Breaking news
Second made in Ukraine Zubr class LCAC for Chinese Navy rushed for delivery following crisis.
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Naval
Forces News - China |
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Second
made in Ukraine Zubr class LCAC for Chinese Navy rushed for delivery
following crisis |
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According
to eyewitnesses and pictures, on March 1st, 2014 in Feodosiya, Crimea,
the second Zubr (project 1232.2) amphibious hovercraft for the Chinese
Navy (PLAN) was rushed on its way to China ahead of schedule (before
all trials were conducted). The obivous reason of this sudden move was
to avoid any damage to the vessel in case the situation in Crimea deteriorated.
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 On March 1st 2014, two tugs are seen towing the second Ukraine built Zubr class LCAC for China. The LCAC was taken to a cargo ship which immediatly set sail towards the Bosphorus. According to source this happen way ahead of schedule and best all trials were completed on the LCAC. Picture: Paul Anfimov / phistory.info |
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Currently
the world’s largest hovercraft, development of Zubr landing ships
started in the USSR in 1978, and the first serial ship joined Soviet
Navy in 1988. Its carrying capacity is 3 main battle tanks with overall
mass of 150 tons or 10 armored personnel carriers weighing up to 131
tons plus 140 marines, or 8 infantry fighting vehicles with mass up
to 115 tons. If not carrying armor, Zubr is capable to accommodate 366
men. In total, 14 Zubr-class ships have been launched; only two of them remain in inventory of Russian Navy. Five ships were decommissioned , two uncompleted, and five sold to Greece for the Hellenic Navy and where they are generally used in support of Special Forces. With the recent Chinese order, the total of Zubr-class ships to have been launched will reach 18. Taiwan and its allies are concerned that these platforms may be used as part of Chinese offensive against Taiwan. According to sources, the banner displayed at the back of the Chinese built Zubr translates into "Reuniting the Motherland". Back in April 2013 we reported about the delivery of the first Zubr LCAC for the Chinese Navy. |