Retired battleships aircraft tanks

Most of them went into the steel-making furnace, and the ones that were more likely to be used were temporarily sealed, and a small amount was sent to the museum.

Many U.S. aircraft have entered the aircraft graveyard, and warships have entered the national defense reserve fleet. Our country also has a similar reserve organization.

The United States is the leading military power in the world today, and its war capabilities are sharp. It is powerful and domineering, and its war potential is solid and unfathomable. According to people familiar with the matter, the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force all have independent and large strategic reserve systems. These weapons and equipment are often intentionally ignored when calculating military strength. As long as war breaks out, they can be put into use immediately. For the vacant weapons and equipment of the US military, "warehousing" does not mean waste, and "disarming and returning to the field" does not mean abandonment, and more often than not, they are still "calm", "power" and "dollars" synonym.

Aircraft "zombie" discounted prices can make the country rich

With the improvement of the status of the navy and air force, the F-14 "Tomcat" carrier-based multi-purpose fighter originally equipped by the U.S. Navy has been replaced by F-14 "Tomcat" carrier-based multi-purpose fighter jets. /A-18E/F "Super Hornet" fighter replacement. The F-15 and F-16 fighter jets currently in service in the U.S. Air Force will gradually be replaced by the new F-22 and F-35 fighter jets. Where will these "glorious" former "air overlords" go in the end?

The answer ultimately lies in the "Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center" located near Tucson, Arizona, USA. Since most retired US military aircraft are transported to this center for processing, it is also known as the "aircraft cemetery". After the retired US military aircraft arrives here, the maintenance center will conduct a comprehensive "physical examination" of the aircraft, and the test results will be recorded one by one. At this center, important and dangerous parts such as cannons and ejection devices on the aircraft will be dismantled and preserved. The fuel in the aircraft will be exhausted, and the aircraft's engine inlet, tail nozzle, etc. will be sealed. The fuselage is also sprayed with a protective film to prevent the fuselage and the electronic components on the aircraft from being corroded by harsh environments and damaged by animals.

The U.S. military takes such pains to protect these decommissioned aircraft, of course, not just to recycle scrap metal, but to maintain and seal them as an important part of the strategic equipment reserve.

Here, all aircraft will be divided into 4 categories for processing: the first category is aircraft that are in good condition and can take off to perform missions at any time; the second category is aircraft that can be reused after a short period of maintenance ; The third category is aircraft whose parts can be recycled; the fourth category is aircraft that are about to be destroyed. In other words, a considerable number of the "zombies" that have walked into the aircraft "graveyard" are still in good condition and can be reactivated in a short time if necessary.

Moreover, many retired aircraft of the US military have been modified here and then re-introduced to the international arms market. The F-16 fighter jets that the United States agreed to sell to Pakistan in 2006, as well as the P-3C anti-submarine aircraft and E-2T early warning aircraft that Taiwan previously purchased, all came from this "aircraft cemetery."

According to people familiar with the matter, the center currently maintains more than 4,200 aircraft with a total value of more than 27 billion US dollars. These mothballed aircraft and their supporting equipment are enough to rival the air force of a medium-sized country.

The "Shadow Fleet" demonstrates its strength

In addition to the US aircraft carrier fleet that frequently appears around the world and steals the show, the US Navy actually also has a "shadow fleet" whose strength cannot be underestimated. Shadow Fleet". At its peak, this fleet had 2,277 ships of various types, but its name is not familiar to the outside world. It is the "National Defense Reserve Fleet" of the US military.

The ships of this "shadow fleet" are usually hidden in ports across the United States. Among them, Port Benisi, California, Fort Eustis, Virginia, and Beaumont, Texas are the 3rd members of the fleet. a main base. The main mission of the fleet is to provide support to the US military during wartime or national emergencies.

Since its establishment in 1925, the "Shadow Fleet" has made great achievements. During World War II. British merchant ships were repeatedly attacked by German submarines in the Atlantic, causing heavy losses. British Prime Minister Churchill made an urgent request for help from US President Roosevelt. Due to domestic pressure in the United States at the time, Roosevelt was unable to provide direct military aid to Britain, so he set his sights on the old American warships mothballed in the "Shadow Fleet."

After that, the United States and the United Kingdom signed the "Destroyer Base Change Agreement", and the United States deployed 50 destroyers from the "Shadow Fleet" to escort British merchant ships. These old ships became Britain's "life-saving straw", easing the British destroyer shortage problem. At the same time, they also exchanged for the United States the right to use naval, land and air bases on several important islands in the Caribbean. During the Korean War, the "Shadow Fleet" activated more than 540 ships to provide support to the US military, and an additional 172 ships were activated during the Vietnam War.

