The Chinese used a large semi-submersible civilian vessel to practice helicopter operations:
A Chinese military analyst explained that heavy lift ships like the Zhen Hua 28 might be used “to temporarily serve as a platform to carry helicopters, an offshore parking apron, and replenishment and repair center when performing some tasks in offshore areas, especially those with air domination.”
The analyst continued: “If missions are performed around large islands or reefs, a large semi-submersible ship can also be deployed at each end of the islands or reefs as maritime relay platforms to further enhance the cross-sea combat capability of the helicopters and to increase the helicopters’ combat radius.”
Civilian vessels taken into military service as well as older navy vessels would serve as the backbone of a Chinese invasion, which I outlined fifteen years ago. And related to the Zhen Hua 28 test, I wrote:
The PLANs amphibious warfare ships will be used to lift the Chinese marines to the Pescadores Islands to seize that position as a staging area for helicopters and air cushion vehicles to shuttle follow-up forces to Taiwan itself. This will also have the effect of nullifying the anti-ship missiles based there.
While I thought China might take the Pescadores Islands to use as a staging area for helicopters and air cushion vehicles to assault Taiwan, Chinese ships used to stage helicopters might make that capture unnecessary--or provide that capability until the Pescadores can be taken.
I have no doubt that China believes it can throw an army across the Taiwan Strait--by air and sea--if it chooses to do so.
