PLA Navy tests readiness in S. China Sea

The North Sea Fleet of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) carries out training to raise the combat skills of new pilots. [Photo/www.81.cn]

Three-fleet drill is second in 30 days to hone maritime combat capabilities

The People's Liberation Army Navy conducted a massive combat exercise on Wednesday in the South China Sea, mobilizing forces from each of its three fleets, the Navy said on Friday.

Guided missile destroyers, frigates, submarines, early-warning aircraft and fighter jets from the Navy's North Sea, East Sea and South Sea fleets participated in the simulation of modern sea warfare, according to a Navy statement.

The drill headquarters did not release information to the two sides to achieve an element of surprise like that in real warfare situation, said the statement.

First, the red side dispatched early-warning aircraft and ships to locate the blue side's forces. That attempt was thwarted when the blue side jammed the early-warning aircraft.

A simulated exchange of anti-ship missiles and aircraft-launched cruise missiles ensued, and the red side flagship, the destroyer CNS Lanzhou, was paralyzed in the attack.

The red side then launched a joint submarine, ship and aircraft strike, inflicting huge losses on the blue side right before the end of the drill was announced.