Currently, due to the need for support capabilities, merchant ships and military auxiliary ships have become the main components of the US military's "shadow fleet", but there are still a large number of retired navy ships in the "shadow fleet".

According to U.S. military statistics, as of the end of 2005, there were 577 ships in the "Shadow Fleet", including 3 aircraft carriers, 8 amphibious tank landing ships, and 54 destroyers, including the current The "Spruance" class anti-submarine destroyer is still considered to have strong combat capabilities.

The "Kidd" class destroyers purchased by Taiwan also come from the "Shadow Fleet". It can be seen that the strength of the US military's "shadow fleet" is indeed extraordinary.

Let’s talk about aircraft carriers.

Regenerating the remaining heat - aircraft carrier museum

For retired aircraft carriers, perhaps converting them into aircraft carrier museums is a good idea to use their remaining heat. After all, for these behemoths, they were glorious when they were in service, and they will be remembered forever after retirement.

In the United States, which has the largest number of aircraft carriers, it is no longer unusual for decommissioned aircraft carriers to be converted into aircraft carrier museums. There are currently five aircraft carrier museums in the United States. They are the "Intrepid" anchored in New York, the "Yorkton" in Mount Park, Southern California, the "Lexington" in Texas, the "Hornet" in Alameda, California, and the "Hornet" in San Diego. "Midway".

Among these five aircraft carrier museums, the most famous is probably the USS Midway, which is currently the largest aircraft carrier and naval aviation museum in the United States. The "Midway" aircraft carrier was launched into service during World War II in March 1945. Less than six months later, Japan announced its unconditional surrender. The battleship was named after the famous battle at Midway in 1942. In that battle, the U.S. military defeated the Japanese fleet in the central Pacific, which became a turning point in the Pacific War. The "Midway" went to Vietnam three times to participate in the war, and participated in the 1991 Gulf War. This battleship has witnessed many world firsts. It completed the world's first shipboard takeoff and landing of a jet aircraft on the deck of the "Midway" aircraft carrier. It also experienced the world's first naval missile war, when the US military launched V-2 rockets captured from the Germans from the USS Midway. In 1992, the U.S. Navy announced the retirement of the USS Midway. It is the longest-serving warship in the history of the U.S. Navy. About 200,000 U.S. officers and soldiers, including sailors and aviation forces, have served on the ship. In order to realize the dream of turning the "Midway" aircraft carrier into a museum, the supporters worked hard. They raised 8 million US dollars and spent twenty years overcoming various restrictions to build this giant ship. Sweep away the dust and see the light of day again.

The "Hornet" aircraft carrier anchored in Alameda, California, USA, is the most unlucky aircraft carrier museum among the five aircraft carrier museums. The Hornet, which played an important role during World War II and the Apollo moon landing in 1969, was almost shut down due to inability to make ends meet after being converted into a museum for six years. According to museum director Scott Armani, the museum's annual revenue for six years has been only about $2 million, while operating costs have been as high as $2.5 million. The local power company requires the "Hornet" aircraft carrier museum to pay off its $93 million debt within a specified time limit, otherwise it will shut down the power supply. The "Hornet" aircraft carrier served in the Pacific War of World War II and the Vietnam War, and was used to search for astronauts returning to Earth during the world-famous "Apollo" moon landing in 1969. Because the "Hornet" not only played an important role in the war, but also contributed to human exploration of space, it is considered a valuable historical heritage. The museum transformed from the "Hornet" is known as a "living monument." The museum caters to visitors of all ages, regularly holds various commemorative and entertainment activities, and offers patriotic education programs specifically for young people. However, faced with the embarrassment of a power outage, the "Hornet" aircraft carrier museum was helpless. It seems that relying on fame to make a living is not an expedient solution. If the "Hornet" aircraft carrier museum is to continue to develop, managers will not be able to change their concepts and change their business strategies.

The soul returns to the sea - test target ship

For retired aircraft carriers, being sunk as a test target ship is another destination. Although the "way to die" is tragic, it is still a good idea. Moreover, after they sank to the bottom of the sea, they formed warship reefs, which in turn became a paradise for seafloor fish, which can be regarded as a contribution to the marine ecological environment.

