Aircraft Carrier 1970 - "707 Project"

China's development of aircraft carrier began in the 1970s, when Premier Zhou Enlai gave instructions for the self-reliant development of China's own aircraft carrier. In July 1970, the Navy in conjunction with the Ministry of Machine, the Ministry of Aircraft made the development of domestic aircraft carrier ideas and ideas, and demonstration and pre-research work, project code-named "707 Project", then the idea is from 24,000 ton light aircraft carrier to start, and then to develop a medium-sized aircraft carrier.

The initial 24,000 ton carrier would have been slightly larger than the American CV-48 Saipan class, so it might have been about 700 feet long. Design details of the subsequent "medium carrier" are lacking, but it might be imagined to have been similar to the American CV-41 Midway Class design, with Chinese characteristics, 60,000 tons full load with a length overall of 975 feet.

However, due to the limitations of the domestic technical level, such as the main power system constraints, "707 Project" failed to continue. Although this project died, it can be seen that the national leaders of the strategic vision and the construction of a strong sense of the historical mission of the Navy.

As early as 1958, Mao Zedong at the CMC emphasized that in addition to continuing to strengthen land and air force, there must be vigorously shipbuilding industry. A large volume of shipbuilding, with construction of a 'maritime railway ", would build in the next few years a Powerful Navy. Chairman Mao's speech at the Central Military Commission prompted China to develope an ambitious plan for an oceanic navy, including aircraft carriers, and plans to build 18 submarines and surface ships. This plan was the product of the Great Leap Forward. Military technology, national strength and financial capacity were beyond the actual situation in China at that time. In the end the aircraft carrier's pre-research program was suspended.

In the late 1960s, the Taiwan authorities repeatedly attacked Chinese cargo ships, which were sunk on the high seas and even captured and snatched goods. These events occurred in external factors, which stimulated the new China's second Aircraft carrier research program.

The establishment of a strong blue water Navy had always been a dream of the Chinese people, as early as the early 1970s. The aircraft carrier demonstration program in July 1970 was formally adopted, called the "707 Project." The development plan by the Navy's first political commissar Li Zuopeng signed a report, Premier Zhou Enlai approved the formation of the aircraft carrier development demonstration group, which is China's first aircraft carrier development.

Since the founding of new China, due to limited national power, the Navy for a long time wanted to develop a "fast flying submarine", that is, aircraft, submarines and missile boats. In fact, in the development of China's aircraft carrier program from the early 1960s, Liu Huaqing, Director of Naval Research Institute was very concerned about the world's naval power aircraft carrier development and application, and the development of aircraft carriers to explore the issue. To the 1970s, the birth of the new Chinese history, the first aircraft carrier project report.

The United States in the 1950s already have the "Forrestal" class aircraft carrier. In April 1970, the Chinese navy equipment research and technical personnel received a central on the aircraft carrier pre-research instructions. The "glorious political mission" fell to the then head of the Naval Shipbuilding Industry Group Office of the head of Liu Huaqing. On May 16, 1970, Liu Huaqing presided over the completion of a report entitled "preliminary views on the construction of the aircraft carrier," the report, although the length is not long, but the development of contemporary Chinese navy has a very significant significance, that China The carrier from the dream into a high-level decision-making level.

Shortly afterwards, Liu Huaqing hosted the symposium on demonstration of aircraft carriers. The meeting identified the aircraft carrier model program, at this meeting, the aircraft carrier development code was identified as "707 project." After thousands of engineering and technical personnel and hundreds of participating units of the discussion, Liu Huaqing finally set the tone, for the first development of a 30,000 ton-class light aircraft carrier. The aircraft carrier will begin construction in 1980, with 1985 delivery to the Navy. This was the first in new China since the founding of the first aircraft carrier development plan.

Looking at the world at that time, the US Navy from 1967 fiscal year has already begun to develop the second generation of nuclear-powered aircraft carrier - "Nimitz" class; 1970 July, the Soviet Navy "Kiev" class aircraft carrier ship in the Black Sea shipyard started Construction; in 1973 the United Kingdom also ordered the "Invincible" class light aircraft carrier. It should be said, compared with the traditional power of the Navy, the Chinese navy in the early 1970s gap was still very obvious.

The "707 Project" was launched, but encountered many practical problems. At that time, China was to develop nuclear submarines, but was not a wealthy country. The development of nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers were two large-scale weapons projects, and there is indeed a very large financial pressure. In addition, in order to meet the Dongfeng-5 ballistic missile launch test, but also the construction of a large number of destroyers and other engineering ships, the development of aircraft carriers was less of a priority.

The preliminary demonstration program was to build a type of escort carrier. At the time, that was not a World War II aircraft carrier escort within the meaning of this type by the temporary conversion of the low-speed merchant ship, but a higher speed to support offshore operations in the range of a 30,000-ton aircraft carrier. Because the naval aircraft combat radius was to provide China's cargo ships escort, the name was "escort carrier".

In accordance with the "707 Project" planning, this type of escort aircraft carrier would use an enclosed bow, single hangar, steam catapult, angled flight deck to the steam turbine powered. However, this scheme obviously with the Great Leap Forward of color, did not choose the right carrier aircraft (F-6, the F-7 are unsuitable). The most important thing was, even by the endof the 20th Century, China still had not successfully developed a steam catapult.

The "707" project planning aircraft carrier for a 24,000-ton light aircraft carrier, the aircraft carrier plan corresponded to the current situation in China and the actual demand as the starting point, was more realistic planning, more reasonable.

The French Clemanceau carrier was equipped with US-made BS5 steam catapults. The flight deck was 265 meters long and 51.2 meters wide, the draft of the hull was 8.5 meters, the standard displacement was 27,300 tons, the full load displacement is 32,780 tons, the power unit was steam with the total horsepower of 126000 horsepower, the maximum speed is 32 knots.

But the history did not assume that the "707" aircraft carrier project for various reasons did not continue, in 1971, Premier Zhou Enlai instructions, "707" project do not worry, so far, China's first attempt to develop aircraft carrier died.

Although the "707 Project" ultimately failed to be implemented, Liu Huaqing looked ahead to realize that the future development of China's overseas trade, the maintenance of maritime traffic, the task of protecting marine resources was bound to become more and more arduous, the role of aircraft carrier can not be replaced. Therefore, the pursuit of the Chinese Navy aircraft carrier had not stopped.

The aircraft carrier, for the Chinese navy, was definitely not just an increase of large surface ships, but existed beyond the meaning of the military field. It is no exaggeration to say that the aircraft carrier completely called the Chinese nation to revive, stand in the world power.