Haha fanbois always la want the heaviest weapons systems in all warships, if possible destroyer-grade weapons also want to put into a small corvette.

In fact most modern corvettes are even less armed than the Type 056, some don't even have anti-air missiles, only CIWS. Some don't even have anti-ship missiles & have to rely on gun for any surface action. So considering its limited coastal patrol role, low cost and low tonnage, for me it's the weapons load is appropriate & adequate for the Type 056 to do its job. Contemporary corvettes like Dutch Sigma-class or German Braunschweig-class are quite similar to Type 056 in terms of weapons loadout (main gun, short range SAM, 2-4 anti-ship missiles, CIWS & torpedo launcher).

Also on the issue of Type 056 not having a hangar, since most the Type 056 is expected to operate in coastal areas near shore on short-time basis, there's less heavy bad ocean weather to worry about, seas are also calmer most of the time so keeping a helicopter tied down on the landing pad & covering with tarp when not on flight ops should still be OK, worse comes to worse if very bad weather is expected can always transfer the helicopter to nearby shore, no problem.

Also,where did you got the info that Type 056 has a 2D radar only? I can't find any references.

This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Oct 3 2014, 04:54 PM

Nice diagram showing Type 052D weapons loadout


Type 052D proposed commissioning schedule

For SEA nations level, I think PLA Navy will send their smaller 2nd-line warships only. No offense,but that would already be sufficient to dominate the South China sea. The best & latest warships will be kept in reserve for taking on Japan and Taiwan navies (and potentially US 7th fleet) at the East China sea. Also Pinoys depends way too much on their hope that US will come to their aid whenever China is involved. I verily doubt US will fight tooth and nail for the Philippines anymore, it's no longer their colony.


Two Type 054A and two Type 054 frigates on dock (L-R Xushou, Zhoushan, Maanshan and Wenzhou).

This is also a mystery to me. Are Malaysian shipyards not capable enough to build heavy patrol ships specifically for APMM? Its not like they're that much use sensitive equipment or high-tech gears. A large, dependable ship with basic radar & electronic systems are enough. Small arms like light machineguns are enough for coast guard duty, long patrol endurance & seaworthiness are more valued in coast guard ships.

So sad to see APMM keep getting old decommissioned RMN ships & Marine police boats and be expected to fully protect the entire Malaysian coastal area with that kind of equipment.

If facing CCG 3,000 ton ship that's another matter la, I'm more concerned if APMM cannot do their bread and butter job like anti-piracy and catching smugglers & infiltrators due to problems with its old & outdated ships. They're a law-enforcement agency, not like Navy, so they have to work on active operations everyday. Also due too geography they got way too much water to cover (East & West peninsular plus the 90% north Borneo & also east Sabah). IMHO that's too much strain on 30-year old ships.

Just imagine like if police still have to use old 1980s Proton Saga nowadays....and they only have 100 for all of Malaysia


Malaysian coastal EEZ area (in blue)

This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Oct 4 2014, 12:03 AM

haha no need to copy that la, just try build what we can. No need mil-spec, as long can do patrol duty ok then fine already la. Vietnam use converted fishing trawler already can patrol



This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Oct 4 2014, 01:36 AM

Y-20 Stealth Fighter test flights


Note the Luneburg lens device installed on the underside of the fuselage, used to intensify the fighter's radar signature

This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Oct 4 2014, 11:25 AM

PLA Navy submarine heads out into Gulf of Aden for Anti-Piracy operations


A PLA Navy Song-class Submarine

After a brief stop at Sri Lanka, The PLA Navy has confirmed that one of its Song-class diesel submarines has continued on its journey to the Gulf of Aden to join in Anti-piracy operations.

The submarine, which visited Sri Lanka from 7th to 14th September has raised fears that the PLA is expanding its coverage, especially submarine operations, into the Indian ocean. While PLA spokesman Colonel Geng Yansheng has announced at a press conference that the submarine's mission is strictly benign, Indian military officials has expressed concerns that this may possibly be a test run on the viability of China's so-called 'string of pearls' strategy, where China has invested heavily for in the past decade.

“Chinese warships are deployed in the Indian Ocean Region and we are continuously monitoring them and see what is their deployment,” chief of the Indian Navy Admiral Robin Dhowan told reporters on 25th September.

The 'string of pearls' strategy refers to bilateral agreements made by China for heavy investments on naval facilities at ports in nations surrounding the Indian ocean area. Substantial work have been done at major ports such as Chittagong, Myanmar; Hambantota, Sri Lanka and Gwahadar, Pakistan that could possibly be capable of serving as bases for PLA Navy ships. In addition, there have been reports that the PLA are working hard to secure rights to build naval outpost facilities in the Maldives and Seychelles Islands.

News Link: Chinese Submarine heads to Gulf of Aden for Anti-Piracy operations

This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Oct 4 2014, 12:20 PM

Of course possible,but very unlikely to happen. Usually intel-gathering ships are manned by the best & most proficient of officers & crews. They are always extra vigilant on their missions, they will always operate in International waters and it's very unlikely they can wander accidentally into a country's territorial waters where they can be caught. Usually they can be found right at the edge of any legal boundary of a country or a ship. They will shadow carefully so they can claim they were in international waters and are not breaking any laws, which they are. It's one of those things that are wrong, but still legal.

