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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| The Varyag Saga Continues |
| 2005-06-08 |
| June 8, 2005: The mystery of the aircraft carrier Varyag continues. After rusting at dockside in China for more than three years, the former Russian Varyag has recently been moved to a dry dock at Dalien (formerly Dairen of Russo-Japanese War fame). The ship is being subject to some maintenance. She is being sand blasted (to get rid of all that rust) and a scaffolding has appeared around her superstructure. The actual extent of the work beyond that is unclear. The ship is under guard, and the guards will only say that the maintenance work is for military purposes. Old and suffering from years of neglect, the ship could be restored to a serviceable condition at considerable expense. Although there is some speculation that the Chinese want to put her into service as a proper carrier, it is more likely that she may be used as a helicopter carrier, or as a large, fast auxiliary to provide logistical support to an amphibious effort against Taiwan, or as a training platform in order to gain experience for the design and construction of a new carrier to be built from the keel up. Whatever the case, the Chinese aren't scrapping the Varyag. Yet. But they aren't talking much either. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #11 PLN Future Reef |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-06-08 15:30 |
| #10 Not sure what they'll do to the ship but a name change I'm sure is in order.... Vyagra perhaps? |
| Posted by: radrh8r 2005-06-08 15:18 |
| #9 Spot on, Rory - excellent memory! I'm jealous! |
| Posted by: .com 2005-06-08 14:20 |
| #8 I think I remember reading that the casino thing was a cover story cuz the Turks were being difficult about letting it through the Bosporus. |
| Posted by: Rory B. Bellows 2005-06-08 12:48 |
| #7 I suspect there's gambling going on, all right .... |
| Posted by: too true 2005-06-08 11:35 |
| #6 I thought this was bought to be a casino in Macao? |
| Posted by: Chuck Simmins 2005-06-08 11:18 |
| #5 Who knows, but the idea of PLAN refueling planes makes me think bad un PC thoughts. c Fire Drill |
| Posted by: Shipman 2005-06-08 11:17 |
| #4 Left out one option: floating airstrip for refueling and rearming aircraft (no aircraft embarked). |
| Posted by: Pappy 2005-06-08 10:50 |
| #3 Don't normally see your mind-rays so active in the morning. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2005-06-08 10:14 |
| #2 Damn, the wiley Chinee have stolen a march on us! They're jumped two generations in Rat Holes. Our last response was the Sgt. York and it died young. :( |
| Posted by: Shipman 2005-06-08 10:12 |
| #1 Damn, the wiley Chinee have stolen a march on us! They're jumped two generations in Rat Holes. Our last response was the Sgt. York and it died young. :( |
| Posted by: Shipman 2005-06-08 10:10 |