PLA's Type 075-class amphibious landing helicopter assault ship revealed
A photo of the Type 075-class amphibious landing helicopter assault ship model. (Internet photo)
Photos of a model of China's new Type 075-class amphibious landing helicopter assault ship have recently been revealed on a Chinese military website, reports Hong Kong-based Phoenix Television on July 12.
With a displacement of 40,000 tons, the Type 075-class amphibious landing helicopter assault ship has four take-off and landing spots dedicated to helicopters. Below the hanger of the vessel, there is a huge well deck designed to carry an unknown number of domestic air-cushioned landing craft. It looks very similar to the 25,000 ton amphibious landing helicopter assault ship displayed at the International Defence Exhibition held at Abu Dhabi in 2012.
That craft, however, was designed primarily for the overseas market while the 40,000-ton vessel is being developed for the PLA Navy. China would have the ability to launch various types of helicopters from the Type 075-class amphibious landing helicopter assault ship for attacks on enemy gound forces, naval vessels and submarines in both the East or South China Sea.
Should Beijing want to carry out amphibious warfare in those regions, the Type 075-class amphibious landing helicopter assault ship can even serve as command vessel to coordinate the operations of PLA ground, air and naval forces. The display of the Type 075's model indicated that construction of the vessel had begun already. It will soon appear on the building slip of a unknown shipyard in China, according to the Phoenix Television.
http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclas...=20150714000020 the picture is wrong, that is 20000+ tons LHD.