Over the last few years, China It has gained muscle in all types of industries and the military is no exception. Now that there are multiple military conflicts underway and China has so many geopolitical interests, the Asian country continues to strengthen itself militarily.
After a dam so gigantic that it has deflected the Earth’s axis and flooded 20 cities and building the world’s largest ‘air battery’, China has made a new show of force. It is about the amphibious warship largest in the world: the Sichuana mass of more than 230 meters in length with a load displacement of more than 40,000 tons.
It is the fifth amphibious assault ship launched by China in less than five years
China is taking giant steps in absolutely all areas. It is achieving some of its greatest technological achievements in the electric car industry, not only developing models through dozens of brands, but also being the world reference in terms of batteries.
But there are other fields in which China is standing out, such as military. With the country growing at the rate it is doing, more and more military conflicts around the world and so many interests at the geopolitical level, the Asian country is also strengthening its military capabilities like crazy.
The umpteenth test of Chinese military and technological muscle is the warship that the People’s Liberation Army. It is a type 076 amphibious assault ship called ‘Sichuan’ after the Chinese province that has that name, located in the southwest of the country.
According to the Ministry of National Defense of the People’s Republic of China, the Sichuan “plays a key role in advancing the Navy’s transformation and improving its combat capabilities in the distant seas, according to Navy officials.”
An amphibious assault ship, such as the Sichuan, is a ship that can transport infantry troops with all their equipment and disembark anywhere, even where there is no dock or port, hence the name amphibious assault.
The Sichuan, with more than 230 meters in length, has a full load displacement capacity of more than 40,000 tons and is equipped with a double island structure, an electromagnetic catapult that allows launching aircraft and a deck surface that can be used by vertical take-off and landing aircraft, such as helicopters, drones and eVTOL. You can also transport fixed-wing aircraft and amphibious vehicles, although its interior is so spacious that it can accommodate practically any type of military vehicle.
For comparison, the LHD Juan Carlos I, which is also an amphibious assault ship, is the largest ship in the Spanish navy and, although its length is similar to that of the Sichuan, it “makes do” with a cargo displacement of 26,000 tons .
China held an event to launch the Sichuan in Shanghai on December 27, but it cannot be said that it was thrown away because the boat did not touch the watersince the dock where it rests is completely dry, as can be seen in the images and videos of the event.
After this ceremony, the ship will undergo a series of testsamong which the commissioning of equipment, mooring tests and maritime tests are planned, so it will still take some time to enter service. It is China’s fifth Type 075 amphibious assault ship since its army launched the first in 2021.
Photos: Ministry of National Defense of the People’s Republic of China, Xinhua
Source: www.motorpasion.com
