The combat effectiveness of a warship depends not only on the missiles it carries, the radar technology it uses, the power and other hardware equipment, but also on the quality and maintenance of its crew. For example, in 2003, the USS Washington was not replaced in time because of poor maintenance of the arresting cable, which caused the carrier-based aircraft to break the arresting cable when it returned to sea, and the fighter plane fell into the sea and suffered heavy losses. Three years later, the same tragedy happened again, again because the blocking cable was broken, and the legs of eight US military logistics personnel were swept off by the blocking cable, and they had to amputate their limbs to save their lives.
In contrast, such a problem does not arise with Chinese warships. For example, after two years of service, the "Nanning" ship can still maintain a brand new appearance and efficient operation, which reflects the importance that the Chinese Navy attaches to maintenance.
According to reports, at the International Maritime Defense Exhibition held in February 2023, China's Type 052D destroyer Nanning, as China's maritime sword, showed an eye-catching demeanor. At this exhibition, China not only demonstrated the advanced technology of warships to the world, but also won praise from journalists and military experts from all over the world for its near-perfect maintenance status.
For example, American journalist Xavier Varwasser was even more bluntly admiring: "A 7,000-ton giant ship can still be maintained like this, so well-maintained!" ”
Xavier Avawasser's admiration is not unfounded. The Nanning warship, which has been in the combat unit for two years, looks almost no different from a new ship in appearance, with a white hull and neat equipment, as if it had just left the factory. It can be seen that the Chinese Navy attaches great importance to the maintenance of warships.
In contrast, after a period of service, the warships of the U.S. Navy often show an old painting style, and rust and paint peeling on the surface are the norm. This affected not only the appearance of the warship, but also its combat capability to a certain extent.
Not to mention anything else, let's take the United States boasting that the USS Ford aircraft carrier is the most advanced in the world, and its cost is as high as more than $13 billion, but it only formed a combat force after five years of service, during which there were continuous failures, and even the infrastructure toilets were blocked many times.
Behind Xavier Avawasser's exclamation is the mainland's rigorous attitude and efficient management of warship maintenance. In the Chinese Navy, the maintenance of warships is seen as an extremely important job. Through strict management system, scientific maintenance plan and superb technical support, the warship can maintain the best condition in long-term use.
In contrast, the U.S. Navy has many problems with the maintenance of warships. On the one hand, the United States outsources the maintenance of warships to other countries, and it is difficult to ensure quality under layers of subcontracting, and it may also lead to problems such as leakage of secrets. On the other hand, the problem of the decline in the military quality of officers and soldiers, which also directly affects the maintenance of warships. For example, there was a fire on a U.S. aircraft carrier caused by a soldier who had lost love and drank too much alcohol.
These problems have not only affected the combat capability of US warships, but also weakened the overall strength of the US Navy to a certain extent. In fact, this phenomenon also exists in Russia, whose warships are also rusty, and the only aircraft carrier is also prone to breakdowns, boilers often emit black smoke, and there have been large fires.
At the same time, the Chinese Navy is constantly growing and developing, through strict management, high standards and high requirements, so that the life and performance of warships can be maximized. It can be seen that the longevity of the 052D Nanning is not accidental, but the result of the long-term efforts of the Chinese Navy in terms of maintenance. This rigorous work attitude is an important guarantee for the continuous development of the Chinese Navy.