Posted on 05/01/2008 8:42:52 AM PDT by george76
China has secretly built a major underground nuclear submarine base that could threaten Asian countries and challenge American power in the region, it can be disclosed.
Satellite imagery, passed to The Daily Telegraph, shows that a substantial harbour has been built which could house a score of nuclear ballistic missile submarines and a host of aircraft carriers.
In what will be a significant challenge to US Navy dominance and to countries ringing the South China Sea, one photograph shows China’s latest 094 nuclear submarine at the base just a few hundred miles from its neighbours.
Other images show numerous warships moored to long jettys and a network of underground tunnels at the Sanya base on the southern tip of Hainan island.
Of even greater concern to the Pentagon are massive tunnel entrances, estimated to be 60ft high, built into hillsides around the base. Sources fear they could lead to caverns capable of hiding up to 20 nuclear submarines from spy satellites.
The US Department of Defence has estimated that China will have five 094 nuclear submarines operational by 2010 with each capable of carrying 12 JL-2 nuclear missiles.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
There is not a blue water navy anywhere that can touch ours. we can thank Bubba though for giving them 50 years of research data to build on.
Ain't Fwee Twade wunnerful.
A prior thread showed this base right next to the big resort city on Hainan. It can’t be all that series, but it could be a fine theme park ride.
This is also why we need to stop educating the world while we watch our future work and McDonalds. We teach their scientist who take it home. This has been a burr under my saddle since I was in college in the 80’ seeing it done back then.
Stop education visas. Let them learn in their own countries.
The next one they build will be in Panama and then Africa.
Education visas won’t stop, but this is indeed the prime source of all of China’s modern weapons.
Keep education visas and make room for them to stay here and boost our nations research. Build the fence though we don’t really need many more low skilled labor types.
No. Unless they are citizens they have no loyalty to the US and even some that are citizens still send secrets home.
If we totally stopped purchasing Chinese products (and we shouldn't be buying them anyway), would this base still have been built? The answer is yes.
Which leads to the next question, why do you fear "free trade" (whatever the definition is today) more than the Chinese?
Well, the base isn’t a secret anymore, is it?
And with the rising standards of living back home and plum jobs back home as top scientists for the PLA, they have no reason to assimilate, either.
If we have pictures and a location then it isn’t a secret base any more, is it?
Nine subs by the time I turn 25 in October of 2010...
Hey now, President Bush said they were good friends to the US, and he’s always right! (I tried to type that without rolling my eyes, but I couldn’t).
I sure you know but ping.
Nothing like raising and domesticating the enemy within.
Well, it is hard to hide a Naval Base. I can’t imagine it was ever really “secret”. And if they have created tunnels to hide 20 subs then that a hole that can be corked and take 20 subs out of action if the need warrants it.
Well we don’t know what they’re developing inside the mountain.
I find it interesting that Google Earth provides better resolution of American Navy facilities than it does Chinese facilities.
Somewhere in North Dakota, a few Minuteman missiles have been retasked to a new target.
When the Chinese say “Jump”, the Googlians ask “How high?” on the way up.
The navy needs to bring back the OT rate and build more SOSUS arrays and SURTASS ships.
Which makes it easier and cheaper for the base to function.
Sorry, but I think the record will show the complete dismantlement of American security procedures under President Clinton, in return for illegal campaign contributions from chicoms and other foreign proxies, gave the Chinese a 30 year jump on our military technology as well as secrets necessary to build an asymmetric warfare capability to neutralize remaining American strentgths. Just my opinion...
The only problem is you cannot guarantee that will remain the status quo.
Oh,........really? /s
LMAO!...I guess...
ALL YOUR SECRET BASE ARE BELONG TO US!
A big hole to dock their submarines in. No real surprise there, the Russians have done it for decades.
Been sayin it for years...
Buy China..buy death...
But, having said that, the PLAN is building up rapidly and the more and newer vessels they build, the greater the threat. This is a part of that.
I saw the word “secret” and thought the NY Slimes put this out.
[Mr] T
I'm voting for "Mecha-Mao", a giant fighting robot that looks like Mao.
