Today's US Navy Photos & Videos

Really good read Forbin thanks

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I like it how carriers have developed, from long range deep strike to low maintance and high sorties rates

From 29,000 lb payload at 1,800nm to current 12,000lb and 500nm range with F18

They went from small range to long range to medium range in current form

Share ofc and it is really great !

Super Hornet now the spearhead of CAW get a range, combat radius equivalent to F-16 decent but for a heavy fighter, 30 t in fact enough short but he is a good boy cheaper, reliable delivered in time and budget very rare actually ! good AESA radar, 8 t weapons and Naval Aviation able to buy a lot 550 it is important, this 550 have cost about the same prize as 190 F-22 !
With alongside soon 150 EA-18G a part 5 Sqns in fact flights of 5 with crew USN/USAF more specialised vs ground targets from land airbase replace in part EF-111 retired.

For tanker nothing comparison btw a F-18 with a KA-6 and with a true as KC-135 obviously, V-22 also with 4.5 t fuel available a Super Hornet carry 6.8 t , F-35B/C 6.1/8.9 t then 1,5 V-22 for a fighter, can help ponctually for a flight size but not for a full Squadron size unit necessary in war time.

French Navy use Rafale/Super Etendard for help if other are short of fuel when they return to the CVN mainly.

If necessary USN have a sufficient number of F-18 Sqns, 35 in more 2 big OCU also can help eventually USMC add 4 regulary aboard CVN moreover ( replaced by 4 of F-35C later ) then 39 Sqns a sufficient number for some CVN have 5 fighters Sqns one in more.

Here's a great video of high speed operations during LCS-5 Trials. Especially from about 0:20 on.

Although as fast as they are the LCS would struggle to match the Arleigh Burke in terms of sea state speed and balance

Arleigh Burke is a very well balanced DDG and can hit 30 knots during storms and high seas

It's the reason it's the escort of a CVN it's very fast and very well balanced and I read in warship magazine a while back during rough seas a CVN steamed through the Atlantic to see wether the Burkes could keep up this was over a few hundred miles and to the suprise of many the Burkes kept pace with the CVN reaching more than 30 knots most of the time

asif iqbal said:

Although as fast as they are the LCS would struggle to match the Arleigh Burke in terms of sea state speed and balance

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Well of course they are.

The Burkes are an excellent full DDG design and they displace 9,200 or more tons. As you say, the have the weight and the hull form to do far better in those sea states.

The Freedom class is a frigate design (and not a large frigate by today's standards) that displaces 3,500 tons.

That fact alone projects how they will handle with respect to one another in higher sea states.

At the same time, the LCS has been designed to be able to handle those higher states at 30 knots...but it would be a much rougher ride.

Super Hornet refueled in the night

Nice views around USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) and the guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG-60)

09Oct2015, transited the Strait of Hormuz
10Oct-15Oct2015, North Arabian Sea
16Oct-22Oct2015, Indian Ocean
23Oct2015, Strait of Malacca
24Oct-27Oct2015, Changi Naval Base, Singapore

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Oh !
WASHINGTON at the bottom of the world Sunday, passing thru Strait of Magellan eastbound to the Atlantic

Here are some cool videos of an F-15 Silent Eagle concept.

It is heavy ! Invisible but always on duty