Sunday, April 29, 2012

Wrong On So Many Levels News of the day: Chinese navy asked to escort Titanic II

In addition to funding James Cameron’s Avatar II (here),  the Communist China's Navy is asked to escort Titanic II on its maiden voyage to New York by a Capitalist billionaire.  Is me or the world has gone mad?




Titanic II to Be Built by Billionaire Palmer, Chinese Yard
By Elisabeth Behrmann - Apr 29, 2012 5:46 PM PT

Australian billionaire Clive Palmer plans to build a 21st-century version of the Titanic with the help of a Chinese shipyard, with the cruise ship’s maiden voyage from England to North America scheduled in late 2016.

Palmer said he had invited the Chinese navy to escort Titanic II on its maiden voyage to New York, according to an e- mailed statement. The initial pact with China’s CSC Jinling Shipyard also includes plans for a fleet of luxury liners.
Enlarge image Titanic II to Be Built

The Titanic sits under scaffolding in the spring of 1911 in this photo made available to the media by the Library of Congress. Source: Library of Congress (George Grantham Bain Collection) via Bloomberg
Audio Download: Dr. Ballard Describes Discovering Sunken Titanic
Enlarge image Billionaire Clive Palmer

Clive Palmer, chairman of Mineralogy Pty. Photographer: Patrick Hamilton/Bloomberg

The original Titanic sank after hitting an iceberg in the Atlantic on April 15, 1912, costing the lives of 1,514 passengers and crew, according to the statement. Mining magnate Palmer, 58, has a fortune of A$5.05 billion ($5.3 billion) and was Australia’s fifth-richest person, according to BRW magazine estimates in May.

“It will be every bit as luxurious as the original Titanic but of course it will have state-of-the-art 21st century technology and the latest navigation and safety systems,” Palmer said. “The Chinese ship building industry with our assistance wants to be a major player in this market.”

The Titanic, commissioned by White Star Line, was the largest liner in the world when built at just under 270 meters (886 feet) and 53 meters high.

Palmer is developing coal and iron ore mines in Australia, including the $8 billion China First coal project in Queensland state. Last year, he dropped plans to sell shares in his company Resourcehouse Ltd. in Hong Kong after commodities prices fell.

To contact the reporter on this story: Elisabeth Behrmann in Sydney at ebehrmann1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Rebecca Keenan at rkeenan5@bloomberg.net

Titanic II to Be Built by Billionaire Palmer, Chinese Yard - Bloomberg

Friday, April 27, 2012

More Sino-Thai rocket projects in the work.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/290809/top-brass-china-visit-secures-joint-missile-deal
Top brass China visit secures joint missile deal

Published: 28/04/2012 at 04:54 AM Newspaper section:

News BEIJING : Thailand and China have agreed to jointly develop multiple rocket launchers with a guidance system as part of a move to strengthen military ties. The two sides reached the agreement during a visit to China by the Thai military top brass in what was described by Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat as a call by "the whole family" to China which is "our close relative".
It is the first time in 15 years that a defence minister has led all key military leaders ranging from the defence permanent secretary, supreme commander and armed forces chiefs to meet Chinese senior military officers, led by National Defence Minister Gen Liang Guanglie.

Under the new agreement, the Thai Defence Technology Institute will work with China to develop new multiple rocket launchers called "DTI-1G [Guided]" which will be more accurate and have a greater range than existing systems, said ACM Sukumpol after the meeting.

Multiple rocket launchers are known for their devastating capabilities and ability to deliver a large amount of ordinance simultaneously, but are not recognised for precision because they are not usually equipped with a guidance system.

In an earlier joint deal, Thailand and China developed the DTI-1 system, which had a range of between 60 and 180km, but it lacked accuracy.

The new DTI-1G project will last three years and will be funded under a 1.5-billion-baht budget, ACM Sukumpol said.

Gen Liang also told the delegation that if Thailand wants to buy weapons from China, it will be willing to sell them at "friendly prices", ACM Sukumpol quoted Gen Liang as saying."The price of Chinese weaponry has increased greatly recently. Arms are not as cheap as before so we will have to consider this carefully," ACM Sukumpol said.

