Chinese Carrier

[willedoo]

News item with a satellite photo of the Chinese carrier, Varyag undergoing sea trials:

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16190926

 

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The Varyag had an interesting trip from the Ukraine to China about ten years ago. It was originally to be a Kuznetsov class aircraft carrying missile cruiser, but was never completed when the USSR was disbanded. Ukraine assumed ownership, stripped it & later sold it to a Chinese travel agency, minus engines, etc, supposedly to be converted to a floating hotel/casino.

 

Turkey woudn't give permission for it to be towed through the strait, so it was towed around in circles in the Black Sea for 16 months before they were finally allowed through. At one stage,it broke adrift near Greece for four days before being taken under tow again. As the Suez Canal won't allow transit of vessels not under their own power, the Varyag had to go via Gibraltar, the Atlantic Ocean,South Africa & the Straits of Malacca. It finally arrived in China almost two years after being taken in tow. They say it will be a few years before it has operational aircraft.

 

Cheers, Willie.

 

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