Is China building the world’s largest naval support ship?

China appears to be close to launching the world’s largest naval support ship. 

On Thursday, the China State Shipbuilding Corporation released a picture of one of its shipyards on social media as part of a message marking a new Chinese solar term, which showed a massive hull in a dry dock in the background. 

The photo prompted speculation among military observers that the hull was an auxiliary ship and triggered a debate about the future logistical capabilities of the People’s Liberation Army Navy.The ship’s upper deck and island superstructures appeared to be largely complete, suggesting it would soon be ready to leave the dock for its final fitting.The speculation about whether it really is a “mega-replenisher” stems from the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s shift towards blue-water operations. 

Because China has few overseas military bases, it will have to rely on auxiliary ships to provide vital supplies such as food and water or fuel and ammunition during these missions on the open seas.

Currently, the PLA Navy’s aircraft carrier groups are supported by two 45,000-tonne Type 901 Fuyu class fast combat support ships and the much smaller and slower Type 903 Fuchi class ships.

With satellite imagery suggesting that a new “super carrier” is being built, it is widely believed that a new class of giant replenishment ships will be needed to provide the navy’s logistical backbone.The existence of this support vessel first came to international attention last month following a report by Janes based on commercial satellite photos taken in March. It said the vessel was being built at the Longxue shipyard in the southern city of Guangzhou.Janes estimated that the ship was about 271 metres (890 feet) long and 37 metres wide, adding that it appeared to have been “designed to carry fuel, dry stores and ammunition for carrier strike groups”.

Given the dimensions, defence analysts estimated that the vessel would have a displacement of at least 60,000 to 65,000 tonnes. If confirmed, this would outweigh the retired United States Navy’s Sacramento-class fast combat support ships, which had a displacement of around 53,000 tonnes.

The satellite images taken in March showed that the ship had not yet had its superstructure fitted, so it must have been added within the past two months – a striking rate of progress.Analysts said that if the current tempo was maintained, the ship could be finished by the end of the year and enter service in 2027 or 2028.

Source: South China Morning post