Boring logistics Photos Of The Day: CV 17 Shandong and CV18 together at Sanya Naval Base

China's South China Sea Aircraft Carrier Support Base at Hainan:

Here is a photo of Sanya Naval Base on Hainan Island, where bustling construction is underway to make the facility capable of accommodating all three of China’s aircraft carriers simultaneously.

In Chinese, there is an old saying: “兵马未动，粮草先行” literally, “Before the troops move, the food and fodder must go first,” or more broadly, “Logistics precedes maneuver.” This image captures that principle perfectly.

Tuesday, October 08, 2024

Snow bird to Hainan again!

The PLAN's winter "snowbird" to Hainan island, sometimes known as "Chinese Hawaii," continues with two of her aircraft carriers enjoying maitai with small umbrellas on top.   It's definitely a wonderful time.

Hainan Jin Jiaomu Port is where CV16 and CV17 are currently vacationing. 

Friday, January 01, 2021

"Snow bird" to Hainan island seems to be very popular for the folks up the cold-north.

DDG 105 "Dalian",  second of the 055 Renhai class spotted at Hainan together with a host of entourage.   

Military exercises conducted in waters around Hainan Island

Source
    China Military Online
Editor
    Wang Xinjuan

Time
    2020-12-30 10:11:48
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/view/2020-12/30/content_9960578.htm


BEIJING, Dec. 30 -- According to the notice released by China's Sanya Maritime Safety Administration on December 28, military exercises will be conducted in waters around Hainan Island from December 29, 2020 to January 7, 2021.

HN0129 SOUTH CHINA SEA MILITARY EXERCISES IN AREA BOUNDED BY THE LINES JOINING 17-29.0N 110-02.0E, 17-43.5N 110-18.5E, 17-37.5N 110-24.5E AND 17-23.0N 110-08.0E FROM 290000UTC DEC 20 TO 070800UTC JAN 21. ENTERING PROHIBITED. HAINAN MSA CHINA.

HN0128 SOUTH CHINA SEA MILITARY EXERCISES IN AREA BOUNDED BY THE LINES JOINING 17-33.0N 109-30.0E, 17-33.0N 109-51.0E, 17-58.0N 109-51.0E AND 17-58.0N 109-30.0E FROM 290000UTC DEC 20 TO 070800UTC JAN 21. ENTERING PROHIBITED. HAINAN MSA CHINA.

HN0127 SOUTH CHINA SEA MILITARY EXERCISES IN AREA BOUNDED BY THE LINES JOINING 17-54.0N 108-59.0E, 17-54.0N 109-09.0E, 18-04.0N 109-09.0E AND 18-04.0N 108-59.0E FROM 290000UTC DEC 20 TO 070800UTC JAN 21. ENTERING PROHIBITED. HAINAN MSA CHINA.

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

In the meanwhile, the 1st Type075 LPD is enjoying her "snowbird" vacation in the southern tropic of Hainan island

 

Friday, November 29, 2013

Question of the day: where is Liaoning? It is at Hainan.

China's aircraft carrier docks in Sanya

ABOARD LIAONING AIRCRAFT CARRIER, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- China's aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, carried out its first docking manoeuver at Sanya City's a naval harbor in south China's Hainan Province on Friday morning.

The aircraft carrier will carry out relevant experiments and trainings here.

On Tuesday, the Liaoning left its home port of Qingdao in east China's Shandong Province for the South China Sea, passing through the Taiwan Strait on Thursday.

This is the first time the Liaoning has conducted a cross-sea training voyage since it was commissioned into the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy last year.

It was escorted by two missile destroyers, the Shenyang and Shijiazhuang, and two missile frigates, the Yantai and Weifang.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Vacation in Sanya

When the PLAN submarine base in Sanya Hainan was revealed to the public two years ago, it caused a stir within the PLA watching community (here).

Simultaneously, Sanya is developing into one of the nicest vacation spots in the world.  Why swim with dolphins when you can swim with Han class nuclear submarines?

The decommissioned LSM 978 (here)

71st LH (Army Aviation ) Brigade, 71st Groiup Army, Eastern Theater Command Oct 2025 Update

A recently photo posted on Chinese Internet (TM) confirms that the 71st LH Brigade (LH991262) has been upgraded with the PLA’s current favorite, the Z-20T assault helicopter. With this addition, there are now seven known PLA Army Aviation Brigades operating the Z-20T: the 71st LH, 72nd LH, 76th LH, 81st LH, 161st (Air-Assault), 84th LH, and 85th LH Brigades.

Noted that the LH991262 is equipped with TY-90 Helicopter Air to Air Missile (in light blue)

Thursday, July 31, 2025

PLA Army Aviation Update: 81st LH Brigade, 81st Group Army, Central Theater Command

Judging by the latest photos posted on the Chinese Interweb,  the 81st LH Brigade has replaced its older and lighter Z-9 transport helicopters with a mixture of Z-20 and Z-20T (LH951210) 

Other choppers of the 81st LH are Mi17/MI171, Z-19 and Z10, unlike other PLA LH units, it does not have Z-8 in its TOE.

