From StratFor's StrategyPage
Chinese Catamaran Gunboats Proliferate
December 5, 2007: China is apparently mass producing its new Type 022
(sometimes called 2208) patrol boat. The design is similar to the U.S.
LCS (Littoral Combat Ship), but much smaller (220 tons and 140 feet
long) and more of a patrol boat than a flexible ship (as the U.S. LCS
is). The 2208 is a stealthy, wave-piercing catamaran. It is highly
automated, requiring a crew of only twelve. It carries a 30mm
multi-barrel auto cannon (a Russian anti-missile system) and anti-ship
missiles. At first it was thought that this class was an experiment, as
China had been buying, and taking apart, Australian catamarans for
several years. But now it appears that several dozen of the Type 022 are
in production. This worries Taiwan, for such ships would be able to
operate in the open waters between China and Taiwan, and play a part in
an invasion of Taiwan.
From: "Bill Roberts" <bill@therobertslawfirm.com>
To: <power-catamaran@lists.samurai.com>
Thought you might find this interesting about China and Catamarans.
>From StratFor's StrategyPage
Chinese Catamaran Gunboats Proliferate
December 5, 2007: China is apparently mass producing its new Type 022
(sometimes called 2208) patrol boat. The design is similar to the U.S.
LCS (Littoral Combat Ship), but much smaller (220 tons and 140 feet
long) and more of a patrol boat than a flexible ship (as the U.S. LCS
is). The 2208 is a stealthy, wave-piercing catamaran. It is highly
automated, requiring a crew of only twelve. It carries a 30mm
multi-barrel auto cannon (a Russian anti-missile system) and anti-ship
missiles. At first it was thought that this class was an experiment, as
China had been buying, and taking apart, Australian catamarans for
several years. But now it appears that several dozen of the Type 022 are
in production. This worries Taiwan, for such ships would be able to
operate in the open waters between China and Taiwan, and play a part in
an invasion of Taiwan.
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