As well as technological cooperation, the Thai and Chinese defence ministries have also agreed to hold a joint military exercise involving their air forces for the first time.

"We will need to discuss more details of this because Thailand and China have different military doctrines in the aviation area," ACM Sukumpol said.

So far the two countries have held joint military drills involving the army's special warfare units and the navy's marine corps.

In another demonstration of closer military ties, 130 officers from the Royal Thai Navy Corps will participate in a joint exercise to be held in Guangdong in southern China between May 9 and 29.


Friday, January 28, 2011

Homeland Security Rocket.

According to the website "thaiarmedforce.com" Thailand's Defense Technology Institute's Homeland Security Rocket Project has been commissioned with the 711st artillery battalion, Royal Thai Army.


This marks a second the 2nd export adoption of the WS-1 long-range rocket system by the China National Precision Machinery Corporation (CPMIEC). The 302mm WS-1 Multiple Rocket System has a range up to 180km and able to carry a number warheads, including 475 SZB-1 sub-munitions (500 bullets per submunition), ZDB-2B HE Fragmentation, YDB-1 Fuel Air explosive and 24,000 incendiary pellets. WS-2, the next generation of the WS family rockets, has a range of 350km, with no foreign adoption thus far.


Turkey manufactures the WS-1 MRL under license as the T-300 Kasirga with the first delivery date of 1998.








Turkey's WS-1 Based T-300 Kasirga system




Homeland Security Rocket of the United States. 

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Communist propaganda of the day: This Varyag is not that Varyag

Damn, too many Varyags....



“A task force of Russian ships, comprising the Varyag missile cruiser, the Admiral Vinogradov, the Marshal Shaposhnikov and the Admiral Tributs large anti-submarine destroyers and the SB-522, MB-37 and Pechenga supply ships, left the port of Qingdao and anchored in the area of the Maritime Cooperation-2012 exercises in the Yellow Sea,” the Russian Navy said in a statement.

Russia and China have completed the first stage of naval exercises in the Yellow Sea, off the coast of Qingdao in eastern China, the Russian Navy said.
Though Russia and China conduct joint naval drills on a regular basis since 2005, the Maritime Cooperation-2012 will be the first Chinese-Russian military exercise outside the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
“The first stage of the exercise - the deployment of ships - has been completed,” the ministry said.
The exercise, to last until Friday, involves more than 20 vessels from Russia and China, including destroyers, escort vessels, hospital ships, submarines and supply ships.
“A task force of Russian ships, comprising the Varyag missile cruiser, the Admiral Vinogradov, the Marshal Shaposhnikov and the Admiral Tributs large anti-submarine destroyers and the SB-522, MB-37 and Pechenga supply ships, left the port of Qingdao and anchored in the area of the Maritime Cooperation-2012 exercises in the Yellow Sea,” the Russian Navy said in a statement.
On Wednesday the participants will begin the active phase of the exercise, comprising several simulated missions, such as the rescue of a hijacked ship, commercial vessel escort, and defending a convoy from air and sea attacks.
Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said on Tuesday the exercise is not directed against “third states” and is not an attempt by Moscow and Beijing to create a military alliance.

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Photos of the day: Known J-15 Air Frames

While Mom is away on a sea trial scientific exploration, We still need to check in and see how the kids are doing from time to time.


Photos of the four known per-production J-15 air frames





Orbat, Naval Cooperation-2012


112, 115, 137, 138, 527, 528, 548, 529, 530, 2 Songs, 022s, 881, Peace Ark, J-8s, JH-7s, Z-8s, Z-9s...

http://mil.news.sina.com.cn/2012-04-22/0915688383.html

-- Yexu


A total of 16 vessels and two submarines from Chinese navy would participate the drill, including five missile destroyers, five missile frigates, four missile boats, a support vessel and hospital ship. Together with them are 13 aircrafts and five shipboard helicopters.

