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New PLAN Stealth/Catamaran Fast Attack Craft in Series Production
JEFFHEAD.COM ^ | June 17, 2005 | Jeff Head

Posted on 06/17/2005 11:26:30 AM PDT by Jeff Head

New Red Chinese (PLAN) Stealth/Catamaran Fast Attack Craft (FAC)
Now in serial production




By: Jeff Head
June 2005

The People's Republic of China has gone into serial production on their new, stealthy Fast Attack Craft which are based on a wave-piercing catamaran hull design.

The first craft, designated 2208, was launched in APirlof 2004 and commissioned later that year. Since that time, three more vessels have been produced in a year's time, 2209, 2210 and 2211.

The vessels are armed with foru surface to surface anti-shipping missiles, probably the C-801 or C-802 with ranges from 60-100 miles), and one AK-630 30mm cannon, Close in weapons system. The fire control system includes an apparent datalink mask which can be used to receive target information from other airborne or shipborne sensors. Here are some recent pictures:


Camo paint scheme of the first in sereis, the 2208, side view


Camo Painting of the 2208, rear view.


Camo paint scheme of the 2208, front view


2nd in series, the 2209


3rd in series, the 2210


4th in series, the 2211

These Fast Attack Craft are another representation of the rapid buildup of the PLAN across the board, from large surface combatants in several new classes of DDG's and FFG's, to several new classes of Amohibious assault ships, to new clases of diesel electric and nuclear attack submarines, to litoral craft like these new FACs. Further documentation on all of this can be found at the following sites:

The Rising Sea Dragon in Asia

Chinese Defense Today - Navy

...and the following raw material (pictures and discussions) from the Keypublishing Naval Forum:

PLAN Thread

PLAN Thread II


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: armsbuildup; chinesebuildup; chinesemilitary; dragonsfuryseries; fastattackcraft; freeperjeffhead; plan; redchina; redchinathreat; worldwariii
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Another small addition regarding the Chinese naval buildup (to go along with their three new classes of DDGs, their two new classes of FFGs, their two new classes of Amphibious Assault Ships, their two new classes of diesel electric subs, their two new classes of nuclear subs, etc...all being built at the same time).

Browse those Keypublishing threads. The shear volume of the naval shipbuilding going on right now in China as evidenced by the scores of pictures on those threads, is daunting.

1 posted on 06/17/2005 11:26:35 AM PDT by Jeff Head
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To: joanie-f; Dukie; Squantos; JohnHuang2; k.trujillo; Travis McGee; jim macomber; Critter; Lurker; ...

FYI


2 posted on 06/17/2005 11:27:30 AM PDT by Jeff Head (www.dragonsfuryseries.com)
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To: Jeff Head

They look like they're out of a James Bond movie...


3 posted on 06/17/2005 11:29:47 AM PDT by tje
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To: Jeff Head

Amazing, the Chinese actually made something that looks cool.


4 posted on 06/17/2005 11:31:42 AM PDT by Husker24
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To: Jeff Head

Hate to say this but they look really good.


5 posted on 06/17/2005 11:39:00 AM PDT by spetznaz (Nuclear tipped ICBMs: The Ultimate Phallic Symbol.)
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To: tje

Except these are real and they represent a very small part of a very large buildup.


6 posted on 06/17/2005 11:39:11 AM PDT by Jeff Head (www.dragonsfuryseries.com)
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To: Jeff Head

I am sure they will only be used for defensive purposes to prevent China from being taken over by Sweden.

Why else would they need a blue water navy?

That damned Sweden again!


7 posted on 06/17/2005 11:39:28 AM PDT by Eaker (Festive camaraderie and adrenaline addiction, with weapons and lots of ammo, leads to no good.)
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To: spetznaz

They are preparing across the board, litoral waters clear out to blue waters. With four anti-ship cruise missiles each, ranging out to 100 miles, they are not something to be taken lightly, particularly cloise in to their own coasts and air coverage where they are designed to fight...ie Formosa Straits, etc.


8 posted on 06/17/2005 11:40:57 AM PDT by Jeff Head (www.dragonsfuryseries.com)
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To: Jeff Head

Any 'modular conversions', yet, Jeff?


9 posted on 06/17/2005 11:41:49 AM PDT by jim macomber (Author: "Bargained for Exchange", "Art & Part", "A Grave Breach" http://www.jamesmacomber.com)
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To: Eaker

Like their newly announced plans to build carriers...purely for defensive purposes.


