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

Data Figure: China’s introduction of the Kuznetsov aircraft carrier under the transformation

Li Jie

come out this year is the 100th anniversary of the aircraft carrier. Distinguished itself during World War II aircraft carrier, big airs and quick to board the “sea supremacy” throne. Since then, the frequent power respected part of the solution and disposal of regional crises, conflicts and even the sea war of all sizes, troops and weapons of choice. As a world power, especially influential country, can not do without aircraft carriers, not only with a limited number of grouping properly, the lack of offense and defense aircraft carrier battle group.

skilled use of aircraft, particularly the United States even. Americans believe in, any ship other than aircraft carriers have a long unmatched features and advantages: First, both the carrier battle group is almost “all weather” war action function. Typically, many associated with various types of aircraft carrier battle groups in the cruisers, destroyers, frigates, submarines, combat support ships, and multi-type aircraft carrier to its “escort”, the implementation of joint maritime operations, and various non-combat operations. In peacetime, the carrier battle group is ideal for cruising, sailing in the waters of the world’s major, it shows that there is, a show of strength; for friendly nations and allies to be “strong” support, the first pick by bilateral or multilateral exercises, to provide timely assistance in the direction of the sea. Once the event of natural disasters such as tsunamis or earthquakes, from the accident site the nearest aircraft carrier battle groups, can be the first time the disaster area or the accident site to carry out disaster relief, humanitarian aid. Tsunami in Indonesia, Haiti and other large-scale natural disasters, including the United States promptly dispatched maritime forces, including aircraft carrier battle groups, responsible for rescue and relief operations. When the crisis occurred at sea or local wars, the effective use of aircraft carrier battle groups are both offensive and defensive superiority, rushed to the front area, and promptly put into operation. The early 1990s, the eve of the outbreak of the Gulf War, Iraq from the U.S. Navy recently deployed the first “independent” aircraft carrier, won for the pre-sea air, sea and laid a foundation.

Second, the carrier battle group most suitable for non-combat operations and combat operations of the functional conversion. Aircraft carrier battle groups have not only the attachment of various types of ships and bulk carrier aircraft, and the carrier has set itself a number of compartments, equipped with a large number of various types of weapons, ammunition, food, medicines, fuel and other supplies, as well as thousands of soldiers with special expertise (United States, “Nimitz” class aircraft carrier allocation has 5,000-6,000 soldiers). This system, balanced ships, aircraft and rich with plenty of material security of supply, making the carrier state can better implement a long cruise at sea, or a variety of tasks (generally the U.S. aircraft carrier battle groups to stay at sea for 3-6 months ). Statistics, various types of aircraft carrier battle fleet at sea, you can in the shortest time, by a non-war quickly “switch” the transition to a state of war; can change from a state of war in time for non-war. This function changes, status changes, does not lead to a decline in the combat aircraft fleet, aircraft carriers, may be essential to maintain normal operation.

In fact, the mature use of aircraft carrier, not the world’s number one power – the United States, “patent”, it is often a regional power or powers of the director, such as France, Britain and other countries have their own unique aircraft use place. 1982 Falklands War, the British Royal Navy will be immediately sent by the two small aircraft carrier “Invincible” and “sports god” was composed on the formation of the Pang Dahai, traveled thousands of miles away from the waters of the Falklands war, eventually seizing the Falklands, carrier-based aircraft also made a 41:0 record. Today, the five permanent members of the United Nations, the United States, Russia, Britain, France, have different sizes, of amount of carrier. And these countries have vowed, in the future but also to develop various types of aircraft: the U.S. will build 10 new full level, “Ford” class aircraft carrier; the Russian navy will also be developed and built six displacement of 50,000 tons of nuclear-powered aircraft carrier -6 ; Britain and France as early as 65,000 tons under construction, or 7.5 tons of large aircraft carrier’s determination, and has taken action (just now to financial constraints, the economic downturn, the construction has been serving time lag). India is targeting three aircraft carriers to implement the ambitious plans to step up. Other regional powers: Brazil, Spain, Italy, Australia and other countries regard the development of the aircraft carrier as its established policy; Some are constitutional constraints and conditions of the countries such as Japan and other countries will be taken “out at large, to steal” approach, through the development of “quasi carriers’ approach to the progressive realization of the aspirations of the eventual development of medium-sized aircraft carrier.

facts and experience show that both a world power or world power, must have a firm to develop and mature use of the carrier’s strategy and philosophy, and the successful conversion of non-war actions and mode of action and war tactics. That only limited development of small and medium sized vessels, fixed on the door only “home-care hospital,” the naval forces, it is difficult to adapt to future needs of modern naval warfare, it is difficult to meet effectively defend national sovereignty and safeguarding the maritime interests. (The author is a naval expert.)

(“Global Times,” December 1, 2010 14th Edition)

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