China rattles an aircraft carrier

[pscot]

http://www.zerohedge.com/

In what is likely the biggest sabre being rattled this week in the war-of-words that is occurring in the Pacific, China announced today the launch of its first aircraft carrier. China bought the 300-meter Soviet-built vessel in 1998 from Ukraine and had it refitted to become an important step in "raising the overall fighting capacity" of its naval forces. Rear Admiral Yang Yi noted that "it is natural that China should have its own aircraft carrier...

But Ukraine doesn't have any aircraft carriers; corvettes, fast gun boats and utility vessels. No carriers. Maybe the Ukrainians are a beard for the Russians.


http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/summary.cfm?q=83
This links to a paper on the Russian-Chinese arms traffic. Highly recomended

[Ptah]

1. China does not have planes capable of landing on the carrier . . .

China does not have planes capable of landing on the carrier and so far training for such landings has been carried out on land, they said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/26/world/asia/china-shows-off-an-aircraft-carrier-but-experts-are-skeptical.html

[pscot]

2. It's like that scene in Yojimbo

where the rival gangs wave their swords at each other with fear and trembling. Eventually they get to blows, but not 'til much later.

[MercutioATC]

4. It's a big boat...

...I suppose they could ram stuff with it...

[Robeysays]

3. Word china, keep blowin that cash on ships.

"more than 430 ships believed to be in active service with the United States Navy, on reserve, or under construction, based on public reports compiled in this list. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined."

"There are currently 11 aircraft carriers, 22 cruisers, 62 destroyers, 29 frigates, 3 littoral combat ships, 9 amphibious assault ships, 2 amphibious command ships, 9 amphibious transport docks, 12 dock landing ships, 53 attack submarines, 14 ballistic missile submarines, 4 guided missile submarines, 14 mine countermeasures ships, 11 patrol boats, and 1 technical research ship (military intelligence ship, the USS Pueblo, which is currently held by North Korea).[a]

Support ships include 2 hospital ships, 4 salvage ships, 2 submarine tenders, 1 ammunition ship, 5 combat stores ships, 4 fast combat support ships, 9 dry cargo ships, 15 replenishment oilers, 4 Fleet Ocean Tugs, 11 large harbor tugs, 4 ocean surveillance ships, 4 container ships, 16 cargo ships (used for pre-positioning of Marine and Army materiel), and 7 vehicle cargo ships (also used for prepositioning)"


---They're gonna have to starve a lot more of their people to get any where near us.


Then there is always this :

U.S. Navy Active Ship Force Levels, 1944

Date 12/31/44
Battleships 23
Carriers, Fleet 25
Carriers, Escort 65
Cruisers 61
Destroyers 367
Frigates 376
Submarines 230
Mine Warfare 614
Patrol 1183
Amphibious 2147
Auxiliary 993
Surface Warships 827
Total Active 6084

--we're not so hop-up on the ship thing like we used to be.

[MyTwoSense]

5. Let's see...late '44

Well, the Navy was putting in a bit of overtime back in late '44, which might account for a few extra ships.

[awoke_in_2003]

6. Russian junk...

which is only a notch above Chinese junk.