The Russian warships include the Pacific Fleet's flagship Varyag, a slava-class guided missile cruiser, Marshal Shaposhnikov, Admiral Panteleyev and Admiral Vinogradov, three Udaloy-class destroyers.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2012-04/22/content_15108571.htm











The new adventures of old Jianghu

Recent Internet rumors and photos are suggesting that the old Jianghu I and II are being withdrawn from combat patrols.   Some are them are being sold to Bangladesh and Burma, others have their front pair of 37mm mounts replaced by Heavy MG more suitable for anti-piracy and fishery patrols in the South China Sea.  Other noticeable patrol centric modifications include two SATCOM antennas, new cranes for the rubber dinghies and extra cameras on top of the bridge.



FFG534, FFG553 and FFG555, the three known South China Sea modified Jianghu Is, 





FFG 544, the sole member of the JiangHu IV class -- withdrawn from service in 2010 and has been enjoying her new life as a training ship for the Chinese Naval Academy in Qingdao.




The younger JiangHu Vs are being converted into  SSM trucks. 


Sunday, February 06, 2011


JiangHu V Class FFG, Two-Point-O. 

http://china-defense.blogspot.com/2011/02/jianghu-v-class-ffg-two-point-o.html

Recent pictures reveal that several upgrades have been completed on the last batch of Type 053H1G FFG (also known as Jianghu V class) that entered service in the 1990s with the South Sea Fleet. Those upgrades are suggesting that all six Jianghu V class FFGs will remain in service with the PLAN for the foreseeable future.

The latest improvements include new air-search and fire-control radars, new twin 100mm main gun turrets to replace the old models, the addition of 37mm CIWS mounts, and the replacement of Silkworms with YJ-83 anti-ship missiles.

The reasoning behind the latest upgrade of a rather obsolete class of frigates has been the subject of speculation on CDF. Some suggest that recent upgrades signify the immaturity of newer vessels' design, while others argue that even though the 053 is obsolete, it remains a cost-effective and potent platform against weaker potential rivals in the South China Sea. This author is highly skeptical of the "technology immaturity" speculation; the rapid pace of 054A construction should have erased any doubt by now about the "maturity" of the PLAN's new generation of FFGs. The latter speculation is a far more likely possibility. The commitment of modern surface combatants to the Gulf of Aden and the uptick in regional maritime disputes has increased the necessity for a stop-gap measure for effective littoral patrol until the new Type 056 corvettes enter service. *

-- Mr. Unknown
* With special thanks to duskylim 

* FFG558 Zigong pre-upgrade
* FFG558 Zigong post-upgrade
* FFG559 Beihai pre-upgrade
* FFG559 Beihai post-upgrade
* FFG560 Dongguan pre-upgrade
* FFG560 Dongguan post-upgrade
* FFG561 Shantou pre-upgrade
* FFG561 Shantou post-upgrade
* FFG562 Jiangmen pre-upgrade
* FFG562 Jiangmen post-upgrade
  * FFG563 Foshan pre-upgrade
* FFG563 Foshan post-upgrade

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Photo of the day: leaving town





Drone completes military mapping mission in NW China

Drone completes military mapping mission in NW China

(Source: Xinhua) 2012-04-19



Photo taken on April 16 shows the moment of an unmanned Chinese military drone taking off. The unmanned Chinese military drone recently completed its first digital mapping mission near north China's Helan mountain, capturing high-definition imaging data during more than five consecutive hours of aerial photography. (Xinhua Photo)

YINCHUAN, April 18 (Xinhua) -- An unmanned Chinese military drone recently completed its first digital mapping mission near north China's Helan mountain, capturing high-definition imaging data during more than five consecutive hours of aerial photography.

Conducted by the Lanzhou Military Area Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), the mission marked the first time for such type of unmanned drone to be used for military mapping purposes, military sources said Wednesday.

The success of the mission marks the Chinese military's creation of a drone-based emergency mapping support mechanism in north China, said Zhang Zhiyuan, the mission's field commander.


The unmanned Chinese military drone recently completed its first digital mapping mission near north China's Helan mountain, capturing high-definition imaging data during more than five consecutive hours of aerial photography. (Xinhua Photo)

Editor:dongzhaohu