Note a mixture of laser semi-active and millimeter wave/infrared imaging guided anti-tank missile loadout in the 3rd and 4th photos below

Friday, July 11, 2025

Z-20T, a closer look

Note the upward exhaust, changed to reduce the infrared signature

 

 

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Introducing Z-20T Assault Helicopter

Another "not so surprising" unveiling at China’s biggest air show in Zhuhai is the Z-20T, the "Assault Version" of the standard Chinese transport helicopter.  

Judging by the exhibition model, this armed variant has similar configuration as the US MH-60L geared to support special operations
 
The front nose is likely be sporting a complete set of forward-looking infrared detection equipment similar to the flying night vision system (PNVS) on the nose of the "Apache" attack helicopter.  In addition, there is a target acquisition/marking system (TADS), which can carry out fire strikes through three channels of white light-thermal imaging and laser.

The Z-20T has a pair of heavy short wings, which can carry large air-to-ground rocket nests, as well as AKD-10 laser semi-active air-launched anti-tank missiles. The ability to carry long-range Blue Arrow-21 anti-tank missiles is also possible.  

Given its layout, the Z-20T is geared to support ground assault missions by specializing in infiltration attacks against key targets, in addition to being a versatile air assault helicopter.

 

 

 

Monday, July 29, 2024

Armed Z-20 Transport Helicopter.

It is unsurprising that the PLA will arm the Z-20 transport helicopter; new photographs of Z-20s with stub wings as mounts for weapons and small total increased lift confirm this anticipation.   Some Chinese military analysts are already laboring the stub wings variant "Z-20W" which indicates its secondary vertical assault mission. 

Take note of the two different stub wings.  The first photo comes from the Navy, and the second is a screen capture of a report on the LH Brigade of the 76th Group Army.

Monday, August 26, 2024

Yet another civilian dual-use semi-submersible vessel got STUFT-ed.

Back in Aug 17th 2024, there's three-photo article on the "PLA 71st Group Army takes off from a maritime platform during a flight training exercise" (link).  It does not a genius to figure it out why the PLA ground force,  whom the Army Aviation  (LH) organic to, is interested in using semi-submersible vessels to support "cross strait" operations.

 

Friday, August 21, 2020

https://china-defense.blogspot.com/2020/08/multi-type-army-helicopters-conduct.html

Multi-type Army helicopters conduct deck-landing training on civilian semi-submersible vessel

 another STUFT (Ships Taken Up From Trade) example

http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/view/2020-08/21/content_9887106.htm

BEIJING, Aug. 21 -- Recently, an army aviation brigade under the PLA 71st Group Army organized multi-type helicopters to conduct deck-landing training, fuel and ammunition replenishment and emergency repair on a civilian semi-submersible vessel, in a bid to test support capabilities.

According to the training scenario, after the multi-type helicopters flied to the target island, the transport helicopter selected a site for landing with the attack helicopter on alert overhead. Then the transport helicopter carried the mocked wounded soldiers to a civilian semi-submersible vessel for a replenishment-at-sea.

During the training, the multi-type helicopters landed precisely on the deck of civilian semi-submersible vessel and quickly received fuel and ammunition supplies.
There are three helipads in the middle area of the semi-submersible vessel’s deck.

Colonel Xu Yifeng, deputy commander of the army aviation brigade under the PLA 71st Group Army, said that this training has effectively improved the pilots’ deck-landing ability on the offshore platforms and also the maintenance personnel’s comprehensive support capacity, laying a solid foundation for the cross-sea operations of the PLA Army’s helicopters.

It is learnt that the civilian semi-submersible vessel participating in the training is manufactured by the Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. The middle area of the vessel’s deck is equipped with 3 helipads, which can carry and support multiple types of helicopters in active service to conduct cross-sea operations, such as the WZ-10, WZ-19, and Z-8 helicopters. China has so far dozens of dual-use semi-submersible vessels.

Chinese military expert Li Jie said on August 20 that the large semi-submersible ship can take advantage of its large deck and better stability to temporarily serve as a platform to carry helicopters, an offshore parking apron, and a replenishment and repair center when performing some tasks in offshore areas, especially those with air domination. If missions are performed around large islands or reefs, a large semi-submersible ship can also be deployed at each end of the islands or reefs as maritime relay platforms to further enhance the cross-sea combat capability of the helicopters and to increase the helicopters’ combat radius.
Maintenance crew members arm a WZ-19 helicopter with an AKD-9, an air-to-surface missile.

Li also believed that with the improvement of China's shipbuilding technology, the current large-tonnage civilian semi-submersible vessels with relatively advanced technology have great potential for military-civilian integration.

Disclaimer: This article is originally published on globaltimes.cn, and is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.

 

Friday, May 01, 2020

Z-10 Attack Helicopter target practice at sea

Unit:  71st LH Brigade, 71st Group Army,  Eastern Theater Command.
Yes and to no one's surprise, Z-10 attack helicopter will be found onboard of them Type 075 landing helicopter docks currently under construction.

Photo captured from a TV report (here)