China launches second aircraft carrier after a £9.6m refit... as a luxury hotel

Daily Mail ^ | 11th August 2011 | Daily Mail Reporter

[Daffynition]

Days after sea trials for China's first aircraft carrier Varyag caused heightened tension in the South China Sea, a second carrier is stirring up interest in the country.

But the Kiev, although like the Varyag a former Soviet aircraft carrier, is welcoming guests in its new role as a leisure facility.

Billed as China's first aircraft carrier hotel, the Kiev has undergone a £9.6million refit, reports the South China Morning Post.

[Daffynition]

Not traditional looking. Specializes in cruises in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean.

[RexBeach]

I see. And how do we know the hangar deck isn’t loaded with cruise missiles and such?

[DJ MacWoW]

After 42 Days FR Is Still Short Of Its Goal
If Free Republic Ends We Lose
And This Man Wins

Click The Pic To Donate

[cookcounty]

You have to wonder if there is a Quick-change refit package the Chicoms have in their bag. Like the British royal yacht Britannia doubling as a Navy hospital ship.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

The Kiev is an old 1980s vintage hybrid heli and Yak carrier, converted from a cruiser. It’s no where as sophisticated or capable as the Varyag refit currently in sea trials.

[texas booster]

Well, if one must train specialists to run a modern aircraft carrier, having a second platform to train them will pay tremendous benefits downstream.

And if the ChiComs can get stupid tourists to pay for the experience, all the better.

Of course, it could be the start of a royal ChiCom platform to transport the Politburo to Taiwan once the island is conquered.

[Oztrich Boy]

The Kiev is an old 1980s vintage hybrid heli and Yak carrier,

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Yak-38

[Cheburashka]

Well, if one must train specialists to run a modern aircraft carrier, having a second platform to train them will pay tremendous benefits downstream.

And if the ChiComs can get stupid tourists to pay for the experience, all the better.

Of course, it could be the start of a royal ChiCom platform to transport the Politburo to Taiwan once the island is conquered.

---

If you want a ship to move under power ever again you have to put money into maintaining the engines. This may look like a real ship, but it is a hulk, the equivalent of a ‘55 Chevy sitting on concrete blocks. Doesn't matter what the paint job is like, it's not going anywhere under its own power. Sort of like the Intrepid, which had to be towed to Bayonne and Staten Island for maintenance work, and then towed back to its pier.

[Jeff Head]

Correct. But the Gorshkov, another of the Kiev class, is being refitrted for the Indian Navy and will have a wing of Mig-29K aircraft on it.

THE NEW INS VIKRAMADITYA

It's interesting because both countries are on the same path in their own naval arms race. China refits the Varyag while building two of its own indigenous carriers. At the same time, India refits the Gorshkov while building two if its own indigenous carries.

The Gorshkov refit will be called the INS Virkamaditya and it will be launched for trials within the next 6-8 weeks.

Artist rendering of the finished Indian carrier:

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

The Indians are turning the Gorshkov into a good looking ship. And I see a big collision between the Indian Navy and PLAN at some point in the future...

[Daffynition]

WOW! You just exposed their ruse!

[RexBeach]

Hey. I’m not just another pretty face, you know!

[Jeff Head]

I see a big collision between the Indian Navy and PLAN at some point in the future.

India is up to the task of responding to the PLAN. They have a growing economy too and are investing the money. Yes, there is a collision in the offing between these two.

South Korea, Japan, and Australia are also increwasing their naval expenditures and modernizing their fleets, all of them are building large, carrier-like vessels capable of embarking the F-35B.

The PLAN is growing...but it is not going unnoticed or unresponded to. I have been keeping tabs on it for over 8 years...and had about a million hits on the Chinese site alon THE RISING SEA DRAGON IN ASIA

[Daffynition]

I didn't recognize you...you shaved your beard. ;P