On 25 September 2012, Liaoning, the first aircraft carrier of the People's Republic of China, was handed over to the Chinese Navy. The Lianoing is none other than the ex-Varyag bought from the Ukraine in 1998. Besides technical prowess made by Chinese shipyards into what it is today, the ship hides a very amazing story.
The Varyag, now known as Liaoning, was the sister of Admiral Kuznetsov (67 500 tonnes, 310 meters long, 70 meters wide), still in service in the Russian Navy. Controlled by the Soviet Navy shipyards in Nikolaev Ukraine, its construction was interrupted in 1993 when he was only 70% completed. Ukraine who wanted to separate from then took contact with India and China. A Chinese delegation visited Ukraine to quickly complete the transaction, but it failed, due to pressure from the United States and Japan.
In 1998, Ukraine launched a tender for its deconstruction but ... a travel agency she received a strange proposal. Lot Chong, Chinese Macao agency, offered to purchase the vessel for $ 20 million, three times the price of scrap. His project into the ... floating casino. It was really a subterfuge. Chong Lot Agency that has, so no offices in Macau is a front company in Hong Kong, Chinluck Holding Co. Ltd.., Behind which lurk the secret services of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA ). The trick seems to work the nose and beard of everyone. In July 1999, the building is ready to be towed, destination China.
But the difficulties are only just beginning for the future Liaoning. The Turkish authorities (under pressure from NATO?) Oppose its passage through the Bosphorus officially seeing a threat to navigation in case of incorrect operation. 16 months, Beijing Ankara negotiates with the right of way. It was not until November 1, 2001, the ex-Varyag is finally allowed to cross the Bosphorus against the payment of a large sum paid to Turkey.
A few days later, the convoy was caught in a violent storm in the Aegean Sea, in front of the Greek island of Skyros. The trailer breaks. The building drifts. It will take six days for the price of the life of a sailor. In the Mediterranean, the convoy is denied passage through the Suez Canal, the vessel being towed with no propulsion. Begins a long journey via Gibraltar and ... Cape of Good Hope. The convoy bypasses Africa to reach the Indian Ocean. March 3, 2001, he finally arrived in the Chinese port of Dalian, after four months of sailing!
The imposing rusty hull will remain docked for four years, which probably needed to stop methods of reverse engineering (reverse engineering), which consist in a comprehensive study of the ship to identify and understand the operation and methods manufacture. The building was finally given in April 2005, Dalian shipyards which will start its reconstruction, under the provisional name of Shi Lang.
In early 2010, after a drydock, the Shi Lang joined a fitting quay where the building receives its particular combat systems, armament, equipment navigation and detection. It was renamed Liaoning, the name of the province where Dalian.
Seventeen years after the first attempt to purchase from China! It is now the flagship of the Chinese Navy ... meanwhile others.
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