10 posted on 06/17/2005 11:42:18 AM PDT by Jeff Head (www.dragonsfuryseries.com)
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To: Jeff Head

shallow draft so it can scream through the panama canal after it has sunk all the ships in it. Whatever. They better put some anti aircraft missiles on it too with a range of a few hundred miles.


11 posted on 06/17/2005 11:47:24 AM PDT by BookaT (My cat's breath smells like cat food!)
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To: jim macomber

Lots of container ships out there and they are now the 3rd largest in the world. I expect if they go after Tawian, they will use them .. but only if they can gain and then maintain air dominance.


12 posted on 06/17/2005 11:51:21 AM PDT by Jeff Head (www.dragonsfuryseries.com)
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To: BookaT

All these have is a CIWS...they will have to depend on other assets (other ships and aircraft) for air protection.


13 posted on 06/17/2005 11:52:03 AM PDT by Jeff Head (www.dragonsfuryseries.com)
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To: Jeff Head

Long way from these...............

14 posted on 06/17/2005 11:52:38 AM PDT by Red Badger (The Army makes the world safe for democracy. The Marines make the world safe for the Army.....)
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To: Jeff Head

Hard to tell from the pictures - are those about 110 feet x 40 feet?


15 posted on 06/17/2005 11:52:46 AM PDT by PAR35
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To: Jeff Head

Jeff, any idea where those photos were taken?

Also, a comment. One of the things that concerned me greatly about the HK handoff was that it was inevitable that all the excellent high speed cat, hovercraft, and hydrofoil technology would be combined withe Soviet ehkranoplane (sp?) technology as well as general indigenous standard naval technology. Now, I think that is exactly what has happened and will continue to happen.


16 posted on 06/17/2005 11:52:56 AM PDT by GOP_1900AD (Stomping on "PC," destroying the Left, and smoking out faux "conservatives" - Take Back The GOP!)
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To: Jeff Head

There ya go!!

Finally getting with the program!

;<)


17 posted on 06/17/2005 11:53:23 AM PDT by Eaker (Festive camaraderie and adrenaline addiction, with weapons and lots of ammo, leads to no good.)
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To: Red Badger

LOL...yes they are.


18 posted on 06/17/2005 11:55:46 AM PDT by Jeff Head (www.dragonsfuryseries.com)
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To: GOP_1900AD
I have taken the photos off of various forums site where people in China are taking the pics and putting them out. Some of those people are chinese, others are tourists, business people, etc.

I do not know the exact location of many of the photos, but I expeect the FAC pictures are somewhere in the vicinity of the Qingxin Shipyards in Shanghai as well as and Huangou Shipyard in Guangzhou where these are being built.

19 posted on 06/17/2005 11:59:07 AM PDT by Jeff Head (www.dragonsfuryseries.com)
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To: Jeff Head

RE: Huangou Shipyard in Guangzhou

They in particular would have benefitted from all the HK / Macao ferry technology. I rode a high speed cat from HK to Shekou once and was suitably impressed. But of course, the HK Macao hydrofoil took the cake.


20 posted on 06/17/2005 12:01:39 PM PDT by GOP_1900AD (Stomping on "PC," destroying the Left, and smoking out faux "conservatives" - Take Back The GOP!)
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To: Jeff Head

BTTT


21 posted on 06/17/2005 12:02:39 PM PDT by Fiddlstix (This Tagline for sale. (Presented by TagLines R US))
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To: Jeff Head
"All these have is a CIWS...they will have to depend on other assets (other ships and aircraft) for air protection."

Protection? This is an OFFENSIVE platform.

She's designed to get close to it's enemy using stealth and speed, use it's data link for OHT (over the horizon targeting), shoot it's anti-ship missiles, then run.
22 posted on 06/17/2005 12:08:11 PM PDT by ryan71 (Speak softly and carry a BIG STICK)
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To: Jeff Head

More scrap iron for the bottom of the Pacific. :)


23 posted on 06/17/2005 12:27:29 PM PDT by LS (CNN is the Amtrak of news)
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To: Jeff Head

"[As for the United States]->..... for a relatively long time it will be absolutely necessary that we quietly nurse our sense of vengeance .. We must conceal our abilities and bide our time." .....-Chinese(PRC) Lt. General Mi Zhenyu


24 posted on 06/17/2005 12:31:24 PM PDT by hosepipe (This propaganda has been ok'ed me to included some fully orbed hyperbole....)
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To: Jeff Head

The build up continues and the politicians and bureaucrats keep on trying to play see no evil, speak no evil, and hear no evil. Well at least there is a shift going on to start recognizing the threat, but if the Chinese are any good at hiding what they build then we could be in real trouble a lot sooner than many would think(especially ground based force in the region including BM in areas that take advantage of our soft underbelly). The massive investment into ship building and just the recent reported plan to build the largest ship yard, is quite telling as to intent, yet few wish to see it. Keep the info coming, its greatly appreciated.