Is that like Mecha Streissand from South Park?
Time for the Koreans, Japanese, Taiwanese and Australians to boost their naval power. We shouldn’t have to do it alone.
WARNING! High bandwidth consuming pictures below:
A multilateral naval drill involving India, the US and three other nations begins in the Bay of Bengal Tuesday, an event that India says is a pointer to the country's growing importance on the world stage.
This is the first time a joint exercise on this scale involving 25 vessels is being conducted off India's eastern seaboard and New Delhi has repeatedly sought to allay apprehensions that the drill had military overtones.
'There is no military alignment. It's only an exercise,' Defence Minister A.K. Antony has said of Malabar-2007 that runs Sep 4-9 and involves the navies of India, the US, Japan, Australia and Singapore.
'Our armed forces exercise with most of the important countries. Every year this is expanding...India's importance is growing. Almost all countries want to engage with us. It's a good thing. It's a recognition of India's prestige and reliability,' the minister maintains.
China, which has not officially commented on the drill, is known to be unhappy over the event as it is being conducted in the Bay of Bengal for the first time. China has been cultivating naval cooperation with Bangladesh and Myanmar to gain access to the Bay of Bengal. China has also been strengthening military cooperation with Sri Lanka.
India's Left parties that have been giving Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government a hard time on the India-US civilian nuclear deal, have vehemently protested the joint drill, seeing it as yet another sign of the growing closeness between New Delhi and Washington.
The Left parties have also planned demonstrations at various places along the east coast while the exercise is on. Yet another example of Communist Party's loyalties to Beijing rather than New Delhi.
In June, China had issued a 'demarche' to India, the US, Japan and Australia seeking details about their four-nation meeting, termed a Quadrilateral Initiative. India and Australia had quickly assured Beijing that security and defence issues did not form part of the meeting's agenda.
At one time, the Indian government was known to have considered postponing or even canceling the drill but the Indian Navy put its foot down, saying the logistics involved made any delay impossible.
The operational area of Malabar-2007 will stretch from Vizag on the eastern seaboard to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands that guard the approaches to the Strait of Malacca, considered the world's busiest waterway.
The Malabar series is now in its 13th year. The drill has previously been a bilateral India-US engagement and has been expanded for the first time.
The US Navy will have the largest representation during Malabar-2007 with 13 warships, including the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz that generated much heat when it dropped anchor off Chennai in July.
The other vessels include the conventionally powered carrier USS Kitty Hawk, the nuclear submarine USS Chicago, two guided-missile cruisers, and six guided-missile destroyers.
Seven warships, including the aircraft carrier INS Viraat, will represent the Indian Navy. Viraat's Sea Harrier jets and Sea King helicopters, and the Indian Air Force's Jaguar deep-penetration strike aircraft will also be seen in action.
Australia will be represented by a frigate and a tanker, Japan by two destroyers and Singapore by a frigate.
The Malabar series has slowly evolved over the years.
In 2002, the exercises comprised basic passing maneuvers among naval vessels, anti-submarine exercises and replenishment-at-sea drills. In 2003 and 2004, Malabar participants included advanced assets like the USS Alexandria, a Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine, and US Navy P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft. This enabled both navies to engage in submarine familiarization exercises, a key capability for anti-submarine warfare collaboration.
In 2005, Malabar featured the participation of the aircraft carriers USS Nimitz and INS Viraat. During a month of operations, US and Indian forces collaborated on a wide variety of tasks ranging from a joint diving salvage operation to a 24-hour 'war at sea' simulation that saw the two forces engage in mock combat.
In 2006, a US expeditionary strike group comprising amphibious ships, cruisers, destroyers, and submarines participated in the exercise for the first time.