Back in the Cold War, US carrier crews always said they were often furious at Soviet intelligence trawlers shadowing their battlegroup, but they can't legally do anything as they always stayed just a fraction outside the battlegroup's exclusion zone. Everyone knows the Soviets are there, just over the horizon, but they simply can't do anything about it.

It's also said the shadowing trawlers even fished out & went through any garbage thrown overboard from NATO ships to see if there's any intel that could be gathered from it.

Also, If your question meant if a patrol ship can essentially attack a civilian-looking ship to detain in order to investigate whether it's a spy ship, I think they can detain any suspicious ships, as long as it's caught inside territorial waters. If the spy ship manages to run away to International waters, then I think you can't chase them anymore.

But usually spy ship captains will almost never give any excuse for anyone to legally do anything to them. If a navy ship thinks a ship in International waters is a spy ship, I don't think there's anything they can do but give middle finger.

This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Oct 5 2014, 01:33 AM

Hahaha if North Korea-level spy ship probably you can do that la, but top-tier spy ships from countries like US, Russia or China probably has far superior gear that's nearly impossible to jam. Also besides radio there are other ways to communicate like microwave communications system or satellite laser transmission.

Also again they always do their duties in a very sensitive way and will always try to spy in a legal & safe way (i.e always stay in international waters, only pick up passive transmissions and have an escort if anything goes wrong) and are very unlikely to be surprised by the enemy. Everybody also does this to everyone, so its just one of those things a country just have to accept.

This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Oct 5 2014, 02:00 PM

PLA deploys latest Type 052D Destroyer to South China Sea for exercises


PLA Type 052D Guided-Missile Destroyer Kunming

China has deployed its most advanced guided-missile destroyer to the disputed South China Sea region to participate in a large naval exercise, according to Taiwanese media.

This week, the Want Daily and its English-language sister site, Want China Times, reported that China deployed the Kunming, the first of its new Type 052D guided-missile destroyers (DDG), to the South China Sea last month. The purpose of the deployment was to hold a military drill simulating an Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) attack. The Type 052D guided missile destroyer was joined by some of two of its earlier variants, a Type 052C and a Type 052A destroyer, which also participated in the drill.

The English-language report did not specify the source for the story, nor did it detail the exact dates the exercise was held. It did say that the Kunming had left China for the drill sometime in the later part of September.

News Link: Chinese Navy sends latest Destroyer to South China Sea for exercises

Probably everybody with a decent sub will think of the same. Also means a chance to give ASW training to the PLA crews, with all those subs who are bound to come. Maybe even pinoy will send a man with a paddle in a welded steel barrel and call it a submarine.

Hope everyone is safe....

well, moving on.
Close view on FN-3000N SAM system


FN-3000N Point-Defense missile system with its reload canister.

The FN-3000N is developed from the TY-90 air-to-air missile originally designed for helicopters. It is not an autonomous missile, as it uses radar guidance from its launcher to steer it automatically onto its target. This guidance system is paired with an Imaging Infrared (ImIR) system as a secondary guidance system. The fire control system of a FN-3000N unit can simultaneously control up to 2 launchers and provide guidance for up to 10 missiles in flight. The system is installed on the ships of the PLA Navy since 2014 and is available in 8, 16 or 24 cell-launchers. An automatic reload system is usually used unless installed in smaller ships that have limited space, where they are hand-loaded.

The FN-3000N have a maximum range of up to 9km for subsonic targets and 6km for supersonic targets. The missile carries a 5kg warhead with a pre-fragmented sleeve.

This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Oct 6 2014, 12:41 AM

Another reason we need some Maritime reconnaisance/ASW aircraft right now. A plane would help tremendously in a situation like this.

Wah, very lucky already found the CB90!

Hopefully this close call can serve as eye-opener to Malaysia's policy-makers. Don't let get until lives are lost to make crucial changes.

Good to see our boys are safe.

Anyway, I hear that they were heading towards Pulau Layang-Layang for rotation when contact was lost about 20 nautical miles from shore. Should a CB-90 boat actually operate that far to sea (Pulau Layang-Layang)? I don't think they are seaworthy enough to make the trip.

This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Oct 6 2014, 08:49 PM

That's exactly what I was asking about. Is it appropriate to use the CB-90 for a trip to Pulau layang-layang, which as I heard is nearly a whole day's trip from Sepanggar?

It seems way too far out to sea for a boat of the CB-90's specifications. Also if CB-90 works ok for the trip while seas are calm, it is somewhat reckless for RMN to assume it will always be sunny & calm seas all the way.

This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Oct 6 2014, 11:06 PM

Sure it could, but have to ask if whether they should. A trip on a small boat across open seas for the better part of a day is not as predictable or safe as taking a car on the PLUS highway from KL to JB. Anything and everything can happen on the open sea.

Gun turret mounting for Chinese Coast Guard cutter?


Nearly finished Chinese coast guard cutter with possible gun turret mounting? (center, the pedestal near the 'X' flag)

This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Oct 7 2014, 08:52 AM

Bizarreness in the middle east



News Link: Kobane fall imminent, IS Militants hoist flag within a kilometer from turkish Border

This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Oct 7 2014, 03:16 PM