Re: [OT]Wither Canada? And Australias Abrahms

 
In a message dated 2/6/05 1:39:01 AM Pacific Standard Time,  
rmgill@mindspring.com writes:

At 11:04 PM -0800 2/5/05, Scott Siebold wrote:
>  >   Singapore??  Too much tightrope	walking to  let
>>themselves
>>become associated with any superpower  outside the
>>region.
>Strange you bring it up but I was  reading about the
>buildup of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC)  Navy.
>If I read it correctly there will be at least two
>large	carriers in the PRC Navy and the support ships
>to defend them within	the next five years.

Glenn: There has been more heat then fire  in PRC's 'Carrier Program.'

There's more to successful and effective carrier 
ops than  building the carrier and operating them. 
They'll have to run them to sea  regularly and 
practice practice practice. They don't have the 
cadre of  people to teach the new guys the science 
and art of ship board fixed wing  aviation 
operations so I suspect they'll have to learn all 
the things  the US and Royal Navy's did over the 
last 100 years.

Glenn: Given how much face would be lost when the inevitable  crash
occurs 
(Carriers test their damage control systems in these incidents	and
shortcomings 
are exposed/debated/solutions found and implemented) I can  see the PRC 
actually fielding a CVN with the Chinese equivalent of 'crossed 
fingers'!
 
The 'Middle Kingdom' analysts in some circles are divided among  those
who 
think that the PRC actually plans a CV as a key element in a blue  water
navy 
versus it being a way to gain knowledge in 'Carrier Busting' [one  hell
of 
expensive manned target as it were] and/or a propaganda  prop.

>Give China a couple of victories against their  local
>neighbors in the potential "oil grab" for islands
>game and  they may end up a super power. Take all of

It'll take more than that to  challenge the US and 
Royal Navy and also not annoy the Japanese too	
much. But, Australia might want to watch to the 
North a bit in the  next 10 years.
-- 
<snip>

Plant even an inexperienced CV (after neutralizing US commitments 
somehow) 
in the Paracel or Spratley Islands.  Now what are Vietnam, the 
Philippines, 
Malaysia, Brunei, whoever in Asia going to do about a PRC who says  "OUR
claims 
are the only one that count?"
 
All due respect, I think a UK or EU (Spain) carrier task force	against
a 
true CV task force would be risky.  The nearest likely	non-American CV
task 
force would be what, Brazil?
 
Gracias,

Glenn  "warbeads"