Aircraft Carriers

I decided to open a new thread about aircraft carriers of all types. Why? because I have noticed lots of general discussion about CV's in the Chinese CV thread. In this thread we can discuss carriers in general.

Feel free to discuss matters about aircraft carriers. Do not limit the discussion to USN CV's. All types are to be considered!! Past ,present and future! CV,CVN, CVF, LPH,LHA, LHD, event the JMSDF DDH. I will be glad to answer any questions you have about CV operations the best to my ablity.

For those of you that don't know I have 20 years experience in the USN. I served onboard five CV's, Kennedy, Midway, Hancock, America and Nimitz. I have kept informed about present day CV operations. Plus flight deck operations have not changed much in the last 35+ years.

A couple of quick rules;
1)..No "I can sink your carrier discussion!" We have traveled that road tooo many times!
2) Please post your remarks about a possible PLAN CV in that discussion.
3) Feel free to post pics! But don't link them directly fron navy.mil or other military web sites..download them to your computer and upload them as thumbnails(see additional options) or use;

http://www.defencetalk.com/pictures/

The last year or so something has been bothering me about the USN carriers..large deck amphips included..The USN keeps sinking the retired ones as reefs. First it was the America next was the Oriskany(It was of little use) about a month ago the USN sank the ex-USS Belleau Wood(LHA-3)..Next year it plans to sink the USS Siapan(LHA-2) soon after it is decomissioned next year. The USN has 5 other retired CV's waiting to be disposed. What a waste. I know why the US won't sell them...But they could be put to use in other area's..a comando ship or training carrier..What a waste...

 

I DonT sez:

I agree on three of the five points....As far as comando ships I guess that an LHA/LHD could esily be put in service as a commando ship. But a deticated ship would be better. One fitted to handle "Speical Forces", US Army and USAF helos. Also it could be fitted out for humanitarian efforts. i.e. speical berthing for civillian refugees and more hospital spaces.

As for a training CV. Up until '91 the USN always had a training CV until the ex-USS Lexington(AVT-16) was retired and turned into a musuem. The USN has done a good job rotaing CV's into the training cycle. If there were as training CV(AVT) there would be no need to move the training squadrons from coast to coastso they can get their new pilots training on board a real live CV. Some how today the USN mananges to do this but a training carrier would elevaite this problem.

 

Currently the USS Carl Vinson(CVN-70) is undergoing a major re-fit and refueling in Newport News VA. The USN wants to return the ship to the west coast in 2009..But It will more than like be homeported in Hawaii or Guam.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/military/20060821-2226-wst-navy-pacificcarrier.html

Navy considering moving USS Carl Vinson to one of four ports

By Audrey McAvoy
ASSOCIATED PRESS

10:26 p.m. August 21, 2006

HONOLULU – Four Navy bases in California, Hawaii, Guam, and Washington state are in the running to become the new homeport of the USS Carl Vinson, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier that is currently undergoing a three-year-long refueling overhaul, the head of the Navy said Monday.
Navy Secretary Donald C. Winter told reporters he would decide by April or May whether to base the Vinson at San Diego, Pearl Harbor, Guam or Bremerton, Wash.

The ship would be ready to move to its new home once its nuclear fuel is replenished in 2009, Winter said at a media round-table in Honolulu.
Winter said he would consider each base's strategic location, the cost of infrastructure upgrades required to accommodate a carrier, and proximity to an airfield when making his decision. Training opportunities for the carrier's 5,000 sailors would also be a key factor, he said.

“We have to weigh all of these issues very carefully and consider what makes the best sense for the United States,” Winter said. “There's a lot of trade-offs there. We'll just have to see how it all comes down.”

The Navy currently has five aircraft carriers in the Pacific: two in Bremerton, two in San Diego and one at a U.S. Navy base in Yokosuka, Japan.

Navy leaders have said they were considering moving an aircraft carrier to either Hawaii or Guam to help them more rapidly respond to potential threats in the Asia-Pacific region.

But the Pentagon's Quadrennial Defense Review report, issued in February, didn't mention the possibility as some observers had expected. It only referred to a plan to keep six carriers in the Pacific.

Guam, a U.S. territory a few hours by plane from East Asia, would require more substantial infrastructure upgrades than any of the other three candidates.

Moreover, Winter said the military's plans to move 8,000 Marines to Guam from the southern Japanese island of Okinawa added to the complications of moving an aircraft carrier to Guam.

On the other hand, Guam is closer to areas military leaders would most likely want to have the USS Carl Vinson patrol.

Hawaii, meanwhile, is closer to Asia than the West Coast and has a more highly developed network of roads, schools and other infrastructure than Guam.

But Hawaii suffers from high housing costs and limited land area. Military personnel also frequently complain about the poor quality of island schools.

Guam's business community has actively campaigned to host an aircraft carrier.

Democratic Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, a ranking member on the Defense Appropriations Committee, has lobbied for his home state of Hawaii to be selected.

Separately, Winter confirmed the Navy would base the USS Hawaii, its newest nuclear-powered submarine, at Pearl Harbor. The ship, which was christened in June, will likely be ready to move to its namesake state in 2009, Winter said.

 

Dennis you are so right..once the US decides how many F-35B STVOL it will export the CV frenzy will really wratchet up. The USN/USMC have plans afoot to place many as 20+ F-35's on board LHA/LHD's..Nice...

 

A Nimitz class can carry 85 aircraft safely.
Your theroy is intresting but I think that you would see LHA/LHD's deployed in a combat status and used for close air suppourt.

From what I understand they will have reduced crew size.. more automation. maybe elecrtomagnetic catapults. More flight deck space by having a smaller island. More efficent reactors with a much greater capacity to produce power and water...Click this builders link for more information.

http://www.nn.northropgrumman.com/cvn21/about.html

There are 5 mothballed carriers. They have been stricken from the "Navy List" That means they really no longer servicable. They will not be ever put back in service. They are used only for parts. All 4 Forrestal class carriers are in "mothballs". The Constellation is also in mothballs...It was a Kitty Hawk class ship. I, Popeye, am way to fat and old to ever go to sea. I did my time. 20 years active and 10 Fleet reserve...

The USN some months ago "De-certified" the JFK for flight operations. Any re-fit work that was scheduled was cancelled. The JFK presently sits in her homeport in Florida doing nothing manned by a reduced crew. The only reason she remains in comission is that in 2005 the US congress passed a law requiring the USN to keep 12 CV's in service. the USN is lobbing hard to have the JFK decomissioned...The latest news on the JFK is no news... The JFK was my first ship back in da' day in 1972....Look for the JFK to be decomissioned within a year. If I can find some links I will post it....