Ya, no, I hear you. I got a bajillion tons of floating armor that can be taken out by one of those Iranian corvette thingies, hell ya I am going to use it to launch my UAV's until that eventuality happens. Granted these things can be launched from a Humvee, but I think my volunteer soldiers will at least feel better launching them while speeding down the deck of Enterprise...

 

Territorial disputes aren't going to be settled by some funky force multiplier. If that strong arm stuff worked, we'd still be using the Mo.

that is about the level of game this paper dragon painted lady could change; it just might interrupt some play-off somewhere. Any serious military presence in the region is going to seek a worthy target and pass right over the FODless deck of the Liaoning.

 

As I said earlier, this is supposed to be a training ship to allow the Chinese Navy to gain practical carrier experience. You don't just go from nothing to a 90,000 tonne CVN in one step. It's not meant to be competing with the American carriers. Is it really that hard to understand?

Who said it was failing in competition against American carriers? I say the only thing it can compete against American carriers and win, the job it was intended for, is publicity. It's like that fighter jet wearing anti camo, saying "Hey! Look at me! Am I a SU or a J-15? Wait, don't look away, watch me flap my wings like a Klingon Bird of Prey!" Kinda makes you wonder what is sneaking by the other direction...

It's like this. The age of empire building has passed, in fact, we are witnessing the beginning of the end of man's organized involvement in armed conflict whatsoever. UAV's, pilotless, can trap. They can be as small as the

and as big as the X-37B. You got some thing about soldiers and ingenuity and grist, fine, bring em on out, we'll pick em off until just the UAV's are left, then the real fight will begin. You can believe they are "training the new Chinese Navy," that is hooey. The Chinese aren't stupid. Doesn't anyone read science fiction? They do. All the futures filled with millions of buzzing little drones? Terminator come to mind, Skynet? Where is the massive megadeath carrier in any of that?

This thing is extra, they are rich. They can afford to be extravagant. They just passed Japan in GDP and have their heat seekers locked on the US (or the EU, depending on whose ruler you're reading). If we can't prove superior economics is currency manipulation, it just might happen. They are sleeping in luxury hotel carriers and they are hunting Easter Eggs on the deck of a full blown miwitawy one. Yes there is tension in the South China Sea and yes we are shifting our own navy there. Liaoning isn't going to enforce any blockades, but it can show The People that Beijing is sticking it to Yankee Doodle.

 

You know, imo and all.

This statement addresses facts in a deceiving manner. The UK, known for empire building, naval prowess and world leadership, retired all their carriers.

 

But the UK is now building (controversially) two new Queen Elizabeth class carriers of 64000 tons.

Just a quick answer (I have a plane to catch and will be away for a while so I won't be able to follow this discussion, which, in view of your sense of humour, will be a great loss :smile: )

 

- FOD Walkdown : see Google, National Geographic channel, any magazine article or book or TV report. ANYTHING mentionning carriers really...

 

- Japan : have you heard or the territorial disputes between Japan and China. Or between China, the Philipines, Taiwan, Vietnam (Paracells etc...)?

 

- UK

 

1 retired all their carriers...and are building two new ones, twice as large as those they retired.

 

2 Had they not had the Invincible in 1982, they most probably would have lost the Falklands forever

 

- Russia : the USSR tried hard (and in many ways succeded in) developping a surface Navy during the cold war. But it takes more than ships to develop a Navy (see your reference to Britain...). And it takes, time, money, committment. Furthermore, they never were, at hart, a maritime nation and when the communist system collapsed, all this went down the drain.

 

Right now, they have given up on carrier aviation but are building a series of large amphibious ships based on a design they bought from France.

 

Drones : see the current US Navy developments for carrier-based drones (try Googling X47....)

 

Anyway, nice talking to you... :lol:

 

Bruno

 

Australia is also getting 2 helicopter ships straight flat decks.

 

But the UK is now building (controversially) two new Queen Elizabeth class carriers of 64000 tons.

 

That sounds great! Viva UK!

Yeah the Queens are right neat ships.

I have also seen where they do an FOD sweep of runways and taxiways prior to Air Force 1 arriving or departing.

 

Remember the damage caused to the Concorde in Paris on take-off from a metallic strip. Good to be safe then sorry with these type of high performance aircraft.

 

All airports do have a system of picking up debris on runways at all times. Those vehicles you see running around taxiways.....

 

I have been on runways myself with airport workers picking up debris, doing inspections. It is normal practice.

As I said earlier, this is supposed to be a training ship to allow the Chinese Navy to gain practical carrier experience. You don't just go from nothing to a 90,000 tonne CVN in one step. It's not meant to be competing with the American carriers. Is it really that hard to understand?

 

And this is what some people in here don't seem to understand - you don't go from zero to CVN overnight - just like you said. The same thing goes for submarines, or probably any military technology. The Chinese are actually somewhat transparent in this matter - they have openly said they are looking for a carrier design to build, and this is a stepping stone to that eventual goal. This might not happen for 20 years. In the meantime, they are going to build up a cadre of trained personnel with which to gain experience and further training. Much of this was spelled out in the original article.

You guys are stuck on the FOD thing, besides being stuck in the days of imperial conquest, but go ahead and swoon your heavy metal, it's romantic enough.

My point about the FOD segment is that Foreign Object (that can cause Damage) searches are not newsworthy, in and of themselves. The manifold posts attesting to the commonality if the practice

It is normal practice.

serve to underscore the un-newsworthiness of the coverage, since it is assumed all flight decks and tarmacs are regularly policed. Perhaps we could increase the contrast to make an example. It is assumed all aircraft carriers have working plumbing. What would be accomplished by including a segment of the sailors using the water closet?

It would have become an even more boring video of military personnel doing some very basic things. On a national level, this is equivalent to a parents' movie of a toddlers first steps. Apologies to all for being so easily bored.

As far as the pertinence of training, I think there are varying opinions on the future relevance of carriers. You say it was "spelled out," I say it was "inculcated."

Bully to those staunch Brits. I, for one, won't be surprised if people end up living on those behemoths, just like the Minsk.

Yeah the Queens are right neat ships.

 

Indeed, those are neat ships... Too bad one of them is being named 'The Prince of Wales.'

 

I'd rather see them name the ship after Randy Andy instead of Chuck since Randy Andy actually few helicopters off a ship. Seems more appropriate.

 

Seriously, in live in Asia, and right now there are huge territorial disputes going on between Japan, China, Korea, the Philippines and Russia over pieces of rock in the water, and a lot of these disputes are starting to take on a weird sort of an emotional, negative nationalism that can easily lead to violence.

 

Might makes right, and a carrier is pretty significant and symbolic sign of might if you're fighting over an island.

 

Of course, the rocks themselves don't count, it's the huge resources, fishing rights, that are the real issue.

Ill whole heartidly agree to any Aircraft Carrier with the name Randy in it. Where do I sign?

Ill whole heartidly agree to any Aircraft Carrier with the name Randy in it. Where do I sign?

 

Right here... tell them you're an American, but you insist the new carrier be named the HMS Randy Andy.

 

Please post the response letter you get

 

Ministry of Defence

Main Building

Whitehall

London

SW1A 2HB

United Kingdom

Haha I'm going to send one in the morning!!

Randy Andy is cool because of how the radio chatter would sound....I like it B)

 

HMS Indefatigable was a difficult one to pronounce.

 

Cheers

Just know I will also be recmmending the Randy Scott or the The Mighty Swofford.