On April 19 this year, the USS America, which lost power, was towed away from the old Philadelphia naval port. In the following time, the U.S. Navy installed multiple high explosives in the aircraft carrier. According to the Navy The Marine Systems Command carefully planned in advance to carry out a "live fire attack" on it. After 25 consecutive days of indiscriminate bombardment, the hull began to flood with a large amount of water at 11:30 a.m. local time on May 14, and then sank "elegantly" into the Atlantic Ocean. The U.S. Navy officers and soldiers at the test site collectively witnessed the "sinking" Process and salute. Hundreds of sets of sensors and cameras installed on the aircraft carrier captured and recorded all test data throughout the process. These data will become an important reference for the United States to build a new generation of aircraft carriers in the 21st century to provide anti-attack capabilities. However, the U.S. Navy did not disclose the news to the outside world before the test, and categorically refused all media interviews during the test. According to reports, the blasting experiments were conducted underwater and at sea, and were observed from a distance through monitoring devices on the aircraft carrier. The data obtained will be provided to various military shipbuilding companies to provide precious data for the next generation of aircraft carriers under development. Currently, U.S. researchers still use data obtained during World War II when calculating ship stability. In addition, some of the tests are military secrets, and former USS America crew members and news media are not allowed to watch.

The spokesman explained that such a large warship had never been sunk before, and little was known about how giant aircraft carriers could avoid war damage, so the Navy did not want to reveal too much information about how to sink the aircraft carrier.

The "America" ??is the third conventional aircraft carrier of the "Kitty Hawk" class. From officially joining the U.S. Navy to retiring in 1996, a total of 70,000 naval officers and soldiers served on the "America" ??aircraft carrier. It has participated in many major conflicts, including the Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm, and Operation Sustained Freedom in Bosnia. It has received 5 Battle Star Awards, 3 Navy Collective Commendations, and 3 Force Troop Citation Awards. Merit Award" and 7 Expedition Awards. Therefore, retired veterans have deep feelings for this battleship, and they were very sad when they learned the news of the sinking of the "America".

As the "America" ??aircraft carrier slowly entered the water, the world's first aircraft carrier used as a target ship for exercises brought a successful end to its life. It is the largest warship buried under the ocean during war and peace in the world. In its last years, it was able to "wrap itself in horse leather" and provide relevant data on the anti-attack capability for the development of a new generation of aircraft carriers. The "America" ??aircraft carrier really answered Chairman Mao's request. As the old man said, "Life is great, death is glorious."

Of course, the retired "American" aircraft carrier is not the only aircraft carrier participating in the test. Prior to this, the USS "Vengeance" aircraft carrier participated in a series of explosion tests from 1946 to 1948 when it was not completed, and also obtained valuable test data. However, the "Revenge" did not "return to the sea" like the "America", perhaps because the weapons and equipment at the time had not reached the current level. Finally, the scarred "Vengeance" was sold to a steel mill for dismantling and dismantling.

"Infinite Resurrection" - Second-hand Transaction

Looking at the world naval weapons and equipment market in the past 10 to 15 years, the phenomenon of retired ships being dominated by one family deserves special attention. Most transactions The projects are all centered around the decommissioned ships of various naval powers. The number and amount of transactions are absolutely dominant, and the transaction of decommissioned aircraft carriers is an integral part of it.

For a developed country with the ability to manufacture aircraft carriers, how to deal with decommissioned aircraft carriers has always been a headache. For a developing country that does not have the ability to manufacture aircraft carriers and is eager to own one, it is also a headache. But if we look at these two problems together, the problem is easy to solve. As a result, a new market was born in the world - the second-hand aircraft carrier trading market. At present, the world's most important sources of decommissioned aircraft carriers are the United Kingdom, France, the United States, Russia and other countries, while the most important buyers are India, Brazil, Thailand, Australia and other countries.

As one of the largest developing countries in the world, India seems to have a soft spot for second-hand aircraft carriers. In 1957, India, which had just become independent, took a fancy to the 20,000-ton "Hercules" numbered R11, the fifth of the six Dignity-class light aircraft carriers built by the United Kingdom. After purchasing it, it was renamed "Vikrant" " was decommissioned on January 31, 1997 and is now in the Indian Maritime History Museum. The successful transaction of "Vikrant" made India the first country in Asia to own an aircraft carrier after World War II. In the third India-Pakistan War in the early 1970s, the aircraft carrier "Vikrant" successfully performed a naval blockade mission against Pakistan, demonstrating the tremendous role of aircraft carriers in seizing air supremacy in naval battles, thus inspiring India to expand The determination of its aircraft carrier fleet. In May 1986, India once again purchased the retired British light aircraft carrier "Restaurus" for 50 million pounds and renamed it "Villante". After being deeply modified in the UK, it officially joined India in May of the following year. Navy, becoming the flagship of the Western Fleet based in Bombay. On January 20, 2004, Indian Defense Minister Fernandez and the visiting Russian Defense Minister Ivanov signed an agreement in New Delhi for India to purchase the retired Russian aircraft carrier "Admiral Gorshkov" and 28 "MiG-29K" "Ship-based fighter jets and other arms purchase contracts worth a total of US$1.5 billion. The ship is scheduled to join the Indian Navy in 2008. Of course, this may be the last time the Indian Navy purchases a second-hand aircraft carrier, because on April 11 this year, Indian Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee announced that a 37,500-ton aircraft carrier named "Blue Sky Guardian" The aircraft carrier manufacturing project was officially launched. The entire aircraft carrier construction is expected to cost US$746 million and take eight years. This is India's most ambitious military plan to date, and it is also the first time a third world country has built its own aircraft carrier. Its completion will mark the world's second-hand aircraft carrier trading market. A "committed buyer" will be lost.

