The Briefing Room
General Category => Military/Defense News => Topic started by: rebewranger on July 03, 2022, 02:32:37 pm
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WHY THE US SHOULDN’T FEAR CHINA’S NEW AIRCRAFT CARRIER
Michael Peck | June 28, 2022
A fleet does not a ship make.
The launch of China’s new aircraft carrier, the Fujian, has created a big stir in U.S. media. The reason may be more psychological than military. Since 1945, the U.S. has become accustomed to being the dominant aircraft-carrier power in the world. Other countries – Britain, France, even Australia, and Argentina – operate smaller carriers, but mostly with more limited capabilities. And Russia’s smoke-belching carrier Admiral Kuznetsov – famously damaged in 2018 when a dockyard crane fell on the ship – seems designed either for comic relief.
Only the U.S has a truly carrier-centric navy. But now along comes China which seems likely to build at least six aircraft carriers.
Yet there is more to a navy than the number of its ships. Tactics, experience, training, and traditions are also important factors. If sheer tonnage was the only criterion for an effective fleet, Britain’s Royal Navy would never have achieved maritime dominance for centuries.
https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/why-the-us-shouldnt-fear-chinas-new-aircraft-carrier/
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A ship does not make a fleet. It takes smaller combatant ships to escort, auxiliaries to supply (and Fujian is conventionally fueled), tactical doctrine, and a well-choreographed handling-launch-recovery dance. That takes years or decades.
While Fukien and her sister is, at present, inferior, the USN needs to respect and be prepared for both and do what is necessary to maintain that superiority.
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I don't claim to be a military expert, but I though with AF recon, and long range missle capability that the need for carriers has been significantly deminished.