25 posted on 06/17/2005 12:35:21 PM PDT by DarkWaters
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To: Jeff Head

We are closing bases and shipyards, not building new types of ship for attack. Our steel industry has gone to China thanks to NAFTA.


FReepers are not interested is SEEING the truth about what's happening with China when Republicans are in charge. Don't scare them or else.


This is the kind of thing that will get you banned!


26 posted on 06/17/2005 12:57:02 PM PDT by B4Ranch ( Report every illegal alien that you meet. Call 866-347-2423, Employers use 888-464-4218)
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To: ryan71

It is an offensive litoral waters platform. To go up against our major combatants in numbers (which is definitely what they would do...send a large number of these, each spourting four missiles, at one of our SAGs or CBGs in attempt to overwhelm their defenses), in order to do that they will have to get close enough...and in order to do that, they are going to have to have air coverage of some sort or they will nbever get close enough.


27 posted on 06/17/2005 12:59:27 PM PDT by Jeff Head (www.dragonsfuryseries.com)
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To: Jeff Head

That 2211 version looks like an AAW (in addition to SSW) platform. I'd bet the 3-per-year schedule is just for these prototypes. Once they are satisfied with the performance, they could turn out dozens per year.


28 posted on 06/17/2005 1:01:09 PM PDT by meadsjn
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To: LS
No doubt...but ehy issue is whether or not any of our vessels will jopin them...and how many.

We cannot underestimate these people. They have develoepd to far and too fast and have too much resource to throw at us to do so. We decimated their divisions at Chosin in the Korean war, something like eight to one or higher...but at the end of the day, they controlled that ground because they were willing to pay that price. I do not believe they have changed in that regard.

29 posted on 06/17/2005 1:02:09 PM PDT by Jeff Head (www.dragonsfuryseries.com)
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To: hosepipe

...and they mean every word of it and are clearly acting in such a way that is completely compatible with that staement IMHO.


30 posted on 06/17/2005 1:02:57 PM PDT by Jeff Head (www.dragonsfuryseries.com)
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To: DarkWaters

I will.


31 posted on 06/17/2005 1:04:03 PM PDT by Jeff Head (www.dragonsfuryseries.com)
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To: LS
More scrap iron for the bottom of the Pacific. :)

With that paint job it will make a pretty reef to dive some day. :)
32 posted on 06/17/2005 1:05:01 PM PDT by Daus
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To: meadsjn

They've done four in a year...and I believe they are capable of putting out upwards of twenty or more if they go into full production.


33 posted on 06/17/2005 1:05:13 PM PDT by Jeff Head (www.dragonsfuryseries.com)
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To: Jeff Head

The cat will be a stable platform but less maneuverable than the monohulled equivalent.


34 posted on 06/17/2005 1:06:57 PM PDT by fso301
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To: B4Ranch
My Dragon's Fury Series projects a very nasty outcome to all of this, several times more horrific and risky than WWII.

FR has kept me on through that, so all I can do is keep raising the warning voice as so many issues raised in those novels are now coming to pass.

35 posted on 06/17/2005 1:07:47 PM PDT by Jeff Head (www.dragonsfuryseries.com)
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To: fso301

...and fast.


36 posted on 06/17/2005 1:08:22 PM PDT by Jeff Head (www.dragonsfuryseries.com)
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To: Jeff Head
US Navy is building catamarans, except we are going to use ours for a ferry.

Navy to test ferry by moving Mat-Su workers across Knik Arm


37 posted on 06/17/2005 1:08:35 PM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: Jeff Head

Where's the jib?


38 posted on 06/17/2005 1:09:05 PM PDT by SGCOS
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To: Jeff Head

Did Bill or Hillary break a bottle of champagne on that ship?


39 posted on 06/17/2005 1:09:48 PM PDT by Osage Orange (Hot will cool, if greedy will let it.)
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To: fso301

And an extremely FAST platform, too.


