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Sanya, Hainan, 26 Dec (Mareeg.com) - The captains of the three vessels making up the Chinese Navy's shipping protection formation gave exclusive interviews to Xinhua Chinese service reporters prior to setting sail on 26 December. The captains explained what is involved in this mission. The three are Captain Long Juan, age 40, captain of the guided missile destroyer Wuhan; Captain Zou Fuquan, age 38, captain of the guided missile destroyer Haikou; and Captain Xi Feijun, age 41, captain of the comprehensive replenishment ship Weishanhu. Mission Reporter: What are the respective missions of the three vessels in this shipping protection operation? Long Juan: As the flagship, the mission of the Wuhan is to command and coordinate the actions of the entire formation, and to convey orders from the higher echelon to all of the ships. Zou Fuquan: We must not only obey the orders of the flagship, we must be ready at all times to cope with all sorts of sudden situations, be ready at all times to protect shipping. Xi Feijun: Our mission is to provide logistical, equipment, and medical support to the formation. Our maintenance and repair teams can board helicopters or small boats and go to the other ships to carry out maintenance and repair. Our medical teams can do operations, even including craniotomy, in facilities equivalent to those of a small hospital. Performance Reporter: We know that these three vessels all joined the Navy's battle array within the past few years, and that they are PRC-built vessels with quite advanced and comprehensive capabilities. Can you summarize the performance and equipment of each ship? Long Juan: The Wuhan is the newest type of domestically built guided missile destroyer. It has new equipment including a long-distance maintenance and repair support system. Zou Fuquan: The Haikou is the newest ship in this formation. By way of several exercises and patrol missions, the ship's crew is trained to a level commensurate with the ship's tactical and technical performance. The crew has achieved excellent unity between people and equipment. Xi Feijun: The Weishanhu is the PRC's newest type of replenishment ship. The Weishanhu uses an international second-generation replenishment mode, hydraulic compensation, to provide fuel, fresh water, and dry cargo to the other ships, with replenishment technology that is basically all mechanized. Also, the use of advanced freshness preservation equipment will allow the crews to eat leafy green vegetables for a month after putting to sea, and for several months they will be able to eat fresh-tasting melons and other fruit. Since entering service, the Weishanhu has conducted replenishment training with practically every other ship in the fleet. Tests Reporter: What sort of tests will this mission pose for you? Long Juan: This shipping protection mission will be lengthy. Crew members can easily tire, and that would affect combat power. The high temperature, high salinity, and high humidity of the Gulf of Aden and Somalian waters will be a test of the sustained operating ability of equipment. Zou Fuquan: The sea area is unfamiliar, the opponent is unfamiliar, and the environment is complex. If one crew member is not up to standard, if a problem arises with one battle station, that could lead to defeat in some action. Xi Feijun: Besides completing our replenishment missions, we must also protect our own safety and security, and that means our crew must have a definite ability to protect against pirates. That makes this mission entirely different from previous ship visit voyages. So certain weapons and equipment have been installed on the ship. Training Reporter: What sort of focused training and preparation have you conducted? Long Juan: Considering the difficulty of identifying pirates and their ability to manoeuvre, we have conducted certain focused training with the goal of thwarting the pirates' intent. All of the equipment on board has undergone thorough inspection, repair, and maintenance, and backup equipment is available for key items such as motive power, communication, and navigation equipment. Zou Fuquan: We have placed a series of requirements on the crew, on the foundation of everyday requirements. For example, crew members must carry out operations in strict accordance with everyday operating procedures, and truly achieve every order followed by action, every action followed by a report. This shipping protection mission will be very arduous, but a long period of focused training realistic to actual war has made us very confident. Xi Feijun: We have conducted at-sea replenishment training with destroyers, repeatedly practicing the conventional training subjects of lateral replenishment, stern replenishment, and vertical replenishment with a helicopter. We have collected and put in order hydrological and weather data for the sea areas and straits through which we will sail and ports near the Gulf of Aden. We have researched formulated various kinds of plans and safety measures such as underway support plans and replenishment plans. In light of the long duration of this mission and the great consumption of materiel and wear and tear on equipment, we are thinking of every possible way to increase the accompanying load of non-staple food, and we have installed freshness preservation facilities to prolong the freshness of food. All the ship's technical features are in an excellent state of operation, and are entirely capable of carrying out this mission. Morale Reporter: What is the state of morale among the officers and sailors? Xi Feijun: Morale is high. Everyone wants to participate in this mission. Many members of the crew have given up their vacations to be here. During the course of the voyage, we will boost morale with broadcasts, bulletins, and recreational competitions. Zou Fuquan: For a ship of a new type, the greatest glory is to sail out of port and head out into the rest of the world. You train a force a thousand days to use it for one hour. The crew is very much looking forward to this mission. Mission Reporter: What does this mission mean to you? Long Juan: Responsibility and mission. Ensuring that our sea lines of communication are unimpeded, ensuring people's lives and the safety of property, that is an important mission for the Navy. Zou Fuquan: This is also a good opportunity to test our ability to carry out diversified military tasks and temper our military skills. Xi Feijun: The nation's honour is higher than anything. On previous ocean voyages, when our ships passed through the Suez Canal, overseas Chinese people on both banks unfurled banners to salute us. When our ships visited Thailand, local Chinese people spontaneously brought us fruit. I find those episodes impossible to forget. By: Abdinasir Mohamed Email: A Guled Mareeg English news writer
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