China Reveals World’s Largest Amphibious Assault Ship To Outpower U.S Naval Capabilities

China launched its first next-gen amphibious assault ship, named Sichuan in a ceremony at a Shanghai Shipyard on Friday.

The Type 076 Amphibious Assault Ship, named after a southwestern Chinese province, is being termed a ‘key asset’ for enhancing the Navy’s long-range operational capabilities.

China boasts the biggest naval force in the world and is constructing warships at a rapid pace to project its power beyond its shores and challenge the military might of the United States.

The ship with a 40,000-ton displacement is among the world’s biggest amphibious assault ships. It has a twin-island superstructure, a full-length deck and an electromagnetic catapult system, enabling it to carry fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.

It would also allow the ship to launch bigger and heavier aircraft than it could without this system. The aircraft would have a longer range and make the ship a fighting platform since it could carry more missiles and bombs than other warships.

Apart from Sichuan, only one other ship in the world has an electromagnetic catapult system. This is the U.S. Navy’s aircraft carrier, Gerald R. Ford. China’s new aircraft carrier, the Fujian also has this system, though the ship is not yet commissioned.

With the ship’s massive size, it would be able to carry more aircraft and equipment than China’s Type 075 amphibious assault ships, the US Navy’s America-class amphibious assault ships and Japan’s Izumo-class helicopter carriers that are being converted to carry the F-35 B.

Carl Schuster, former U.S. Navy captain and a military analyst said that size really matters when we consider the Type 076.

He added that this development shows China’s growing maritime power at a time when the U.S. Navy’s capability for expeditionary, amphibious and humanitarian assistance missions has diminished considerably.

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Video Credits: Firstpost

References: CNN, Economic Times

Source: Maritime Shipping News