Malabar-2007, besides interception and dissimilar air combat exercises, will also feature surface and anti-submarine warfare, maritime interdiction and VBSS (visit, board, search and seizure) operations to counter piracy and terrorist acts at sea.
http://www.india-defence.com/reports-3519
070904-N-5242D-149 INDIAN OCEAN (Sept. 4, 2007) - A Sea Harrier takes off from the flight deck of Indian Navy aircraft carrier INS Viraat (R 22) during Malabar 2007. Malabar is a multilateral exercise that includes naval forces from India, Australia, Japan, Singapore, and the United States. It is designed to increase interoperability among the navies and to develop common procedures for maritime security operations. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Dustin Q. Diaz (RELEASED)
070904-N-5242D-150 INDIAN OCEAN (Sept. 4, 2007) - A Sea Harrier takes off from the flight deck of Indian Navy aircraft carrier INS Viraat (R 22) during Malabar 2007. Malabar is a multilateral exercise that includes naval forces from India, Australia, Japan, Singapore, and the United States. It is designed to increase interoperability among the navies and to develop common procedures for maritime security operations. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Dustin Q. Diaz (RELEASED)
070904-N-5242D-087 INDIAN OCEAN (Sept. 4, 2007) - Rear Adm. Robin Dhowan, commander-in-chief of the Indian Eastern Fleet, gives a brief on the Malabar exercise to officers from the U.S., Singaporean, Australian, Japanese and Indian navies aboard Indian Navy aircraft carrier INS Viraat (R 22). The officers cross-decked from their ships as part of Malabar 2007. Malabar is a multilateral exercise that includes naval forces from India, Australia, Japan, Singapore, and the United States. It is designed to increase interoperability among the navies and to develop common procedures for maritime security operations. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Dustin Q. Diaz (RELEASED)
070904-N-5242D-140 INDIAN OCEAN (Sept. 4, 2007) - Sailors stationed aboard Indian Navy aircraft carrier INS Viraat (R 22) refuel a Sea Harrier after it returns from a mission during Malabar 2007. Malabar is a multilateral exercise that includes naval forces from India, Australia, Japan, Singapore, and the United States. It is designed to increase interoperability among the navies and to develop common procedures for maritime security operations. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Dustin Q. Diaz (RELEASED)
| 070904-N-5148B-082 INDIAN OCEAN (Sept. 4, 2007) - Cmdr. Thomas Bourbeau gives a tour to members of the Indian Navy on the flight deck aboard nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Nimitz Carrier Strike Group and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11 are deployed in the 7th Fleet area of operation, participating in Malabar 2007. Malabar is a multilateral exercise that includes naval forces from India, Australia, Japan, Singapore, and the United States. It is designed to increase interoperability among the navies and to develop common procedures for maritime security operations. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Sarah E. Bitter (RELEASED) |
070904-N-1332Y-136 INDIAN OCEAN (Sept. 4, 2007) - Rear Adm. Terry Blake, commander of Carrier Strike Group 11, discusses operations with Rear Adm. Robin Dhowan, commander-in-chief of the Indian Eastern Fleet, aboard Indian Navy aircraft carrier INS Viraat (R 22). Blake cross-decked from nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) as part of Malabar 2007. Nimitz Carrier Strike Group and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11 are deployed in the 7th Fleet area of operation, participating in Malabar 2007. Malabar is a multilateral exercise that includes naval forces from India, Australia, Japan, Singapore, and the United States. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication
| 070905-N-6106R-367 BAY OF BENGAL (Sept. 5, 2007) – Attack submarine USS Chicago (SSN 721) transits in formation during Malabar 2007, an exercise involving Kitty Hawk and Nimitz Carrier Strike Group and ships of the navies of Australia, India, Japan, and the Republic of Singapore. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Stephen W. Rowe (RELEASED) |
070905-N-1730J-179 INDIAN OCEAN (Sept. 5, 2007) - Indian Navy aircraft carrier INS Viraat (R 22) breaks formation during Malabar 2007, an exercise involving Kitty Hawk and Nimitz Carrier Strike Group and ships of the navies of Australia, India, Japan, and the Republic of Singapore. Malabar 2007 is designed to increase interoperability among the navies and to develop common procedures for maritime security operations. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jason A. Johnston (RELEASED)