Brazil, another developing country, is also a frequent visitor to the second-hand aircraft carrier trading market. It first purchased a decommissioned light aircraft carrier named "Minas Gerais" in 1960. This British-made aircraft carrier entered service in 1945. It has a displacement of 19,900 tons, can carry 20 aircraft and 1,300 crew members, and is mainly used for anti-submarine warfare. In 2000, Brazil spent another US$12 million to purchase a decommissioned French aircraft carrier, the Foch, which had been in service since 1963, and renamed it the Sao Paulo. The "Fuxi" is a conventionally powered aircraft carrier with a displacement of 32,800 tons and a length of 265 meters. It can carry 40 aircraft and 2,200 crew members. The Foch participated in the Gulf War and the Kosovo War.

Due to the addition of the "Foch", the Brazilian Navy has become the navy with the strongest maritime air control capability in South America.

Turning waste into treasure - Aircraft Carrier Park

Transforming an aircraft carrier into a military-themed aircraft carrier park is a bold idea that only the Chinese can come up with. . However, with the Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court announcing the official bankruptcy of "Minsk" Aircraft Carrier World Industrial Co., Ltd. on February 28 this year, my country's first military-themed aircraft carrier park became history after five years of operation.

Since the end of the last century, China has imported three decommissioned aircraft carriers: "Minsk", "Melbourne" and "Varyango" from abroad. Among them, the "Minsk" aircraft carrier is the most eye-catching. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the Russian Navy, which was financially strapped, had to reluctantly announce the retirement of the "Minsk" aircraft carrier, known as the "fifth largest aircraft carrier in the world." In 1995, after dismantling key components on the ship, the aircraft carrier "Minsk" was sold to South Korea as scrap metal, and South Korea in turn sold the "Minsk" to China.

On September 27, 2000, the carefully renovated "Minsk Carrier World" officially opened for business. Less than a year after its opening, it became one of the most popular attractions in the Pearl River Delta. Fresh ideas, bold approaches, tortuous transportation processes, and imaginative aircraft carrier tourism promotion have all contributed to the success of the "Minsk" aircraft carrier military theme park. Over the past five years, the "Minsk" scenic spot has received a total of 5 million tourists, with a total revenue of nearly 500 million yuan and a tax payment of nearly 20 million yuan. Aircraft Carrier World has quickly become a landmark attraction in Shenzhen together with Window of the World and Diwang Building.

"Minsk Aircraft Carrier World" is located on the seaside of Shatoujiao, Shenzhen, adjacent to the famous Zhongying Street. It is currently the only military theme park in China and even the world with aircraft carriers as the main body, and has been awarded the " National Science Popularization Education Base" and "Guangdong Military Science Popularization Education Base". The park consists of the "Minsk" aircraft carrier at sea and the "Minsk" square on land. The first phase of the aircraft carrier at sea opened nearly 30,000 square meters of sightseeing area to the public. The original weapon systems, combat command systems, torpedo launch cabins, missile launch systems, and living areas for officers and soldiers on the aircraft carrier were all renovated; the Russian Aerospace Exhibition, The "World Aircraft Carrier Level, Former Soviet Medal Military Uniform Level" exhibition and the powerful aviation regiment composed of MiG-23 fighter jets, Mi-24 armed helicopters, and Q-5 fighter jets on the flight deck are magnificent and unique; you can participate in military entertainment Projects such as combat simulation demonstrations, space simulation launches, naval gun launches, aircraft carrier battle movies, etc. rely on modern high technology and make full use of sound, light, electricity and other means, which are novel, exciting, and colorful; the exotic Russian song and dance performances are colorful; The majestic guard of honor performance on the flight deck is also fascinating. Minsk Square on land consists of the front square, the back square and the aircraft carrier center building, covering an area of ??more than 80,000 square meters. Entering the square in front of the park, you are greeted by a solemn and neat performance of the honor guard. Guard posts are separated on both sides of the passage. The main sculpture of "Forging Swords into Plowshares" in Peace Square is thought-provoking. The back square has artillery positions, tank positions, aviation, surface-to-air missile bases and battlefield theaters. It focuses on military entertainment, weapons display, performances and seaside leisure. The simulation of naval battles at sea is thrilling. The aircraft carrier center building of nearly 20,000 square meters has a unique design style and has multiple functions such as catering, shopping, office, and leisure. The entire square organically combines the strong southern coastal style with the military atmosphere. Despite this, the insolvency of the manager of the "Minsk" aircraft carrier park, Minsk Aircraft Carrier World Industrial Co., Ltd., coupled with poor management and other reasons, finally led to the bankruptcy of the "Minsk" aircraft carrier park.

