China News Agency, Beijing, June 17th. China's third aircraft carrier, the "People's Liberation Army Navy Fujian Ship", was officially launched on the 17th, and its hull number is "18".
This is the first catapult-type aircraft carrier designed and built by China completely independently, and China has since entered the era of three "ships" of aircraft carriers.
How are Chinese navy ships named?
According to CCTV reports, in the preparation sequence of the People's Navy, combat ships are usually called "ships", generally with a displacement of more than 500 tons as "ships", and less than 500 tons as "boats"; submarines are called "boats" regardless of their displacement. ".
Each ship has its own number and name since its birth. Generally, the prefix "1" is a destroyer, and the prefix "5" is a frigate.
Ship naming enjoys "lifetime".
Cruisers, amphibious assault ships and above are named after administrative provinces and municipalities. For example, China's first aircraft carrier is named Liaoning, and the second aircraft carrier is named Shandong.
Others are named after revolutionary holy places, cities, states, counties, and people.
It is worth mentioning that there is also a very special ship in the People's Navy's preparation sequence, and it is also the longest name of the People's Navy ship so far, that is, the hospital ship Peace Ark.
What is the level of full-load displacement of more than 80,000 tons?
According to Chinese state media, the Fujian ship has a full-load displacement of more than 80,000 tons.
According to the data, the displacement of ships can be divided into no-load displacement, standard displacement, normal displacement, full-load displacement, and maximum displacement.
Among them, the standard displacement includes the hull, machinery, armament, full personnel, ammunition, supplies, and fresh water, but does not include the displacement of fuel oil, lubricating oil, and backup boiler water.
The full-load displacement is the standard displacement plus fuel, lubricating oil, and backup boiler water, etc., to ensure full speed or specified endurance.
Generally speaking, aircraft carriers can be divided into large aircraft carriers (with a displacement of more than 60,000 tons), medium-sized aircraft carriers (with a displacement of 30,000 to 60,000 tons), and small aircraft carriers (with a displacement of less than 30,000 tons).
Some military experts have previously stated that it is common for a large aircraft carrier to have a difference of 20,000 tons between the standard displacement and full-load displacement. To measure the displacement of different aircraft carriers, it is necessary to determine which standard to refer to.
Why is electromagnetic catapult attracting attention?
As the first catapult-type aircraft carrier designed and built by China, the Fujian ship is equipped with electromagnetic catapult and blocking devices.
According to a signed article published by Science and Technology Daily earlier, compared with the steam catapult system, the electromagnetic catapult system has a leap forward and is the best choice for the large-scale aircraft carrier of the navy of the great powers in the future.
Its technical advantages are very obvious, mainly reflected in the small size, light weight, no water consumption, very worry-free, wide elasticity and high precision.
This article also analyzes that the electromagnetic catapult system caters to the future development trend of aircraft carriers.
From a long-term perspective, UAV aircraft carriers are already the future development direction. If a steam catapult device is used, it cannot be well adapted to UAVs of various tonnages, and the electromagnetic catapult system can solve this problem.
What are the characteristics of a straight deck?
In addition, the Fujian ship adopts a straight and long flight deck, which is different from the ski-jump decks of the Liaoning and Shandong ships.
According to public information, the feature of the ski-jump deck is that the bow deck of the aircraft carrier is made into an arc-shaped upturned structure, so that the fighter jets take off along the curved runway thrown up at the rear, thereby gaining upward momentum.
The ski-jump deck does not require a catapult, but requires a larger thrust-to-weight ratio for the fighter, which requires higher pilot operations.
Some observers have analyzed that due to design constraints, the ski-jump deck cannot lift and park the aircraft in a part of the space.
In addition, the ski jump deck cannot be fitted with electromagnetic catapults.
The use of a straight deck means that fixed-wing early warning aircraft can be used on the aircraft carrier, and a larger number of fighters can be parked.
Where will the new aircraft carrier be deployed?
According to the official WeChat account of the People's Navy, on the evening of the 17th, the spokesperson of the Chinese Navy, Admiral Liu Wensheng, released relevant information on the naming, deployment location, performance characteristics and test arrangements of the Fujian ship.
Regarding where the Fujian ship will be deployed in the future, Liu Wensheng said that the need for safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests, as well as the operational characteristics of the aircraft carrier and port security conditions will be taken into consideration, and the deployment location of the Fujian ship will be scientifically selected.
When to join the People's Navy battle order?
According to the data, the predecessor of the Liaoning ship was the aircraft carrier Varyag. After several turns, it was delivered to Dalian Shipyard in April 2005 for modification, installation and continued construction.
On September 25, 2012, China's first aircraft carrier completed construction and test sea trials as planned, and was officially delivered to the Navy.
Approved by the Central Military Commission, it was named "Liaoning Ship of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy" with the port number "16".
On April 26, 2017, the launching ceremony of China's first domestic aircraft carrier was held.
Approved by the Central Military Commission, it was named "Shandong Ship of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy" with the port number "17".
On December 17, 2019, the Shandong ship was delivered to the navy at a military port in Sanya, Hainan, and officially joined the battle sequence of the People's Navy.
As for when the Fujian ship will be officially commissioned, Liu Wensheng said that after the Fujian ship is launched, the mooring test and navigation test will be carried out, and the next step will be based on the progress of various work.
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