Aircraft Carriers

IDonT said:

I think the no ski jump on LHD/A is for political reasons. The USN doesn't want the "lets use LHD for carriers instead of the Nimitz argument" used against them when it comes to funding battles.

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Could be true..but the USN has deployed these type ships with an Harrier air wing on more than one occasion. Sort of a "Pocket CV"

Here is a great pic of the USN LHD/LHA ships in the Persian Gulf in April 2003
USS Tarawa (LHA 1), the ships in the second row from bottom to top are USS Saipan (LHA 2) and USS Kearsarge (LHD 3); and the third row of ships are USS Boxer (LHD 4), USS Bataan (LHD 5) and USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6). If you enlarge the pic you can clearly see that LHD-6 & LHD-5 clearly had a very large airwing of Sea Harriers. Use the link below for the best look at the picture.

Talking of multi-role pocket CVs ...
The new italien carrier seems to be just that.
27.100t full displacement, 8 Harrier or Lightning II, 100 light vehicles or 24 tanks.
One ship for all pursoses

bd popeye,
Is there a possibility of US transferring at least older "Pocket CVs" to some allies in the future, INSTEAD OF SINKING/CUTTING THEM UP?



I edited post #723 with more quotes & links about EMCAT.

bd popeye,
Is there a possibility of US transferring at least older "Pocket CVs" to some allies in the future, INSTEAD OF SINKING/CUTTING THEM UP?

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I doubt it. I think Obi Wan said the RN inspected the USS Belleau Wood LHA-3 for a possible purchase and turned it down. Why? It needed major engineering re-fit. It spent 8 years in Japan foward deployed. As you know that's like an 8 year deployment.

I doubt if the US would ever sell and old LHA or LHD. They simply cost a lot to operate. The US maybe fearful of the ship falling into a potential foes hand.

IDonT said:

I think the no ski jump on LHD/A is for political reasons. The USN doesn't want the "lets use LHD for carriers instead of the Nimitz argument" used against them when it comes to funding battles.

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That might have played a small part (I personally doubt it though), but I recall the main reason was because incorporating a ski jump cut down the number of heli spots, and we have to remember that this is NOT a CV, but a LHD - meaning that its job is to get the marines onto the beach. Eating into the number of heli spots affects the rate at which helis can transport the troops to the landing point - not good. The harriers job is to support the troops, and that is of secondary importance to getting the troops to their objective.

Scratch said:

Talking of multi-role pocket CVs ...
The new italien

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carrier seems to be just that.
27.100t full displacement, 8 Harrier or Lightning II, 100 light vehicles or 24 tanks.
One ship for all pursoses

Click to expand...

bd popeye said:

Could be true..but the USN has deployed these type ships with an Harrier air wing on more than one occasion. Sort of a "Pocket CV"

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Guys, that Italian carrier is coming along quite well and will represent a true, multi-role, "pocket carrier". Here are the latest pics I could find:

Nice pictures Jeff..That ship is the true "pocket CV"

I found these drawings on the Italian Navy site. I did not see any Enlgish translation link. Sorry!.. But we can kinda sorta figure it out..The ship is well equipped to suppourt an amphibous landing, strike missions and humanitarian relief efforts.

I like the large hangar. Maybe the ship could handle an air wing of 16+ JSF plus a couple of Merlins??? Probally up to twenty. They have 12 decated "spot" in the hangar. I would need to know more about the air wing maintaince ships to judge just how many JSF the ship could really handle.

bd popeye said:

Nice pictures Jeff..That ship is the true "pocket CV"

I found these drawings on the Italian Navy site. I did not see any Enlgish translation link. Sorry!.. But we can kinda sorta figure it out..The ship is well equipped to suppourt an amphibous landing, strike missions and humanitarian relief efforts.

I like the large hangar. Maybe the ship could handle an air wing of 16+ JSF plus a couple of Merlins??? Probally up to twenty. They have 12 decated "spot" in the hangar. I would need to know more about the air wing maintaince ships to judge just how many JSF the ship could really handle.

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It is more an LPD than a CV. Operating the F-35B will give her strike aircraft rather limited legs for range and heavy ordinance. They will play more of a CAS role. The Indian ADS is more of the "pocket CV." Fincantieri and NDB have cooperated with experience from the Cavour to help build it.

Elicotteri obviously are the Helos it can support as aeri means the airwing.
Dimensioni ponte are the dimensins of the deck (in meters).
Pista decollo is the "runway" lengt: 180m then 12° angle sky-jump.
Next line sais hanger dimensions are for 12Helos or 8Aircraft and the elevators can lift 30t weight.

Next pic; something like: Hangers can accommodate Aircraft or landvehicles. And it's for max. 60t.

Popeye, I havn't heard about those maintenance ships yet. Can't the CVs handle that alone with the equipment on board ?

edit: now that I thought about it again, of course I know about the replenishment ships for fuel weapons ..., do you mean those ?

Big-E said:

It is more an LPD than a CV. Operating the F-35B will give her strike aircraft rather limited legs for range and heavy ordinance. They will play more of a CAS role.

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But in the modern era, vessels like the Cavour will be capable of playing an "escort carrier" role (in addition to the LHA role as required) and thus freeing the larger CVs up for a similar role to Halsey's fast attack carrier task force(s).

Outfitted with the right aircraft, particularly when an AEW and ASW variant of the Opsrey becomes available (and I believe they will), and in conjunction with one AEGIS-like DDG (ie. Daring or Horizon), they could be very effective escort carriers for merchant, amphibious, and supply task forces...providing credible AAW and ASW defense without having to committ a larger carrier.