Recent satellite images show that Beijing is constructing special-purpose barges, which can be connected end to end for distances of several kilometers. By linking them with roll-on/roll-off ships, they can be transformed into artificial docks. Is the CCP learning from the Normandy landings during World War II at Mulberry harbors? Are they really preparing militarily for an attack on Taiwan?
According to the US Navy News, Beijing is building a new type of special-purpose barge specifically tailored for landing operations in Taiwan. What exactly do these barges look like? Is the CCP seriously considering an assault on Taiwan?
Firstly, let’s take a look at the images of specialized vessels in the navy news. We can see that these barges are large vessels with a road bridge extending from the front, stretching for hundreds of meters, providing a direct link to the shoreline while the barge remains in the water. This setup allows for tanks and armored vehicles to be transported to the shore for operations.
Satellite images reveal at least three similar vessels, but there could be five or more. Observing the satellite images taken earlier this year at the Longxue Shipyard in Guangzhou, we can see one of these special-purpose barges under construction. The length of this barge is approximately 108 meters, with a bridge tower extending a roadway via reinforced steel bars. From the satellite images, the length of this bridge is estimated to be around 133 meters. Have you ever noticed various types of bridges? One type is a cable-stayed bridge, where two tall bridge towers support the bridge deck with cables. Examples of this kind of construction include the New Taipei Bridge in Taiwan and the Sunshine Skyway in Tampa, USA.
It is evident that such a special-purpose barge combines the functions of both a road bridge and a vessel, serving as a medium to establish a transportation channel between heavy transport vessels and the shoreline.
This approach reminds us of the Mulberry harbors extensively used during the Normandy landings in WWII. Back then, the Allies faced a major logistical challenge as they landed on the Normandy beaches without any nearby ports. The closest port was in Cherbourg. This meant that large cargo ships couldn’t dock due to shallow waters at the beaches. This led to the construction of a man-made harbor – the Mulberry harbors. These artificial harbors consisted of breakwaters and pontoons, facilitating the offloading of troops and supplies to support the landing forces.
Similar to the Normandy landings, if the CCP is contemplating an assault on Taiwan, they must address the logistical support issues at the beaches. The construction of such special-purpose barges serves precisely this purpose.
In my assessment, these barges may serve a variety of purposes: first, multiple barges can be interconnected. During WWII, the Mulberry harbors had breakwaters stretching up to 10 kilometers in length. Depending on the beach conditions, several kilometers of length may be needed to connect large cargo ships to the shore. Looking at these special-purpose barges, with a road bridge on one side, the total length of each vessel plus the bridge is approximately 250 meters. This length might not be sufficient for large cargo ships to reach the shore. Therefore, assembling 10 or more such barges continuously can form a pier exceeding 2 kilometers in length.
Secondly, these barges are likely to be integrated with the roll-on/roll-off ships currently being heavily developed in China. During the Normandy landings, besides using specialized landing craft for troops, a significant portion of military supplies were transported using civilian ships. China’s recent construction of numerous roll-on/roll-off ships could prove beneficial in wartime scenarios. Special-purpose barges linking roll-on/roll-off ships and beachheads would allow tanks and armored vehicles to disembark directly from these vessels, significantly enhancing the speed of deploying troops and supplies to the beaches.
Thirdly, such special-purpose barges may be used for landing operations on beaches that are not suitable for traditional methods. Some areas have rocky terrain unsuitable for conventional amphibious landings. However, these bridges can span such challenging terrains, extending the landing point further inland, broadening the potential landing areas for Chinese amphibious forces.
Fourthly, these barges are built to commercial standards, allowing for rapid mass production.
We have briefly analyzed the technical features of these special-purpose barges. But do they have any drawbacks? While researching, I came across a statement from a Taiwanese individual on the American Reddit forum, expressing concerns about the limited effectiveness of these barges on Taiwan’s eastern coast and potential difficulties in the western and northern regions. Taiwan’s coast is characterized by coral reefs, which pose obstacles to navigation. These bridges might not be able to traverse the distances covered by coral reefs. In many areas, coral reefs stretch for several kilometers, creating hazardous whirlpools that make navigation extremely perilous. The observer, known as Ah Fu, mentioned witnessing a large mainland lifting barge off Keelung. He recounted how they struggled during a storm, sinking into the turbulent waters.
Having never lived in Taiwan, I am not well-acquainted with the local maritime conditions, but I believe there is merit in his observations. Let’s consider the example of the Mulberry harbors in the Normandy landings. Despite significant efforts to build breakwaters, on June 19th following the landing at Normandy, a storm with wind speeds reaching 6-8 on the Beaufort scale hit the English Channel, generating waves up to 4 meters high. The Mulberry harbor constructed by the Americans at Omaha Beach was entirely destroyed, with 21 out of 28 Phoenix caissons being completely destroyed. The entire artificial harbor became unusable.
However, the Allies had built two Mulberry harbors in total. The British constructed the second one at Gold Beach, shielded by nearby islands, resulting in less damage from the storm. Regardless, its pier sustained substantial damage. Consequently, the Allies disassembled materials from the Omaha Beach harbor to repair and reinforce the British harbor at Gold Beach, ensuring its operation for several months.
From the case of the Mulberry harbors at Normandy, we can see the significant impact of local maritime conditions on the successful operation of artificial harbors. To counter the effects of waves, the Allies specifically constructed dual breakwaters.
Furthermore, compared to the English Channel, the Taiwan Strait experiences harsher weather conditions. In the spring, average wave heights range from 1 to 2 meters, while during the winter, when the northeasterly winds prevail, waves can reach heights of 2 to 4 meters, and in some areas exceeding 5 meters. Additionally, summers bring typhoons with the potential for wave heights surpassing 5 to 10 meters. In these conditions, whether Chinese-built special-purpose barges can operate smoothly without breakwaters is still uncertain.
The practical effectiveness of such special-purpose barges remains challenging to ascertain, yet they raise concerns over the CCP’s military preparations for an assault on Taiwan. Warfare is a highly intricate field. Every step of a war, including logistical planning, requires meticulous consideration. Constructing vessels like the 076 and developing 6th-generation aircraft can enhance military capabilities, but they do not necessarily mean that an actual plan for attacking Taiwan is in motion.
However, building special-purpose barges is different. Despite their relatively low production cost and minimal quantities, they serve only one purpose – for beachfront operations. Once constructed, these vessels are of no use elsewhere and essentially become scrap metal. This indicates a clear endeavor by the CCP military to strategize for an attack on Taiwan. Nevertheless, there is still a significant gap between military preparations and the actual act of attacking Taiwan. Stay tuned for more analysis on Chinese military developments in future programs.
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