The Shanghai Project

Military expert Dmitry Boltenkov — on China's new universal amphibious assault ships and how they will strengthen the country's Navy

In China, the universal landing ship (UDC) "Sichuan" with a flight deck was launched. Special barges are also being built for the Chinese navy, which make it possible to ensure a massive landing of troops with equipment on an unprepared coast. Let's try to figure out why China is building such ships and where they can be used.

More recently, China has shown the world a number of its military innovations, including a new, third-generation aircraft carrier, a number of sixth-generation combat aircraft concepts, as well as a new universal amphibious assault ship and barges to ensure the unloading of equipment and weapons of the amphibious forces from civilian tankers.

A roller is a vessel for transporting goods on a wheeled or tracked base with a horizontal loading and unloading method.

The new ships will seriously expand the amphibious capabilities of the Chinese fleet.

Launching

The UDC Type 076 Sichuan was launched at the Hudong Zhonghua shipyard in Shanghai. The date of its laying is unknown, the commissioning of this ship is expected in 2025.

Its characteristics are estimated as follows: displacement 40-50 thousand tons; length 260 m; flight deck width / waterline width about 45 m / about 35 m. The ship has a solid flight deck. The superstructure is two-island. There is one catapult, aerial finishers, two on-board elevators. Presumably, the ship uses an electric propulsion system.

The ship can accommodate several amphibious hovercraft in the docking chamber. Its armament includes three Type 1130 anti-aircraft artillery systems (on the sides and on the stern), three short-range anti-aircraft missile launchers. The case was assembled within one year and two months, which is a very short period of time. A new dry dock was built for the construction of the ship. The characteristics and dimensions of the ship are, of course, impressive.

The Americans are building the UDC somewhat more slowly. Thus, the third America-class ship was laid down on March 14, 2019, launched on October 9, 2023, and has not yet been transferred to the US Navy.

By far the most important and new thing is that the Sichuan has an electromagnetic catapult (EMC) installed. Previously, steam catapults were used on aircraft carriers.

EMC has a number of advantages: less weight and dimensions of the equipment, power, simplicity and reliability. The traction force of such a catapult can be smoothly adjusted. No water, steam, or high-pressure air is required during operation. The catapult can be easily reconfigured for a specific aircraft. At the same time, the EMC in operation creates electromagnetic interference to shipboard electronic devices.

Currently, such catapults are installed on the American aircraft carriers Gerald Ford and John F. Kennedy, on the Chinese aircraft carrier Fujian and on the UDC Sichuan.

The use of EMC onboard the ship opens up broad prospects for the use of various types of aviation equipment. Various types of unmanned aerial vehicles are visible on the Internet renderings of the ship. It is known that China is developing and testing a number of drones that can be used from the deck of the UDC.

These include, in particular, the Gongji-11 carrier-based reconnaissance and strike UAV. Estimated characteristics of the machine: length 12 m, wingspan 14 m, combat load 2000 kg, take-off weight 14 t, combat radius 1500 km. It can be used as a wingman for the Jian-20S fighter aircraft, similar to the Russian S-70 Okhotnik heavy attack UAV, along with the Su-57 fighter.

Another vehicle is the new WL—X reconnaissance and attack UAV (formerly known as the WL-3). It is possible that this drone will be used to combat enemy submarines.

Such widespread use of drones from the deck of an amphibious ship is a strong move. Only Turkey, which has its own UAV school and the Anadolu UDC, can compare with China on the topic of using drones from the deck of warships. It should not be ruled out that China may develop its own vertical or shortened take-off/landing aircraft based on the F-35B or Yak-141 principle, as well as its tiltrotor aircraft.

In addition to the Type 076 ships, the Chinese Navy is building a series of Type 075 ships. Thus, the main UDC of this project, Hainan, became part of the PLA Navy on April 23, 2021. The fourth ship of this project is currently being completed. These ships have the following characteristics: displacement 36-40 thousand tons; length / width / draft — 237/30/8.5 m; speed 23 knots. The ship carries up to 30 helicopters, three amphibious assault boats and can accommodate up to 1,200 Marines.

Universal "paratroopers"

What is a universal amphibious assault ship? During the Second World War, a large number of different amphibious assault ships appeared: amphibious dock ships, troop transports, amphibious barges, and others. With the advent of helicopters, amphibious helicopter carriers and amphibious helicopter dock ships appeared. Universal amphibious assault ships have become the evolution of development, as a direct embodiment of the concept of "over-the-horizon landing".

These are the largest amphibious assault ships capable of landing marines using helicopters, as well as transporting them and equipment by amphibious boats.