40 posted on 06/17/2005 1:10:45 PM PDT by Mr. Jazzy (Bumper sticker "Martyrs or Marines: Who do YOU think will get the virgins?")
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To: Jeff Head
The modern version of the PT Boat.

Compared to what the Germans were prepared to invade England with... the Chinee are ready for Taiwan.

41 posted on 06/17/2005 1:13:23 PM PDT by johnny7 ('Mama T' has seen her husbands 'dishonorable discharge'.)
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To: Jeff Head
I don't either, but my colleagues are going to China this summer, and I plan to pick their brains. While most are libs, they are not blind to the communist presence. The real issue seems to be who, in the race between the free market and "being Chinese," will win.

One of my colleagues---a genius financial expert who is helping Mongolia establish a working currency---was deeply concerned by poll responses there that said that one of the main reasons Chinese students get MBAs and other advanced degrees is to "make China stronger." One would look long and hard to find "make American stronger" a response by American business students.

But, Jeff, as you know, the solution is NOT to just "build more ships" to counter them, but to do EXACTLY what you had the Chinese do in your books, develop a remarkable new technology that makes them obsolete. This is what we did with Star Wars, and it is what U.S. entrepreneurs are best at.

42 posted on 06/17/2005 1:13:32 PM PDT by LS (CNN is the Amtrak of news)
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To: An.American.Expatriate; ASA Vet; Atigun; beyond the sea; BIGLOOK; Blue Collar Christian; ...
MI Ping

Attention: PRC Desk

43 posted on 06/17/2005 1:15:24 PM PDT by ASA Vet (Those who know don't talk, those who talk don't know.)
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To: thackney
The U.S. Navy hopes to test a shape-shifting new catamaran, capable of zipping through stormy seas and landing on hostile beaches by putting it to work ferrying commuters from the Mat-Su to Anchorage.

Sounds like we intend a new class of Amphibious Assault vessel with it. Not a bad idea and probably based on our experiences with the Joint Venture high-speed vessel (HSV-X1) from Australia.


44 posted on 06/17/2005 1:17:50 PM PDT by Jeff Head (www.dragonsfuryseries.com)
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To: LS
...and we are working on it too. The Chinese know this and they are, I am sure, hoping to come up with their own force multipliers (as they do in the series), or, short of that, move with large numbers before we are prepared.

In all likelihood, before doing so, they will wait for at least these three things:

  1. For US forces to be more heavily engaged in the ME.
  2. For US forces to get heavily engaged in a second theater...ie. Korea.
  3. For a liberal administration like Kerry or Clinton to be in the White Hosue.
If those three things all come together, the western Pacific better watch out IMHO.
45 posted on 06/17/2005 1:22:43 PM PDT by Jeff Head (www.dragonsfuryseries.com)
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To: johnny7

They are working to get prepared as fast as they can...and not making any secret about it.


46 posted on 06/17/2005 1:24:32 PM PDT by Jeff Head (www.dragonsfuryseries.com)
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To: Jeff Head

Do you have any ideas as to why the Japanese, who are such astounding engineering architects (their incredible airport, bridge, skyscrapers) never seem to make any breakthroughs in weaponry? This should NOT be a government-directed activity, for if you look at the greatest weapons in history, most---save the a-bomb---were developed in the private sector.


47 posted on 06/17/2005 1:25:31 PM PDT by LS (CNN is the Amtrak of news)
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To: LS

"Do you have any ideas as to why the Japanese, who are such astounding engineering architects (their incredible airport, bridge, skyscrapers) never seem to make any breakthroughs in weaponry? This should NOT be a government-directed activity, for if you look at the greatest weapons in history, most---save the a-bomb---were developed in the private sector."


Simple. Japan is getting security welfare from the US. All US navy ships in Japan should leave and you'll see they'll create some wonderful toys.


48 posted on 06/17/2005 1:29:06 PM PDT by -=[_Super_Secret_Agent_]=-
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To: Jeff Head

If you want to make people angry, lie to them. If you want to make them absolutely livid, then tell 'em the truth.


49 posted on 06/17/2005 1:29:14 PM PDT by B4Ranch ( Report every illegal alien that you meet. Call 866-347-2423, Employers use 888-464-4218)
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To: B4Ranch

Ah! My new tagline...


50 posted on 06/17/2005 1:35:02 PM PDT by null and void (If you want to make people angry, lie to them, to make them absolutely livid, tell truth...)
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