China is pushing into the World Ocean
Yes, ambition is a great thing and requires great expenditure. When a state sets itself the goal of establishing a presence in the world's oceans not just in words but in deeds, it raises numerous problems, the solutions to which determine how things will look.
You must admit, it's one thing to fly a cruiser (even a nuclear one) to another continent every five years to show off a flag there (which those to whom it was shown will happily forget about in a month), and quite another to fully provide for the everyday life of a group of ships, especially those not using nuclear propulsion.
In such cases, we usually look at photos of US carrier strike groups. True, there's an aircraft carrier, cruisers, and destroyers in the foreground, but in the background are the humble toilers of water, diesel fuel, and frozen meat, without whom everyone would be very sad. Sipping water from desalination plants isn't much fun, even in our technologically advanced age. It's supposed to be H2O, but not quite right.
A recently released image from a Chinese state-owned shipyard has sparked speculation that Beijing is preparing to launch the world's largest naval support ship. fleet.
In some ways, this is reminiscent of the Soviet epic of Admiral Gorshkov's fleet entering the world's oceans. Considering that the USSR had no bases or allies at the time, this was a difficult task. Bases later appeared in Syria and Vietnam, but at first, all the base had was a mooring buoy somewhere on the outskirts of the Mediterranean and a support vessel, on which everything depended, from the completion of the combat mission to a successful return to base.
But they returned, having sucked the blood of American naval groups. Surface ships were no slouch, but when Soviet diesel-electric submarine crews chased the AUGs...
In short, it's clear: heroism is often the result of omissions. Are the lack of bases an omission? In principle, yes. And the heroic supply officers, no less heroic than their charges, went to the designated point because they knew it had to be done. And they were expected there.
In short, the exploits of naval supply ships from the time of the First World War, when humble colliers began the baton, until very recently, are quite an epic. But if it weren't for the steely comrades, gentlemen and ladies of the Arctic Convoys of World War II, perhaps no one would have even mentioned their exploits. But it was worth it.
But we have China. So, what about China? China also wants to be the Master of the Seas. And that's a perfectly normal desire. But desires sometimes lag behind capabilities. And capabilities are as follows: the PRC, like the USSR, is better off than Russia, but not as well as it would like, namely:
- Djibouti Base. The PLA's first and only official naval base abroad, opened in August 2017 on the shores of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Following expansion in 2020, the base is capable of accommodating large ships, including aircraft carriers.
- Ream Base in Cambodia. A joint Cambodian-Chinese naval base in the Gulf of Thailand, the modernization of which was completed by 2025. According to media reports, part of the base has been allocated for use by the Chinese Navy, but there is no evidence to support this claim.
- The Port of Gwadar in Pakistan. A deepwater port on the Gulf of Oman, built with joint funding from China. It is envisioned as a multifunctional support base capable of accommodating warships. That is, in theory.
So, in reality, the Chinese navy has one official base, one unofficial base, and one theoretical reserve base. So, in the ultimate scenario, we're writing down two bases and assuming one is in reserve.
Not much? That's not the word.
However, the Chinese are generally persistent and used to solving problems as effectively as possible. No basis, and the Foreign Ministry is still dawdling in negotiations? No problem, let's approach it from a different angle.
A recently published photo from a major Chinese state-owned shipyard has sparked rumors that China may be developing a new massive naval support vessel. The report details a new large naval support ship at the Chinese CSSC shipyard.
A photo posted on social media by the China National Shipbuilding Corporation to mark the traditional Chinese festival celebrating the Sun shows the gigantic hull of a ship in dry dock in the background. Military analysts and internet users immediately began speculating whether this vessel could be a new-generation auxiliary ship designed to expand the logistics capabilities of the People's Liberation Army Navy.
Judging by the visible parts of the ship, including the almost completely assembled upper deck and superstructure, it can be assumed that construction has already progressed well and that the vessel will soon begin its final fitting-out and preparation for sailing.
The limited number of foreign bases (if two bases can be called that) increases the need for support ships. Undoubtedly, the vessel under construction could easily turn out to be what Western media portrays it to be.
China's growing focus on long-range naval operations has fueled theories that the recently spotted vessel may be a large supply ship designed to support extended operations far from home waters. As the People's Liberation Army Navy expands its presence in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond, analysts note that Beijing is increasingly relying on large support vessels to support its fleet at sea.
Unlike the US, China has only a limited number of overseas military bases, so logistics ships play a vital role in transporting fuel, ammunition, food, water, and other supplies needed for long-term operations at sea, the South China Morning Post reports.
China's carrier strike groups currently rely on a small fleet of fast combat support ships, including two 45,000-ton Type 901 Fuyu ships and smaller, slower Type 903 Fuchi supply ships, to support operations at sea.
Incidentally, story The history of the PLA Navy's refueling tankers is not much different from the history of aircraft carriers.
