H5N1 said:bd popeye
While various ways to defeat a carrier was discuss above like nuking it (too drastic, but a sure way), isolate it from its escorts (possible, unlikely nowadays) or evening develop a laser cannon (too far off).
I was thinking of a simpler and more direct way.
Bd poeye had explained the structure integrity of a modern carrier, but my point was their fuel and internal munitions in fact sank the carriers. Their flight decks were no doubt armored, so was the WWII carriers. Both the USS Forrester and USS Enterprise were overwhelmed by flames cause by JP5 on the deck. In fact, USS Enterprise came close to dying by those accidents.
Having valves and sprinkler system is not effective as all the aircraft aboard have a least a ton of JP5 each. And 2/3 of the aircraft are below deck. Shut the fuel valves would help, but that’s not the main problem. Heat generated by the aircraft fires might eventually ignite the fuel storage too. Water sprinklers help spread the fires of this nature.
While you assume that I mean that the carriers would be attack from the deck, I am not that naïve. Sea skimmers, especially the Sunburns tend to strike the side of the carriers, with so many aircrafts and munitions spread below deck. A single strike from a Skimmer, above or below deck, would ignite a serious fire situation. Both the Enterprise and Forrester had only accidents on the decks, under war conditions the deck is filled up with munitions and fuel.
It may not sink it, but would put it out of commission for months. I can’t imagine if the carriers would to be strike by multiple explosive hits. Which is possible, since PRC , I believe adopted a mass missile attack doctrine.
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Bd poeye had explained the structure integrity of a modern carrier, but my point was their fuel and internal munitions in fact sank the carriers. Their flight decks were no doubt armored, so was the WWII carriers. Both the USS Forrester and USS Enterprise were overwhelmed by flames cause by JP5 on the deck. In fact, USS Enterprise came close to dying by those accidents.
While you assume that I mean that the carriers would be attack from the deck, I am not that naïve. Sea skimmers, especially the Sunburns tend to strike the side of the carriers, with so many aircrafts and munitions spread below deck. A single strike from a Skimmer, above or below deck, would ignite a serious fire situation. Both the Enterprise and Forrester had only accidents on the decks, under war conditions the deck is filled up with munitions and fuel.
It may not sink it, but would put it out of commission for months. I can’t imagine if the carriers would to be strike by multiple explosive hits. Which is possible, since PRC , I believe adopted a mass missile attack doctrine.
in fact, i once read an article in my daily newspaper in 2000, which said that several Us top brass were considering decommisioning most of their carriers because they were too expensive and OBSOLETE. however, 9/11 came shortly, and no one was complaining about the carriers since then. (i admit carriers ARE useful against smaller and weaker countries, but not against a cruise/ballistics missile spammer like China lol
MIGleader said:can china eventually use emp weapons on a carrier? that will shut down aegis, than use the missles.
i dont kow how legit a tactical nuke is. you can think of it as a very powerful missles. as long its not used on a civilian population, i dont see why it can be used on enemy warships. they dont produce a huge amount of radiation either.
fact remains that the carrier is a sitting duck with a big bullseye on its forehead, its like Usa putting all her eggs in one basket
bd popeye said:Sitting duck? I don't think so. But you just keep thinking that if you want to. All the eggs in one basket?..In case you did not know the USN has 12 CV's and 12 LHD/LHA's plus 266 other ships. And 110 auxilleries operated by combined crews of Navy and civillian personnel. I won't mention the USAF....
I pray tha war between the US and PRC never comes. And I do mean never.
is the Us able to field all 12 at the same place at the same time? are all 12 up to date? even IF somehow they managed to, i wouldn't exactly consider a $0.5 million (conversion from RMB) cruise missile exchange for $5.0 BILLION vessel as a fair deal
chopsticks said:yes that is one alternative. fact remains that the carrier is a sitting duck with a big bullseye on its forehead, its like Usa putting all her eggs in one basket.
Sczepan said:thanks a lot