China Gets Third Sovremenny Destroyer

Strategy Page ^ | 2005 Dec 30

[Desron13]

"These next two are newly built "

Oh please. They look like newly built junk to me. Not to mention that we are almost a hundred years ahead of the Chi Coms in naval tactics. If they want to come out and play, let them have at it.They'll get their clocks cleaned. Thats not to say that they don't bear close watching.

[JimRed]

One Mk 48 more like it. You need at least 4-6 Harpoon for a Sov.

You're probably right; only 215 lbs. of high explosive in the warhead.

[Desron13]

Bear??? sorry I meant bare. Sorry, I cant even imagine what got into me.

[Loud Mime]

I'm glad to see that another person doesn't dismiss the Chinese threat so easily.

A few years ago I talked to a member of congress who was serious about the matter. His looks told me more than his measured words.

[Desron13]

"One Mk 48 more like it. You need at least 4-6 Harpoon for a Sov."

You might be right but it only take one to keep them seriously busy just trying to stay alive.

[Wiz]

Would you also say an 80 year old Ma Deuce and old old B-52 as piece of junk?

[Wiz]

In other words, don't determine by the age of weapon alone.

[Stonewall Jackson]

Yes, the newer Burke-class ships would be a hard target. But the older members of that class, along with Perry-class frigates and Ticonderoga-class cruisers, to say nothing of the carriers, amphibs, and other support ships that we would be sending into harm's way have a considerably larger radar signature.

In a head-to-head fight against the Chinese fleet, the US Navy would get a bloody nose, but the Chinese would be annihilated. Unfortunately, you also have to consider that any fleet engagement would likely be fought with range of Chinese land-based bombers. I think we could take them, but it would get messy. A Guadalcanal-scale messy.

[PAR35]

If they want to come out and play, let them have at it.They'll get their clocks cleaned.

Sure you aren't just quoting the majority opinion about the Japanese navy on December 6, 1941?

Have you recently looked at the numbers on the US Navy? There are presently 9 attack submarines on deployment - worldwide. There is presently 1 carrier at sea (Theodore Roosevelt - Persian Gulf). There are plans to shrink the carrier force by at least one ship. Total potentially deployable force - 281 and shrinking.

[PAR35]

Sovremenny = Collins bait.

Have they fixed the Collins boats so that they can safely dive below 50 feet?

[cardinal4]

Oh how ever will we survive???? The Chinese are buying 25 year old Russian ships!!!

*snicker* Im shaking! The quality and attention to detail that went into Russian and Soviet manufacturing is well documented......./rolling eyes with sarcasm..

[oxcart]

Well lets see...they built Mach 3 spy planes in the 60's so how fast do you think some of the drones will fly?

You make good points, but these same points are very disconserning for our air craft carriers.

[Loud Mime]

If we go to war with the Chinese, I FIRMLY believe that they would NUKE our carrier forces, then pick off the other ships.

The carriers are a projection of incredible power. I'm sure the loss of a carrier group or two would be worth a couple of cities to the Chi-coms.

[Lancer_N3502A]

China is also stealing our high end technology and inputing it into they're ships, making them much more lethal

[Stonewall Jackson]

Remember what the Chinese general said just before they entered the Korean War, when asked about the possibility that the US government would retaliate with nukes. 'So we loose a few million people. We can afford it.'

[RightWhale]

The Chinese would not be deliberately wasting their money.

Might be a stretch to impute characteristics of the notorously tight Chinese businessman to the state.

[sukhoi-30mki]

Firstly,this article says precious little about these 2 new ships & the only details are those of the earlier ships.Whatever details have been released from other sources suggest different things-

1.These ships feature an improved propulsion system,though it's probably still steam turbines.It also has new RCS reducing features that the Russians introduced on the 'Talwar/Krivak-4' class frigates for the Indian navy ie. it will not be cluttered as the picture suggests.

2.The Chinese have reportedly signed up for a newer CIWS in place of the AK-630 guns.This is the 'Kashtan'system which is a naval variant of the Tunguska gun missile system.This will in theory atleast increase it's survivability.

3.The Chinese have also shown interest in newer variants of the SSN-22,with improved range & ECCM.Moreover,the 300 km range SSN-26 Yakhont is a possibility,though it's development with India,may dampen Chinese interest.The chances of it's new anti-ship missiles being vertically launched rather than being launched amidships is pretty high for obvious reasons.The Anti-aircraft & ASW fit may also be modernised.

[sukhoi-30mki]

The T-80 was exported only by the mid-90s & most of it was done by Ukraine,not Russia.Saddam only had T-72s,a generation older.

[sukhoi-30mki]

And how many D/E subs does Taiwan have???2 relatively modern ones,without AIP & 2 60 year old boats,which are not exactly combat fit.The Chinese are adding newer D/Es by the dozen,with vastly improved endurance & weaponry,not to mention improved ASW systems.