The UDC, together with an amphibious helicopter landing ship and an amphibious transport dock, make up an amphibious landing group. If we look at the example of the United States, then such a group is capable of transferring a Marine corps formation (consisting of a headquarters, a Marine battalion, a logistics battalion, and a Marine aviation squadron) up to 2,200 people, with equipment and aircraft, as well as supplies for combat operations for 15 days. To provide landing, aviation support and management of such a formation. The UDC also houses the headquarters of the amphibious Assault Group (ADG) and a hospital.

The first such UDC were ships of the Tarawa type, by now these ships have already been decommissioned. They were replaced by Wasp-type UDC (eight built, seven in service. One, the Bonhomme Richard, burned down during ship repair work, which also happens in the US Navy) and the America—type UDC currently under construction (two are in service, a series is under construction). The ships previously housed AV-8B Harrier vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. Currently, F-35B fighters are used.

The America-type UDC of the first sub-series has 45 thousand tons of full displacement. Length/Width/draft — 257,3/59,1/8,75 M. The maximum speed is 22 knots. At 20 knots, the ship is capable of traveling 9,500 nautical miles. The crew is 1,059 people, 1,687 infantrymen can take on board. It carries a wide range of different aircraft (53 vehicles in various combinations), including F-35B fighters (up to 23 aircraft), MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor planes, and helicopters of various types.

In fact, the UDC is such an aircraft carrier of the Marine Corps. By using the ship to support the actions of the Marines, it is possible to free up more valuable aircraft carriers for other more important tasks. And we see that "America" is such an ultimate design for a real combat UDC.

The Chinese Navy did not "reinvent the wheel", but followed a common path, creating its own UDC, similar to the American ones in size and displacement.

The European UDC is somewhat different, they are smaller and designed primarily to solve peacekeeping and humanitarian tasks. And also serve as flagship ships of combat groups. For example, the Juan Carlos I UDC of the Spanish Navy has the following characteristics: displacement 27 thousand tons; length / width/draft — 230,8/32/6,9 m; 21 knots maximum speed; cruising range 9,000 miles. The crew of 243 people takes on board 900 infantrymen and up to 20 aircraft.

And what about Russia? Two UDC project 23900 "Ivan Rogov" and "Mitrofan Moskalenko" are being built at the Zaliv plant in Kerch. When laid down, they had the following characteristics: displacement 23-25 thousand tons; length / width / draft — 204/47/7.5 m; maximum speed 22 knots; range of 6,000 miles at a speed of 16 knots; crew 320 people; can take on board up to 1,000 infantrymen, 20 helicopters and eight amphibious boats. However, the characteristics may change during construction.

Another novelty of the Chinese fleet is the so—called landing barge. On the one hand, it has a retractable ramp up to 120 m long. On the other hand, civilian transport vessels such as roller coasters can be moored to the barge. According to satellite photos, five such barges are under construction.

Why does the Chinese Navy need them?

And because there are few places convenient for landing troops on the coast of Taiwan, and besides, such places are fortified, respectively, using such barges it is possible to expand the landing zones. And using a large fleet of roller skaters can significantly increase the number of troops delivered. And speed up the disembarkation process.

In addition, such barges can be used to unload equipment at remote Chinese outposts. China is building and using bulk islands in the South China Sea.

What might a possible armed conflict between China and the United States look like?

The main territorial problem of the PRC is Taiwan. In the case of a military solution to the conflict, an airborne amphibious operation cannot be avoided. This means that we need a powerful amphibious fleet capable of landing sufficient forces in the first wave of the assault and providing them with air support. At the same time, the aircraft carrier strike groups of the Chinese Navy will be engaged in countering similar groups of the US Navy.

This means that amphibious ships with helicopters, drones and airplanes are needed to directly support the landing.

For the purpose of high-speed crossing of the Taiwan Strait, China once purchased amphibious hovercraft of the Zubr type in Ukraine and further established the production of similar ships.

In addition, the isolation of the combat area is necessary. To do this, it will be necessary to meet the US fleet, coming to the rescue of the Taiwanese army, at distant borders. To do this, it is necessary to land troops, well, for example, on the islands of the Ryukyu Archipelago, on the Philippine Islands, on various atolls of the Pacific Ocean to organize outposts. Radar stations, air defense systems, electronic warfare and attack missile systems will be deployed at such outposts. With them, the Chinese will be able to strike at advancing groups of US Navy warships.

China also has interests in different parts of the world. They may require the transfer of troops, the evacuation of civilians, and participation in peacekeeping and humanitarian actions.

To solve these problems, China is creating a well-developed expeditionary fleet of amphibious ships, finding very interesting and creative technical ideas.