Naval News provides an overview of a new set of Chinese amphibious bridging designs with ominous significance for a notional PLA-invasion of Taiwan.
Satellite and ground imagery shared on social media recently revealed an intriguing system of Chinese amphibious bridging barges. The design likely aims at facilitating a large scale amphibious operation aimed at a Taiwan-contingency. Naval News in this analysis will provide an overview on the characteristics of these designs and outline their notional application.
Naval News in a notable first reported on the production of these distinct barges in early January. In a follow-up, naval analyst and former USN submariner Tom Shugart provided additional detail on the nature of the designs. The builder of the barges in question is CSSC Offshore & Marine Engineering Company (COMEC) in Guangzhou, southern China. The company is frequently referred to by its former name, Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI), including here on Naval News. COMEC is an established provider to the Chinese Navy (PLAN). The yard produces naval designs such as replenishment oilers, hospital ships and submarine support vessels. COMEC in recent years has diversified into building innovative new systems such as a aviation platform for drones and helicopters.
Presently COMEC appears to have produced four distinct designs tied to the Chinese amphibious bridging system. Three of these are relevant for operational use by PLAN, with the fourth possibly representing a prototype or developmental design. All three designs relevant to this article in the most basic sense can be characterised as “jack-up-barges”. The term refers to self-elevating marine platforms using a set of legs to stand on the seabed. This design intends to provide a stable platform for high-load transfers and operations above the waterline. Jack-up rigs experience significant proliferation in the commercial offshore industry, particularly for resource extraction, such as drilling for oil and gas.
Jack-up rigs require transport by specialised vessels, under tow, or move to an area of operations under their own power. The Chinese designs discussed here appear to be self-propelled. Therefore, despite termed “barges”, they are more accurately seagoing vessels capable of transiting across significant distances unassisted. This aspect carries importance for a notional invasion of the Taiwanese main.
Three of the four designs next appeared at a beach on Nansan Island, off Zhanjiang, in imagery shared on “X”, formerly Twitter, and other social media from March 14. Zhanjiang is well over 200 nautical miles east of Guangzhou, where the barges originated. Whether the three Chinese amphibious bridging units made the journey under their own power, under tow or via transport by heavylift vessel is unclear. Nansan Island also houses a dedicated facility for PLAN amphibious units, notably Zubr-class and Type 726 LCAC.
The three barges arrived around February 27 and remained in place until March 22. During that time the PLA had conducted tests involving at least two civilian Ro/ro-ferries connecting to the platforms. By March 23 all barges appear to have departed the area according to radar imagery via Sentinel. By March 24 the three barges had re-located to Donghai Island, approximately 10 nautical miles south, and resumed operations.
Key characteristics of operational designs
As noted in analsysis such as by Sal Mercogliano, the designs in question distinguish themselves through a number of features. This includes length, number of legs connecting them to the seabed and elements enabling the berthing of cargo ships. The first variant, termed Type 2 by Tom Shugart, is the most compact design featuring four legs. A newer report by Tom Shugart and J. Michael Dahm via CMSI also refers to this design as “Shuiqiao 110”, in reference to an article by Andrew Erickson on March 13. “Shuiqiao” (水桥) means “water bridge”, with the number referring to its length in metres. The design measures 38 metres in beam, with a 140 metre-extendable ramp. Primary use for Type 2 is as a direct connector of the bridging system to the shore. Type 2 features shorter legs for shallow waters, no extended platforms enabling the berthing of ferries, and possibly waterjet propulsion.
All of these traits combined suggest Type 2 would see use as bridgehead in very shallow waters. The design appears to have limited or no capability facilitating transfer of materiel from transport ships by itself.
