a PLAMC division is 6000 marines.


"The two 6000-man brigades are both based in the South China Sea. It is believed in time of war, up to 28,000 Marines can be mobilized. These two brigades possess combined arms units, including armor, artillery, missile, air defense, and logistics."


"A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps."

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Considering that the People's liberation Army Marine Corps is made up of two 6000 man brigades, I'm guessing that a PLAMC division is 6000 marines.

Air arm ?

To support such force one need to have a serious Air-power, PLAN CV can hold not more than a Squadron which is not good enough to run a ground assault in presence of opponent Air-power..

I assumed at least 10,000 men per PLAN division to conduct effective assault..

 

[J20!]

Air arm ?

To support such force one need to have a serious Air-power, PLAN CV can hold not more than a Squadron which is not good enough to run a ground assault in presence of opponent Air-power..

I assumed at least 10,000 men per PLAN division to conduct effective assault..

The Marine Corps is subordinate to the PLAN, and I'm sure the PLAN has a significant air arm in the form of the PLANAF:



The PLAMC is not the USMC. Its main purpose is to defend Chinese Islands well within reach of land based PLANAF fighters, fighter bombers and bombers, as well as Second Artillery Corps cruise and ballistic missiles.
With each able to carry a maximum payload of 9000 kilograms, I think the PLANAF's fleet of JH7 ALONE is more than enough for air to ground operations in any conflicts involving SCS islands.

And who said the ex-Varyag can only carry a squadron of fighter's? A minimum of 24 means at least two 12-craft squadrons of J15's, and with its hanger deck extention, 32 fighters means two 16-craft squadrons.

Again, why would 6000 marines supported by armor and air-2-ground munitions not be enough in an island conflict? Forgetting that another division of 6000 can be landed after the first is ashore? Why 10000? I mean as a refference, right now, there are around 9500 british troops in Afghanistan, why would 6000 not be enough for an island campaign? unless you're reffering to a Taiwan invasion?

 

[Kunal Biswas]

PLAN has a significant air arm in the form of the PLANAF:

within reach of land based PLANAF fighters, fighter bombers

32 fighters means two 16-craft squadrons.

Again, why would 6000 marines supported by armor and air-2-ground munitions not be enough in an island conflict?

there are around 9500 british troops in Afghanistan

So, It will be PLAN air am supporting the conflict from Ground base Air crafts mainly, But that is not a good Idea therotically or practically..

In SCS operating a carrier for long duration is harder as it very small area, Maintaining a huge Task force for Days is not feasible in SCS, Further two squadron beyond SCS for supporting a Ground assault is still too small to counter your Opponents Military Might..

Your Idea of Comparison is Odd, You should know, Astan invasion is not by sea or Marine task force even it was Specially deigned for Irregular warfare involving SF mainly with Airborne, Suitable Example can be Iraq or even in WW2 Pacific campaign by USMC, In Invasion the attacking force Numbers is twice or thrice the number after it hold the area and can continue Irregular warfare ..

Also 6000 marines wont land together but in waves, first wave is what make bridgehead against a Superior force. The defending Troops need to be suppressed 24x7, But even before you need to nutralise its Air-power and Logistic support so does Naval power, to conduct a Ground assault..



PLAN have few assets and trained Marine force for mainly defending its Island, But its still far from archiving the goal to have a strong Marine forces to conduct offensive attacks in presence of USN, JSDF, SK and Vietnamese in SCS, PLAN marine force still dont have major Carrier force to conduct two prown attack, Counter attack with multiple Marine task forces for a single Objective..

 

[ice berg]

Short of USN and JSDF, I cant think of any naval forces around SCS that PLAN cant take care of on their own. Vietnam? you got be kidding me. They are even worse off than PLAN.

 

[J20!]

Found some really nice pics of Type 071 operations:

 

[J20!]

More:

 

[J20!]

These next two picks need commentary. the first one is quite interesting:

This seems to be a RSAF Super puma landing on the deck of 998
2nd:

It's a containerized 300mm MLR module tested on Shichang, it's alleged that the launcher base doesn't penetrate any deck, and the container behind it houses rocket reloads and independent power supply and fire control system. Such system can be retrofitted to ships such as 071 (maybe clear some space on the bow deck) or 074 (open vehicle deck) to provide sustained fire support for the landing party, similar to a capability LPD17's original concept proposed.

 

[Armand2REP]

The tank landing ships don't bother me, they are only good in brown water. The 071 is the only real LPD in China. Looking at the diagram it doesn't look like it can carry many troops. The crew habitation area is almost non-existent
.

 

[J20!]

The tank landing ships don't bother me, they are only good in brown water. The 071 is the only real LPD in China. Looking at the diagram it doesn't look like it can carry many troops. The crew habitation area is almost non-existent
.

*wry smile* Why would Chinese warships bother a "Frenchman"? *Raised eyebrow* Anyway, most of the PLAN's TLS's are equiped with a well deck, and can thus launch amphibious tanks and landing craft far from shore, so the brown water assessment is iincorrect "frenchie"...

A troop carrying capacity of 700 marines is by no measure "not that many" troops... You could check if you dont believe me.