SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated

 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  
To: LindyBill who wrote (54746)7/17/2004 8:29:07 AM
From: Hoa Hao   of 793928
 
The boat in question is merely a Song type with a revamped Sail. A more professional view by one Stuart Slade is below:

"The Chinese are making a major effort to upgrade the quality of their submarine crews, particularly their officer corps. They're trawling their universities and other institutions offering big incentives to qualified people to join the submarine fleet (like, for example triple or quadruple pay, big family benefits, priority in getting short-supply goodies etc). they're also trying to train them as well as they can. To me, this is a lot more significant and worrying than a new submarine design appearing in port. They're also doing a lot to improve conditions and expertise of enlisted crew and trying to create a good corps of long-term service senior enlisted.

In other words, they are serious about their submarine fleet.

On the quality side, they've got really serious problems. Every one of their indigenous submarine designs has turned out to be a disaster. The Songs took almost a decade to straighten out and they're only just hitting mass production now. They're still building Mings for Heaven's sake. They lost a sub last year from a cause that nobody has figured out yet (all the crew were dead; investigations still trying to work out how). They also have problems maintaining high-tech boats. Their 877s and 636s are in port most of the time waiting for spares and maintenance. This may ease when they get the next eight 636s.

My guess is we're OK on the Chinese submarine fleet for a decade or so. If, during that time, they succeed in creating a cadre of really good submariners and getting the tech problems sorted out then we've got a problem looming. That's a long way down the line though."
Report TOU ViolationShare This Post
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext