Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

6 30, the sixth installment of the Chinese navy to escort fleet set sail from Zhanjiang, Guangdong, to the Gulf of Aden, off the Somali coast take over the implementation of the fifth fleet convoy escort mission. Xinhua

newspaper correspondent Roshan Love

6 30, the largest tonnage by the PLA’s combat ships, “Kunlun Mountains” and the dock landing ship, “Lanzhou” missile destroyers of the sixth Fleet escort rushed to leave the waters off Somalia. With the escort of the normalization, the sail did not cause a strong focus around. The latest issue of Taiwan, “Asia-Pacific Defense” magazine article, each batch of the PLA convoy through the formation of the observation that the rotation of more than escort formation, the PLA Navy has accumulated a large number of hardware and software experience, the more it towards a blue water navy added confidence.

ocean-going vessels in turn test the performance

the author of this report is retired Admiral Lanning Li of Taiwan, he was escorted through the analysis of the formation of the batch that after the formation of the PLA from the gradual accumulation of Chiang Kai-shek of the main active ocean-going ships experience. The first convoy formation by 052C type “sea” guided missile destroyer, 052B type “Wuhan” missile destroyer and the “micro-Lake” was compiled comprehensive supply ship. Reported that the two belong to the PLA’s most modern destroyer, the “Chinese Aegis destroyers” and “Chinese modern ship,” This is not a show of force, is well thought out to ensure the reliability of the initial convoy: two destroyers are the use of advanced diesel and gas turbine combined power system, when used alone in the cruise engine, not only saves fuel, and higher reliability.

the success of the first convoy after convoy formation started up by the greater number of equipment, smaller tonnage ships composition. Second convoy including the 051B-type “Shenzhen” destroyer, 054A-type “Huangshan” frigate. Reported that the “Shenzhen” steam turbines have been used many times voyage test, it is likely that a similar power system for the future of “modern” class destroyers perform combat missions far from the sea to be tested. The “Yellow Mountain” number and then escort the ships belong to several groups of smaller tonnage of frigates, they are a domestic diesel-powered, long-term sea cruise the Gulf of Aden to verify its reliability.

the Sixth Fleet escort service will soon include a 1.8-ton “Kunlun Mountains” dock landing ship. According to experts, it carries two fast motor boat dock set, will debut in the escort operation, which is a large Chinese Navy dock landing ship carrying the first ocean-going escort amphibious forces perform the task.

escort model and gradually adapt to a long-term

“Asia-Pacific defense” that the multi-national naval escort usually take an indirect approach, the Navy set the security forces patrol the waterway , in which the merchant can freely access. But was suddenly attacked the pirates, the escort ships is difficult to arrive, which is currently in a convoy of merchant case had repeatedly looted reasons. The People’s Liberation Army escort to take the direct approach with the most reliable, safe, but the drawback is more a waste of escort troops, but also by the speed of the lowest merchant fleet in drag. Present in the Gulf of Aden to escort the long-term trend, the PLA Navy also began to gradually adjust the convoy approach. From February this year, accompanied by the formation of People’s Liberation Army escort escort escort to accompany a regular basis. Reported that the convoy of regular, suggest that the PLA aware escort the high cost of energy is not enough.

“Asia-Pacific defense,” said a more appropriate method is for the whole patrol aircraft patrolling the waters, finding the target and then notify the escort ships to take further action. This surface ships to attack just keep on standby in the region, which is the most effective and economical way. Japanese P-3C patrol aircraft stationed in the local shows have been familiar with the maritime SDF operational capability. In contrast, the PLA in this area has just started, there is no corresponding capability. Escort ship-borne helicopter fleet can only rely on small-scale target verification. Therefore, the PLA Navy, the most serious problem is the lack of support for ocean surveillance information, relies entirely on the ship with a radar detection, search helicopter near the goal and objectives identified, the scope is rather limited. Alone merchant for help for help information for a further interim response is slow, can not deter the pirates. Some experts believe that the convoy formation in a number of large helicopters carrying the “Kunlun Mountains” was the equivalent of the sea base, to protect the long helicopter patrols, expanding the scope of surveillance.

comprehensive testing unfamiliar waters resilience

saying goes, “ten years the Army, Navy century”, reports that, according to the sub-Ding Wanhai escort on the PLA has identified blue-water navy with the qualifications too early, the most pressing is how to achieve supply offshore logistics.

“Asia-Pacific defense,” noted that the first convoy formation does not rely on Hong Kong, June 21, 2009, the second batch of escort ships into the fleet of three 阿曼塞拉莱 a three-day Hong Kong rest, this is the first time the PLA Navy into the establishment in foreign refit. January 24, 2010, the fourth installment of convoy formation of the “MOS” was selected in Djibouti supply. Reported that the choice of a different port for supplies, mainly relying on foreign countries to explore how the patterns of the commercial port to the implementation of integrated supply business for the PLA Navy’s non-war military operations in the offshore logistics accumulated experience. However, this business model requires personnel from the Navy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs arrived in port early to start procurement of goods, “the PLA Navy to move towards the ocean, this approach difficult to adapt to the emergency.” To this end, “Asia-Pacific defense” that, or People’s Liberation Army to learn a large number of U.S. military construction tender, the goods delivered to forward bases or supply marine detachment: the establishment of overseas bases or, “This is a blue water navy can not avoid the issue,” but certainly caused great concern in other countries.

although there is still insufficient, but Lanning Li that the escort mission is not only ocean-going deployment of the PLA’s ability to test, but also for ships to get in the unfamiliar waters of intelligence, communications, command, emergency mobile, international coordination, maritime strike so the ability to conduct a comprehensive inspection. Lanning Li said, the PLA Navy’s escort operations through the Gulf of Aden, has established a long-term operation of ocean-going implementation of the confidence and ability. “When the necessary support conditions can be met, the PLA Navy, not a dream into the blue ocean.”

(“Global Times” July 1, 2010 No. 08 version)

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