As the "Minsk" aircraft carrier park declared bankruptcy, people turned their attention to another unbuilt aircraft carrier of the former Soviet Union, the "Varyango". Since its opening in July 2001, the refitted "Varyango" has received an average of more than 5,000 domestic and foreign tourists every day, with total annual tourism ticket revenue of nearly 20 million yuan. It has become a new tourist hotspot in Dalian. What will be its fate? People don't know yet. However, it is known that the aircraft carrier park has opened up a new way to deal with decommissioned aircraft carriers.

Smashing the pot - dismantling and dismantling

After the aircraft carrier is decommissioned, if there is really no other use, it can only be dismantled into eight pieces. Generally speaking, the weapons and equipment on the aircraft carrier are disassembled first, and then the hull and power equipment are disassembled. However, for a behemoth like an aircraft carrier, disassembly and disassembly is not a profitable business. Since these decommissioned aircraft carriers often contain a large amount of toxic substances, asbestos, expired fuel, and even nuclear reactors, the cost of disassembly has remained high. According to statistics, the cost of dismantling each aircraft carrier is approximately US$65 million to US$70 million. Such high disassembly costs have made navies of various countries feel helpless. Even the wealthy US Navy often feels stretched. According to reports, the U.S. Navy invests only US$20 million in this area every year, and the dismantling process is often interrupted due to various reasons. For example, it took 7 years for the "Sea Coral" to be dismantled in 2003.

As a result, the navies of various countries have chosen to sell decommissioned aircraft carriers to other companies (mainly developing countries), and then have them dismantle and dismantle them, so that they can feel "free".

However, because it involves environmental protection, confidentiality and other reasons, disputes often arise, which is what navies of various countries do not want to see.

Greenpeace believes that when developed countries sell used aircraft carriers to developing countries, they actually want to transfer toxic and harmful substances from their own countries to other countries and use the cheap labor of developing countries to destroy them. . Violates the Basel Convention (full name "Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal"), adopted by 104 countries at the World Environmental Protection Conference held in Basel, Switzerland, on March 22, 1989, in 1992 It will take effect on May 5. There are currently 152 signatories of the Treaty, but the United States, the most developed industrial country in the world, has not participated in the treaty.)

In 2003, the former flagship of the French Navy "Clay". Monceau" aircraft carrier was once trapped on the coast of Sicily, Italy due to a dispute over the disassembly rights contract. At that time, the 33,000-ton aircraft carrier was decommissioned in 1997 after 35 years of service and was sold to a Spanish company. According to an agreement reached between the French Ministry of Defense and the company, the "Clémenceau" was towed by the company to a port in northern Spain for disassembly. However, the aircraft carrier "Clémenceau" did not sail to the Strait of Gibraltar after leaving its Toulon base in the Mediterranean. Instead, it sailed towards Turkey. According to French Ministry of Defense spokesman Buot: "Europe has reached a convention on asbestos dismantling, and a clause in the contract clearly stipulates that dismantling will be carried out in Europe, not in Turkey. Because the company seriously violated its obligations under the contract, France The government canceled the contract on Tuesday. The French government then handed over the dismantling rights to a German company to carry out the dismantling work in the Greek port of Piraeus.

Leaks also restrict the disassembly of decommissioned aircraft carriers. In 1995, under the instruction of the then Russian Chief of Naval Staff Khmelnov, the Pacific Fleet sold two decommissioned aircraft carriers as scrap metal to South Korea's Daewoo Group for US$13 million. However, the two aircraft carriers had only served for 14 years. years and 10 years. According to the Russian "New News" report, when the Russian Navy sold two decommissioned aircraft carriers, the relevant departments of the Pacific Fleet did not dismantle the weapons and equipment on the aircraft carriers as required. When the Pacific Fleet counterintelligence department discovered the above problems, it was too late, and the two aircraft carriers had been towed to a port in South Korea. Just like that, some secret weaponry may have been leaked.