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Fascinating glimpse into Chinese naval ops off Somalia

By The Armorer on July 9, 2010 | | Comments (7)

That's a pretty blue-water looking Navy to me... especially once they get some experience with operational carriers. Related story over at Strategy Page. 

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7 Comments

By Old Fat Sailor on July 9, 2010 8:47 AM
Frigates, LPD?, Underway replentishment, this is not a day time frigate navy-At least two for three of Mahan's dictums.
 
By John (Not The Armorer) on July 9, 2010 9:55 AM
They look pretty professional to me-  With the wet well capability and LCAC they obviously think there is some future to "over the beach" operations, even if SECDEF disagrees.

UNREP, flight deck, wet well and security stuff all seemed competent and confident.  Ships looked clean, well designed and well built.

However, there was not much diversity, nor were there any women in the crews, so I guess they are just a bunch of pitiful amateurs after all.
 
By DoktorBill on July 9, 2010 12:47 PM
I liked the peace signs painted on deck for their helicopters to land on, shows they're not warlike.  ;)
 
By BillT on July 9, 2010 1:09 PM
Be interesting to see a transcript. The young lady said "Meiguo" -- "America" -- twice toward the end.
 
By MAJ Mike on July 9, 2010 1:56 PM
Interresting.

First blue water Chinese naval operations since the Ming Dynasty.

I see some beginings of transoceanic power projection.  Mahan would be very interested in this development.
 
By Attila on July 9, 2010 2:16 PM
On final into Shanghai, losing all three engines would not put me in the water. I'd plop down on either a container ship or a sleek-looking destroyer or cruiser class Chinese naval vessel. I swear. There are too many ships to count and they are either major commercial vessels or very impressive-looking grey ships.

They're rich, they're getting more powerful and they are very serious about kicking our asses out of the western Pacific as soon as it's feasible.   
 
By xformed on July 10, 2010 1:44 PM
I began "life" on a replenishment oiler.  Went to DD/FFGs from there.  Those guys look smooth passing gas.  Also, no running rust, gear in place, decks painted and not all chipped up and patched.  Flight ops over moving "airports" is a skill well developed it appears.  I'm impressed.

So...Barney Frank wants to cut the US Military down to size, as we watch this happen in the same area where we operates.

Remins me of the thesis of "The Rise and Fall of Great Powers" by Paul Kennedy from the late 80's.