070905-N-5387K-012 BAY OF BENGAL (Sept. 5, 2007) - Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer JS Yuudachi (DD 103) leads a formation of ships during Exercise Malabar 2007 in the Bay of Bengal. More than 20,000 naval personnel from the navies of Australia, India, Japan, the Republic of Singapore, and the United States are taking part in the exercise, designed to increase interoperability among the navies and to develop common procedures for maritime security operations. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Juan Antoine King (RELEASED)
070905-N-1730J-132 INDIAN OCEAN (Sept. 5, 2007) – Royal Australian Navy guided-missile frigate HMAS Adelaide (FFG 01), Indian Navy frigate INS Brahmaputra (F 31) and a Navy destroyer perform maneuvers during Malabar 2007, an exercise involving Kitty Hawk and Nimitz Carrier Strike Group and ships of the navies of Australia, India, Japan, and the Republic of Singapore. Malabar 2007 is designed to increase interoperability among the navies and to develop common procedures for maritime security operations. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jason A. Johnston (RELEASED)
070905-N-1730J-163 INDIAN OCEAN (Sept. 5, 2007) - An Indian Navy frigate takes position during Malabar 2007, an exercise involving Kitty Hawk and Nimitz Carrier Strike Group and ships of the navies of Australia, India, Japan, and the Republic of Singapore. Malabar 2007 is designed to increase interoperability among the navies and to develop common procedures for maritime security operations. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jason A. Johnston (RELEASED)
070905-N-1730J-066 INDIAN OCEAN (Sept. 5, 2007) –Indian Navy frigate INS Brahmaputra (F 31) takes its position during Malabar 2007, an exercise involving Kitty Hawk and Nimitz Carrier Strike Group and ships of the navies of Australia, India, Japan, and the Republic of Singapore. Malabar 2007 is designed to increase interoperability among the navies and to develop common procedures for maritime security operations. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jason A. Johnston (RELEASED)
070905-N-1730J-129 INDIAN OCEAN (Sept. 5, 2007) - Republic of Singapore Navy frigate RSS Formidable (68) maneuvers into position during Malabar 2007, an exercise involving the Kitty Hawk and Nimitz Carrier Strike Group and ships of the navies of Australia, India, Japan, and the Republic of Singapore. Malabar 2007 is designed to increase interoperability among the navies and to develop common procedures for maritime security operations. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jason A. Johnston (RELEASED)
070905-N-1730J-054 INDIAN OCEAN (Sept. 5, 2007) - Indian Navy aircraft carrier INS Viraat (R 22) participates in Exercise Malabar 2007 with Kitty Hawk and Nimitz Carrier Strike Group and ships of the navies of Australia, India, Japan and the Republic of Singapore. The exercise is designed to increase interoperability among the navies and to develop common procedures for maritime security operations. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jason A. Johnston (RELEASED)
070905-N-6106R-159 BAY OF BENGAL (Sept. 5, 2007) - USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) transits in formation for a joint photo exercise during exercise Malabar 07-2. Kitty Hawk Carrier Strike Group is taking part in exercise Malabar 07-2, a multinational exercise that includes naval forces from India, Australia, Japan, Singapore, and the United States. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Stephen W. Rowe (RELEASED)
070905-N-6106R-352 BAY OF BENGAL (Sept. 5, 2007) - USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) transits in formation for a joint photo exercise during exercise Malabar 07-2. Kitty Hawk Carrier Strike Group is taking part in exercise Malabar 07-2, a multinational exercise that includes naval forces from India, Australia, Japan, Singapore, and the United States. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Stephen W. Rowe (RELEASED)
070905-N-6106R-377 BAY OF BENGAL (Sept. 5, 2007) - Naval ships from India, Australia, Japan, Singapore, and the United States break away after a joint photo exercise during Exercise Malabar 07-2. Kitty Hawk and Nimitz Carrier Strike Groups are taking part in the multinational exercise. The formation included Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyers JS Yuudachi (DD 103) and JS Oonami (DD 111), Republic of Singapore Navy frigate RSS Formidable (68), Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Adelaide (FFG 01), Indian Navy destroyers INS Ranvijay (D 55) and INS Ranjit (D 53), Indian Navy frigate INS Brahmaputra (F 31), Indian Navy aircraft carrier INS Ranjit (R 22), guided-missile destroyers USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) and USS Higgins (DDG 76), aircraft carriers USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) and USS Nimitz (CVN 68), and attack submarine USS Chicago (SSN 721). U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Stephen W. Rowe (RELEASED)
