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China-Japan-Koreas
China's Giant Hovercraft
2005-03-03
March 3, 2005: China, which currently only has small hovercraft (LCAC), is buying some of the world's largest LCACs from Russia. These are the Zubr class craft, which can carry 130 tons (three tanks, or a combination of lighter armored or non-armored vehicles). The Zubrs also carry two stabilized MLRs (multiple tube rocket launchers), four short range anti-aircraft missiles systems (Igla-1Ms) and two AK-630 six-barrel 30mm close-in weapon systems (CIWS), for defense against anti-ship missiles.
Typical Russian overkill.
The current LCACs China has were designed and built in China, but carry only about twenty soldiers and are used to quickly get troops from amphibious ships to shore. The Zubrs, with a top speed of 100 kilometers an hour, can go right from the Chinese coast to Taiwan, and land troops and armored vehicles on shore areas that would otherwise not be passable by troops coming in on standard amphibious boats. It's not known how many Zubrs the Chinese are getting. These craft are expensive (the price and weapons configuration is negotiable, but the cost is somewhere over $10 million each) and China might only want to buy a few to get some experience, and figure out how to build their own. However, a dozen or more Zubrs would greatly complicate Taiwanese defense plans against a Chinese amphibious assault.
Very fast, can go right over mines or torpedos and with a missile defense capability. Tricky problem.
Posted by:Steve

#13  Watch D-Day or Band of Brothers,GC.You'll get the idea.
Posted by: Raptor   2005-03-03 5:11:57 PM  

#12  There's the little matter of build-up at the coast followed by 300 kilometers (3 hours minimum) travel over the water to get to Taiwan. Not much chance of a surprise attack. Lovely $10 million targets, not including the tanks that sink with them.
Posted by: Tom   2005-03-03 3:07:24 PM  

#11  MBT, A-10, chopper, 155mm, MLRS.
Lots of ways to make the last 5 miles painful.
Posted by: Dishman   2005-03-03 2:58:38 PM  

#10  Um...need I mention here that anything like tank traps or the kind of stuff that they lineded the beaches with in Normandy with as obstacles for landing would just shred the skirts?
Posted by: Valentine   2005-03-03 2:57:40 PM  

#9  Also, nice fat target for the 120mm main gun on a M-1 class MBT. Can you imagine what a HEAT-DP round would do to the main compartment of one of those :) And considering the range of most tank kills in Iraq, the stupid thing would still be in the ocean when it took the hit - sharks would be having Chinese for dinner.
Posted by: Shieldwolf   2005-03-03 2:15:55 PM  

#8  This is also where a nice, low tech, radar guided shore gun comes in handy. Cheap, easy to operate and not neutralized by any anti-missle weapons. One 155mm shell would make short work out of any hovercraft.
Posted by: mmurray821   2005-03-03 12:59:28 PM  

#7  12 hovercraft, 12 cruisemissles.
Posted by: Charles   2005-03-03 12:42:15 PM  

#6  


Hovercraft can be counteracted...

Posted by: BigEd   2005-03-03 12:20:11 PM  

#5  The description doesn't mention that the coxwains are issued ballpeen hammers for close combat.

What this gives the Chinese is close-in support. They don't have the naval gunnery, so this does make a difference.
Posted by: Chuck Simmins   2005-03-03 11:55:52 AM  

#4  Frank G, I think so ... what's also problematic is just WHAT they can land onto shore without being interdicted. :(

What're I-beams?
Posted by: Gleresh Cravimble3971   2005-03-03 11:44:10 AM  

#3  "Very fast, can go right over mines or torpedos and with a missile defense capability. Tricky problem."

How about setting up 10' I-Beam obstacles up on shore?
Posted by: Yosemite Sam   2005-03-03 11:01:10 AM  

#2  true, but a dozen will make the diff? Get real.
Posted by: Frank G   2005-03-03 10:44:20 AM  

#1  I've often wondered why the Chinese never upgraded their amphibious capabilities. Looks like they're finally getting around to it.
Posted by: gromky   2005-03-03 10:38:18 AM  

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