A 204-metre ship built around a 50-metre cradle just got navy-gray paint.

It appears to support China’s growing fleets of large uncrewed submarines.

A 10 September satellite image shows a well deck, a semi-submersible cradle and 12 struts that may lower payloads.

The ship could also serve other roles.

The gray paint points to future People’s Liberation Army Navy service.

How each outlet framed it
The War Zone
satellite imagery with precise 204m×30m dimensions from April construction, notably taller than Type 071 amphibious ship

Sources: The War Zone