Quote:
Originally Posted by TLAM Strike
Then again look how many classes of boat the Chinese have put in to service since Seawolf hit the water. Something like 4, soon to be 5...  |
I think there may be some real qualitative differences between the subs China has been knocking out over the past 10 years and subs like the Astute or Seawolf. China, like Russia before it, may well be putting quantity and not quality at the fore.
Also, like the good old days of the USSR, I doubt we will get to hear about half the disasters and compromises on the Chinese boats. Russia was in a hurry and had people to burn, so didn't worry too much about radiation shielding and other unimportant factors. No one has more people to burn than the Chinese, and they are clearly in a hurry to catch up with the west again.