070905-N-8591H-310 BAY OF BENGAL (Sept. 5, 2007) - Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 3rd Class Christopher Bast, from Temecula, Calif., watches as ships from India, Australia, Japan, Singapore, and the United States join for a group photograph in the Bay of Bengal during Exercise Malabar 07-2. Aircraft carriers USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) and USS Nimitz (CVN 68) are taking part in the exercise with Indian Navy aircraft carrier INS Viraat (R 22). In addition to the three aircraft carriers, other ships taking part in the exercise are: Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyers JS Yuudachi (DD 103) and JS Oonami (DD 111), Republic of Singapore Navy frigate RSS Formidable (68), Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Adelaide (FFG 01), Indian Navy destroyers INS Ranvijay (D 55) and INS Ranjit (D 53), Indian Navy frigate INS Brahmaputra (F 31), guided-missile destroyers USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) and USS Higgins (DDG 76), and attack submarine USS Chicago (SSN 721). U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jarod Hodge (RELEASED)
070903-N-5148B-034 BAY OF BENGAL (Sept. 3, 2007) - An MH-60S Seahawk, assigned to the “Blackjacks” of Helicopter Support Command Squadron (HSC) 21, transfers cargo during a vertical replenishment with Military Sealift Command fast-combat support ship USNS Rainier (T-AOE 7) and nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Nimitz Carrier Strike Group and embarked Carrier Air Wing 11 are deployed in the 7th Fleet. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Sarah E. Bitter (RELEASED)
070905-N-1730J-179 INDIAN OCEAN (Sept. 5, 2007) - Indian Navy aircraft carrier INS Viraat (R 22) breaks formation during Malabar 2007, an exercise involving Kitty Hawk and Nimitz Carrier Strike Group and ships of the navies of Australia, India, Japan, and the Republic of Singapore. Malabar 2007 is designed to increase interoperability among the navies and to develop common procedures for maritime security operations. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jason A. Johnston (RELEASED)
070905-N-1730J-163 INDIAN OCEAN (Sept. 5, 2007) - An Indian Navy frigate takes position during Malabar 2007, an exercise involving Kitty Hawk and Nimitz Carrier Strike Group and ships of the navies of Australia, India, Japan, and the Republic of Singapore. Malabar 2007 is designed to increase interoperability among the navies and to develop common procedures for maritime security operations. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jason A. Johnston (RELEASED)
070905-N-1730J-063 INDIAN OCEAN (Sept. 5, 2007) – Royal Australian Navy guided-missile frigate HMAS Adelaide (FFG 01) and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer JS Oonami (DD 111) perform maneuvers during Malabar 2007, an exercise involving Kitty Hawk and Nimitz Carrier Strike Group and ships of the navies of Australia, India, Japan and the Republic of Singapore. The exercise is designed to increase interoperability among the navies and to develop common procedures for maritime security operations. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jason A. Johnston (RELEASED)
070905-N-1730J-054 INDIAN OCEAN (Sept. 5, 2007) - Indian Navy aircraft carrier INS Viraat (R 22) participates in Exercise Malabar 2007 with Kitty Hawk and Nimitz Carrier Strike Group and ships of the navies of Australia, India, Japan and the Republic of Singapore. The exercise is designed to increase interoperability among the navies and to develop common procedures for maritime security operations. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jason A. Johnston (RELEASED)
* * *
I forgot about the Indians. Perhaps our ace in the hole if they can get their act together.
That is a disturbingly awesome picture. I can’t imagine what horror awaits the island of Taiwan in the next, hmmm 25 years.
Quite right, but the problem is that subs can deny operating areas to our surface fleet.
I wish we had about 100 attack boats.
Not only our money, but also our steel. Our plows are being formed into swords.
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