Aircraft Carriers III

Timmymagic

New Member
Registered Member
Agree on the other points, but this aspect may well be more complicated. 2 CVF have a bigger replenishment footprint (fuel!), so are easier to mission-kill.

There's a degree of risk. But its minimal. The CVN's rely on conventionally powered escorts that need replenishment, and they go nowhere without them. They also require replenishment with solid stores and AVGAS from tankers and stores ships. Realistically the CSG's replenishment needs won't be significantly different in terms of time and numbers of RAS between nuclear and conventional. Given the QE's smaller personnel numbers and faster Heavy RAS gear its likely that she'll do an evolution quicker as well.
 

Air Force Brat

Brigadier
Super Moderator
I agree wholeheartedly. A CVN is too much ship for a lot of missions. And with only 10-11 that doesn't mean many available worldwide either. A CVF turning up off someones coast has just as much effect in peacetime as a CVN. In war 2 CVF would be more survivable than a single CVN.

The reduction of reliance on 1 yard would also be an important factor. But in terms of cost I think you're a little off. The cost of Prince of Wales is c£2.5bn in reality, the £1.65bn of additional programme costs added due to political delays and F-35C could be discounted. Also the lessons learned from QE have reduced the cost and time to construct. Take those lessons forward in to a USN CVF build and build 6 of them and the cost could be kept at £2.7bn ($3.5bn at current exchange rates) including EMALS and AAG in a CATOBAR configuration (that includes the design work necessary as well).At most, with all the US bells and whistles (different radar, missiles, anti-torp defences etc) at most it would be $4bn. At that price you're looking at 4 CATOBAR CVF for the price of 1 Ford Class in cost to build. If you factor in the crew manning necessary a fairer comparison would be 3 CVF to 1 Ford Class (1600 per CVF, 4800 per Ford). Comparing 4 CVF to 1 Ford Class would actually be fair on a long term basis as the cost of the nuclear powerplant will add huge costs over the lifetime (and decommissioning) but you're essentally doubling the airgroup as well at that point. Also there would need to be some additional funds set aside for tankers and stores ships.

The USN would be best served by only keeping 9 CVN. 8 for the Pacific Fleet, the vast distance means the nuclear powerplant adds something there, to face off to the Chinese, who are far the biggest threat going forward. 1 CVN on the East Coast to keep the nuc berths open (probably a CVN on post refit workup or training). They could then purchase and run 6 CATOBAR CVF for the same cost as 2 Ford Class. Those CVF could easily cover the Atlantic, Mediterranean, Carrier Quals and the Red Sea/Persian Gulf/Indian Ocean in conjunction with the QE Class and CdG. Alternately they could have 6 CVN in the Pacific Fleet, with 3 additional CVF forward based at Yokosuka, Guam or Singapore. The 3 remaining CVN and 3 CVF could work out of the West Coast. The net result would be a sustainable and cost effective increase in hulls, with no increase in manning. Forward Deployment could be returned to, with the added benefit of the less costly CVF being closest to the threat with the CVN's being a reinforcement. Sort of a 1st Class Carrier division. If the USN wanted to be really cute they could load the CVF with F-18E/F and retain the F-35 and MQ-25 to CVN's only.

It may make sense, but it won't fly? it really won't
 
to me this:
Errr...yes. But £1.5bn of those costs were incurred as a result of HM Treasury delaying the build at the height of the financial crisis to save £100m in year. This ended up costing c£1.5bn. This is widely known and documented...
and your sentence Yesterday at 3:06 PM
The cost of Prince of Wales is c£2.5bn in reality, the £1.65bn of additional programme costs added due to political delays and F-35C could be discounted.
sound like carts of cow manure, and whatever pathetic excuses you will or won't post, the PoW cost is not "c£2.5bn in reality"
 

bd popeye

The Last Jedi
VIP Professional
In war 2 CVF would be more survivable than a single CVN.

How so?


AVGAS? AVGAS was for piston powered engines. The last piston powered aircraft was the C-1 Trader COD which was retired in 1988. The USN exclusively uses JP-5. JP-5 is also used to refuel DDGs & CGs. Deployed CVN frequently refuel their escorts...by the way CVN's take on fuel every 3-5 days. the bunkers holding fuel are not allowed to deplete below 50%.
 

Timmymagic

New Member
Registered Member
sound like carts of cow manure, and whatever pathetic excuses you will or won't post, the PoW cost is not "c£2.5bn in reality"

The difference between the £1.5bn and £1.65bn is the money wasted after Liam Fox ordered a review on catobar conversion and F-35C instead of F-35B. All because the F-35B was seen as a little shaky at the time.
Like I said the decision to slow the build is very well documented and was ordered by the Treasury to save £100m in year costs at the height of the GFC. It was very well documented at the time and the result of that decision as well.
£6.2 billion minus £1.5 = £4.7bn....
Which means I'm also being very generous at 1 ship costing £2.5bn as the programme cost included upgrades to dockyards, naval bases, onshore power supplies and onshore training facilities. The PoW is also being built significantly quicker which has an enormous effect on total costs. Quite frankly I'd be justified in having its price as closer to £2bn. But I thought I'd be very generous. If you don't understand Programme costs, IPA reported programmes or GMPP reporting it might be a little hard to grasp...
 

Timmymagic

New Member
Registered Member

2 ships, will naturally have an advantage over 1, any enemy will have to deploy more resources to destroy/disable 2. A sub for example is unlikely to get into a firing position that will endanger both ships if they have a modicum of seperation. Having 2 decks means that in the event of one being shut down due to an accident or damage that aircraft can be recovered and got back into the fight. Or in relation to forward deployment if you have a surprise attack 1 may be in port and more vulnerable as a result, the other could be at sea. Just look at the Pacific Campaign in WW2, in the early days the USN had limited numbers of CV's. Lack of an aircraft carrier for an operation could lead to it being cancelled, later on when there was a surfeit of them the damage to 1 vessel wouldn't restrict operations 1 jot.
 

Timmymagic

New Member
Registered Member
AVGAS? AVGAS was for piston powered engines. The last piston powered aircraft was the C-1 Trader COD which was retired in 1988. The USN exclusively uses JP-5. JP-5 is also used to refuel DDGs & CGs. Deployed CVN frequently refuel their escorts...by the way CVN's take on fuel every 3-5 days. the bunkers holding fuel are not allowed to deplete below 50%.

Sorry meant aviation fuel...
 
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