The US CNN website wrote an article on June 26 that the third aircraft carrier built by China is currently the largest, most modern and most powerful aircraft carrier in the Chinese Navy. The Chinese Navy has become the largest naval force in the world. American experts said that China is rapidly catching up with the United States in the field of electromagnetic catapult aircraft carriers.
CNN website report screenshot
However, Carl Schuster, former director of operations of the Joint Intelligence Center of the U.S. Pacific Command, believes that although China's "Fujian" aircraft carrier is very powerful, the United States should not focus too much on this aircraft carrier at present. This is because the "Fujian" ship will take three to four years to be put into use. Even after it is put into use, it will become the primary target of potential opponents. Sinking this aircraft carrier can greatly damage China's morale. In addition, the "Fujian" aircraft carrier is not suitable for conflicts in the East China Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait. Although it is the largest combat ship of the Chinese Navy, it is not the biggest concern of the U.S. Navy commanders. Schuster pointed out that compared with the "Fujian" aircraft carrier, the following four types of Chinese ships pose a greater threat to the dominance of the U.S. Navy.
Fujian aircraft carrier launching ceremony
055 destroyer
The first one is the 055 destroyer, which is a 13,000-ton large warship that China started building in 2017. It is considered to be the most powerful warship in the world.
US experts believe that according to the standards of NATO countries, the 055 destroyer can be recognized as a cruiser . It is equipped with 112 large missile vertical launch tubes and can launch long-range anti-ship missiles , land attack cruise missiles and long-range A variety of advanced missiles, including anti-aircraft missiles. In addition, the 055 destroyer is also equipped with a large dual-band radar and an integrated mast. It has excellent stealth capabilities and is larger and more advanced than the destroyer of the United States, Japan and South Korea.
055 destroyer
US media believe that in the context of the increasingly tense situation in the Taiwan Strait, China has dispatched the second "Lhasa" ship of the six active 055 destroyers to cruise around the sun, indicating that the Chinese Navy's second 10,000-ton destroyer has formed a complete combat capabilities. In April of this year, the 055 destroyer tested a hypersonic missile called the YJ-21. This missile was considered the "aircraft carrier killer" and posed a major threat to U.S. aircraft carriers.
055 destroyer launches YJ-21 missiles
039 conventional submarine
The second ship is China's 039 "Yuan" class submarine. This is an advanced submarine with almost no noise. Its powerful performance makes it difficult for the US Navy to deal with it. According to a report submitted by the U.S. Department of Defense to the U.S. Congress, China has built 17 Type 039A/B submarines and plans to increase the total number to 25 in the next three years.
039 submarine
US experts believe that the 039 submarine has given China a strong offshore defense capability and is developing the ability to engage the US military in distant seas. The 039 submarine is equipped with an advanced air-independent propulsion system (AIP system). It does not need to surface frequently to obtain the oxygen required by the diesel engine. It is more concealed, except for the bearings, propellers and flow around the hull. In addition to the noise generated, it is almost silent, which makes it more difficult for the US Navy to conduct anti-submarine warfare.
In addition, China has also equipped the Type 039 submarine with advanced long-range submarine-launched anti-ship missiles and wake-homing torpedoes, which have powerful anti-ship combat capabilities. Among them, the wake homing torpedo is an advanced weapon system that tracks the wake of a ship. It can attack the rear of the ship and is very difficult to defend. U.S. experts pointed out that the substantial progress of Chinese submarines comes at a time when the U.S. Navy's anti-submarine capabilities are experiencing problems. For this reason, the U.S. Navy has decided to retire nine littoral combat ships because these ships have major problems in their anti-submarine capabilities, which is a big embarrassment. use.
Civilian Merchant Ships
American experts believe that in addition to the advanced ships of the Chinese Navy, the power of China’s civilian merchant ships cannot be ignored. This is because China will dispatch hundreds of thousands of combat troops in the process of liberating Taiwan, which obviously exceeds the amphibious force of the People’s Liberation Army. The ability to deliver combat troops requires the use of huge civilian merchant ships to complete the landing mission.
China has a large-scale civilian ferry fleet. Some merchant ships are even directly considered for military use. They are dual-use vessels and can be quickly put into delivery operations of personnel and materials without receiving modifications. Currently in The civilian ferry companies operating in the Yellow Sea and the South China Sea have been integrated into the logistics support force of the People's Liberation Army.
American experts believe that including auxiliary civilian ferry ships, the total tonnage of the Chinese Navy will increase by at least 1.1 million tons, which is more than three times the total tonnage of the Chinese Navy's active amphibious landing ship . This scale is very amazing. , if the Chinese navy uses Hong Kong's ro-ro transport ships, it will gain an additional 370,000 tons of shipping volume.
As for whether the transport capacity of these civilian ships is sufficient, American experts did not give a clear answer. They only said that China will be able to mobilize many more transport ships than imagined.
Maritime Militia
US experts believe that ferries are not the only civilian vessels that should be concerned. China’s offshore fishing vessels should also attract sufficient attention from the United States. At present, China has formed a maritime militia force consisting of more than 100 fishing boats to fish and collect intelligence in disputed waters. U.S. experts pointed out that some Chinese fishing boats can reach speeds of 18 to 22 knots, which is faster than most fishing boats in the world. They can quickly conduct warning patrols in relevant waters and serve as the "eyes" of the Chinese navy, providing timely and accurate intelligence. . China has the largest fishing fleet in the world, which allows its maritime militia to have sufficient reserves.
US experts believe that the above four ships pose a greater threat to the United States to some extent than the "Fujian" aircraft carrier, and will give China more advantages. In the field of aircraft carriers, China has launched three aircraft carriers in the past ten years, two of which have been put into active service. However, the United States is still trying to make the "Ford" aircraft carrier that has been in service for several years become combat capable. The development speed of the Chinese navy has far exceeded of the U.S. Navy.