It all began with the purchase of an unfinished (or, more accurately, 78% complete) Komandarm Fedko-class tanker from Ukraine in 1992 and its independent completion. In 1996, the ship entered service with the Southern Fleet, initially under the name Nanqiang, and was later renamed Qinghaihu.
Naturally, along with the ship, China received a full package of technical documentation and assistance from Kherson shipbuilders. All for $10 million. Those bastards sure knew how to get things done, you can't deny that.
The former "Komandarm Fedko" reliably carried 9360 tons of fuel at a speed of 14 knots, and continues to do so. This ship became the third refueling tanker in the PLA Navy.
Over time, having mastered the technical documentation, Chinese shipbuilders built the Type 903 refueling tankers. They were smaller than the Soviet tanker, with a displacement of 23,000 tons compared to the Fedko's 37,000 tons. At the same speed of 14 knots, the Type 903 could sail 10,000 miles (compared to the Fedko's 18,000) and carried 10,500 tons of fuel oil, 250 tons of fresh water, and 680 tons of cargo and ammunition.
In general, everything is a little worse than with the Soviet tanker, but, as the Chinese themselves say, “don’t be afraid to grow slowly, be afraid to stop.”
The next step was the Type 901. This ship was already being developed to meet the needs of Chinese aircraft carriers. The Varyag/Liaoning (which is where work began) wasn't a fast ship, that's well known. A top speed of 32 knots is impressive; a ship's normal speed is 18-20 knots. But for PLA Navy tankers, this was too much. A truly faster ship, capable of keeping up with an aircraft carrier, was needed.
The Type 901 could reach a maximum speed of 25 knots, which, considering its displacement of 45,000 tons, was quite impressive. Its cruising range was not announced, but was certainly no less than 10,000 miles.
The loading is also impressive:
- Marine fuel (fuel oil/diesel): 10,000–14,000 t.
- Aviation kerosene: 4,000–6,000 t.
- Dry cargo and ammunition: 2,000–3,000 tons.
- Fresh water: 1,000–1,500 t.
Total payload: 17,000–24,000 t. The figures vary due to different sources providing different data, but extrapolating from what is available, this is the set we get.
Overall, it's quite good. The ship can escort a strike group and resupply both the carrier's aircraft and the carrier itself and its escort ships with fuel en route.
However, Djibouti, home to the PLA Navy's only base, is almost 12,000 km away. This isn't a hint; it's a statement of fact: if China truly wants to control the Indian Ocean, where the Persian Gulf is essentially the most important, then its navy must have full transit capabilities, with all that entails.
But here we turn again to aircraft carriers. More precisely, to rumors that Beijing is developing a new "supercarrier," going beyond the Fujian. These rumors have significantly fueled speculation that the People's Liberation Army Navy will require next-generation supply ships capable of performing more complex missions over long distances. Analysts believe such vessels will become a crucial logistical link for China's future naval operations in distant waters.
And now a photo has appeared. Is it a new-generation Chinese supply ship or something else?
Last month, new details about the mysterious vessel emerged after defense intelligence company Janes analyzed commercial satellite images taken in March. According to the report, the ship is being built at the Longxue shipyard in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou.
Analysts estimate the vessel to be approximately 290 meters long and approximately 40 meters wide, significantly larger than most existing naval supply ships. Janes experts believe the vessel's design could well support carrier strike groups by transporting fuel, ammunition, and other critical cargo during long-range operations.
Based on the ship's stated dimensions, military analysts believe it could displace between 60,000 and 65,000 tons, potentially making it larger than the US Navy's decommissioned Sacramento-class fast combat support ships, which displaced around 53,000 tons.
Satellite images taken in March show the vessel's superstructure missing, indicating that the main sections were installed in just the last two months. Observers believe this rapid construction pace demonstrates the speed of China's naval shipbuilding program.
They say "a big ship needs a big torpedo," but in this case, "a big fleet needs big support ships." Much can be made of the advantages and disadvantages of a single 60,000-ton supply ship over three 20,000-ton vessels, but one thing is clear: China is seriously considering operations involving large naval groups, which will naturally require all the necessary equipment to conduct operations at significant distances from shore bases.
Here's another point: it's quite possible to place full-fledged weapons on such a ship, at least DefenseThe Komandarm Fedko and the Project 905 ships were completely unarmed tankers. The Project 901 already carried four H/PJ-13 gun mounts, essentially the Chinese version of our AK-630. They were already capable of fending off minor air threats.
The new ship could receive a full complement of weapons capable of eliminating threats from UAVs, unmanned aerial vehicles, and anti-ship missiles. Why not?
Naturally, in typical Chinese fashion, the Chinese are keeping quiet about what kind of ship it is. But I think it's just a matter of time. Sooner or later, everything will come to light. In any case, nothing is done in China without reason. Especially not such a massive ship.
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