The rise of a great power: starting with military industry

Chapter 452: Launching Ceremony of the First Type 052 Destroyer
When Liu Tao and his team arrived at the Dalian Shipyard, it seemed that the air was filled with a joyful atmosphere.

A convoy of military vehicles slowly drove in from the factory gate and headed towards the dock.

At the dock, there had obviously been careful preparation and arrangement, with red carpets laying on the ground, colorful balloons and flags fluttering, and the first Type 052 destroyer, the 'Xiang Jiang', at the dock had also been carefully dressed up.

This brand new warship is covered with colorful ribbons fluttering in the wind, just like a girl getting married after putting on makeup and dressing up.

When everyone saw the first Type 052 destroyer, everyone couldn't help but get excited.

"Look, our Type 052 destroyer."

"so beautiful!"

"It's so majestic, I like it!"

"Even from such a distance, I can feel a festive atmosphere coming towards me!"

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Everyone was shocked, and many people couldn't help crying, with tears streaming down their faces.

This is an advanced warship developed independently by China, a steel behemoth!
One hundred percent domestically produced!
There were more than two thousand people in the audience, and many of them couldn't help but shed tears of excitement.

At this time, a group of naval officers and soldiers in white uniforms were seen marching in neat and orderly lines towards the first Type 052 destroyer.

These are the crew members that the Navy has specially prepared for the first Type 052 destroyer since the official start of construction of the first Type 052 destroyer. Today, the Type 052 destroyer is about to be launched, and these 280 crew members are all in place.

They will also witness this historic moment together.

If you look closely, you can still see excitement on the determined faces of the officers and soldiers. Seeing this brand new first Type 052 destroyer, they can hardly hide their excitement.

After receiving the official notice, they began to study systematically. Even during the summer and winter vacations, they were unable to go home. They were very clear about the mission they had to undertake.

They received a lot of new knowledge and performed simulated operations, but now, they finally saw this new and advanced Chinese destroyer with their own eyes!

A world-class destroyer!

The Type 052 destroyer, which has powerful long-range surveillance and regional air defense capabilities, is far ahead of the Type 051 destroyer.

This is exactly the warship the navy has been dreaming of!

For this dream, the Chinese Navy has been waiting for 37 years!
In early 1986, a destroyer that reached the world's advanced level finally arrived.

The days when the four Type 07 frigates served as the 'Four Heavenly Kings' are gone forever!

The launching ceremony of the first Type 052 destroyer was presided over by Navy Commander-in-Chief Liu Huaqing, which shows the importance the Navy attaches to the first Type 052 destroyer.

One by one, leaders took the stage to speak. Liu Tao, the chief designer of the Type 052 destroyer and the commander-in-chief of the first Type 052 destroyer, also took the stage to speak.

After the speech, "Now I declare that the first Type 052 destroyer 'Xiangjiang' is officially launched!"

The sound was transmitted to everyone's ears through the loudspeaker.

As soon as the voice fell, there was warm applause and thunderous cheers from the audience.

"Bang~~Bang~~Bang~~"

A deafening salute sounded, and amidst the salute and everyone's excited gazes, the steel behemoth in the dock began to move.

Along the slide rails on the inclined construction slipway, the steel behemoth slowly slid forward. The salutes, applause and cheers from the county town became more intense.

A glass bottle flew high and hit the hull of the warship with force. Gradually, more and more glass bottles hit the hull.

This is the bottle-throwing ceremony that is essential to the launching ceremony.

Amid everyone's cheers, the first Type 052 destroyer, the 'Xiang Jiang', was finally successfully launched into the water, creating a huge splash.

The stern of the boat hits the water first.

The water splashed several feet high, which was very spectacular, and even splashed on some people, but no one minded getting wet, and they seemed extremely excited. The whole scene was lively and festive to the extreme, and it was completely boiling.

This scene was captured and recorded by reporters and photographers.

Although it won’t appear in the newspapers or on TV now.

But one day, everything that happens today will be revealed to the people, letting them know that the country now has world-leading destroyers that can defend the country at sea!

This is a milestone for China's shipbuilding industry and also a milestone for China's navy.

This day will be remembered in history.

And everyone present here today has witnessed history.

From participating in the construction of the Type 052 destroyer to the present, the vast majority of people have never returned home, but have made the shipyard their home.

I never revealed a single word to my family when I called or wrote to them.

Although the confidentiality level has not reached that of nuclear submarine development, everyone is very aware of confidentiality.

After getting into the water, the old man gave a speech, thanking everyone for their hard work and contributions to national defense.

He also encouraged naval officers and soldiers to train hard and live up to the people's expectations.

Towed by a tugboat, the first Type 052 destroyer, the 'Xiang Jiang', finally docked steadily at the berth.

Everyone boarded the ship for a visit with excitement.

After the first ship is launched, it will take some time before it can be put into service.

It takes about a year before you can officially serve.

Only when it is officially put into service can it be truly delivered to the navy.

There is still a lot to do, but there is no doubt that it is only a matter of time.

Liu Tao accompanied the old man and introduced this steel behemoth to him.

As Liu Tao introduced, the old man nodded continuously.

After Liu Tao finished his introduction, the old man asked, "In other words, this giant ship is both offensive and defensive, and can destroy enemy warships from hundreds of miles away?"

"And this anti-aircraft weapon can shoot down advanced fighters, bombers, and fighter planes?"

Liu Tao nodded and said, "Yes!"

"However, if we want to unleash its true power, we have to combine it with satellites, early warning aircraft, etc.! In this way, we can accurately hit warships even if they are a hundred nautical miles apart!" Liu Tao said.

It is almost impossible to hit a target at sea, especially a moving target, with 100% accuracy.

Unless the opponent is stationary, or is careless, moving very slowly, and the distance is very close!
The Type 052 destroyer is equipped with a large number of anti-ship missiles, anti-ship missiles of different ranges, and torpedoes! For air defense, there are short-range air defense missiles, medium-range air defense missiles, and even extended-range air defense missiles.

Coupled with advanced radar, it can be said to be an integrated offensive and defensive device with strong offensive and air defense capabilities.

Even when combined with anti-submarine helicopters, its anti-submarine capability is very strong. It is difficult for most submarines in the world to escape its anti-submarine reconnaissance.

Of course, with the further development of submarines, the difficulty of anti-submarine warfare will also increase.

As for aircraft, the development speed is also very fast, and it will become increasingly difficult to intercept them in the future.

But there is no doubt that at present, the Type 052 destroyer is very advanced.

Liu Tao is still very confident on this point.

Even if it serves for another 052 years, this Type destroyer will still be one of the most advanced in the world and will not become an outdated ship.

(End of this chapter)