PLAN Type 71 Amphibious Group

This is a video of a People Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), or simply put, the Chinese Navy current Amphibious Assault capability they are building up.

They have built, launched, and commissioned seven Type 071 25,000 ton displacement LPDs which are in function and in appearance very similar to the US San Antonio class LPDs which the US now ha commissioned eleven of and plans to commission 12 or 13.

The PLAN is on course to deliver 10-12 of their own LPDs.

They indicate that they have started building a 35,000 to 40,000 ton LHD type vessel similar to the Wasp class, but they have not been seen yet. The PLAN indicates they may build from four to six of those...though as I say, they have not been seen building as such yet.

However, their LPDs are certainly in evidence. Their well deck is longer than our own and they can carry up to four of their LCACs in theirs where we carry two. The can also embark four of their large assault helicopters to ferry troops to shore and they are said to carry from 650-700 troops in each LPD...again, similar to our own capability.

In the video I compare, in 1/350 scale a US San Antonio class vessel to their Type 71 LPD side by side.

This task force contains the following Chinese vessels:

1 x Type 52C anti-air multi purpose DDG
1 x Type 51 C asnt-air mutli-pirpuse DDG
1 x Type 53B anti-surface centric muti-purpude DG
1 x Sovremenny anti-surface multi-purpose DDG
2 x Type 56 Light Frigate Littoral type Corvettes
2 x Type 71 LPD Amphibious Assault vessels
1 x Yuan class conventional AIP Submarine

The Chinese, in recent years have been exercising with groups like this, but with a couple of added qualities. In many cases they will have their Liaoning carrier group out with thr amphibious group in support, and in many cases they will include 6 or more Type 72A Landing Ship Tanks, which displace 7,000+ tons and are modern LSTs which the Chinese are still building. They have in excess of twenty such vessels, and they can land significant numbers of troops and amphibious armor including tanks and APCs.

The Chinese should not be taken for granted in this regard.

over the last ten years not only have they spent significant treasure on developing and building up a modern Navy from one that fifteen years ago looked like a 1970s vintage force, but they continue, year in and year out, to spend a LOT OF MONEY exercising and developing their doctrine and squaring away their naval personnel.

They are developing a strong Navy with professional NCOs and career personnel who are rapidly coming up to speed on their new, modern electronics and capabilities across the board.

Please see other videos I have out on other Chinese developments, like their Carrier strike Group and the AEGIS like destroyers they have deoped in large numbers to support the two carrier they already have (each displacing 55,000+ tons, and the tow to four more they intend to build.

As I say, although they have not completed by any means catching up with the US Navy capability or experience level, they are making every effort to do so and we must respect what they are doing and the strong platforms they are developing which could threaten our own, particularly if we came away with a mistaken impression that they were incapable and and nit in any position to hurt us.

If we were caught with such an attitude, we could be hurt badly and should void any scenario leading to that by continuing to build up our technological and numerical advantage and not holding back...and to encourage and help our allies to do the same.

BTW, in August od this year, 2019, the Chinese launched their forst large, fl;at deck LHD. She looks to be mid 30,000 tons to 40,000. That's thier first LHD, and it is likely that they will build more.

Видео PLAN Type 71 Amphibious Group канала Jeff Head