US Aircraft Carrier Operations

Many nations are attempting to acquire some level of Carrier operations, including, I believe, the PLAN. Some of these nations actually have varying levels of modern carrier operations experience, including France, England, Inida, and Russia...and to a certain extent, Brazil.

But only one nation operates many carriers on aday to day bases, continuing to accumulate orders of magnitude more experience, including combined arms and combat experience. Here are some of the latest pictures of multiple US Carrier Strike Force manuevers in operation Valiant Shield: (Click on and then maximize these pics for much more detail0










View MORE and FULL size pictures here:



Those three carriers carry more modern combat aircraft than most countries possess in their entire arsenal. Operation Valiant Shield is an awesome display of American naval combat arms.

Thanks Jeff. Great pics. The most amazing thing about this display is that it's not even complete. Just think, there are SSN's, SSBN's, and quite possibly an SSGN operating near these groups. Plus the AEW, EW, ELINT, SIGINT, and space based surveillance network that is ever present yet unseen here.

Awesome!

Sea Dog said:

Thanks Jeff. Great pics. The most amazing thing about this display is that it's not even complete. Just think, there are SSN's, SSBN's, and quite possibly an SSGN operating near these groups. Plus the AEW, EW, ELINT, SIGINT, and space based surveillance network that is ever present yet unseen here.

Awesome!

Click to expand...

Did you guys noticed the F-15 and F-16 on the next wave.

Sea Dog said:

The most amazing thing about this display is that it's not even complete. Just think, there are ...SSBN's, ...that is ever present yet unseen here.

Awesome!

Click to expand...

There are most likely not SSBN's operating near them. They wouldn't want to attract the attention of PLAN or Russian fast attacks who might want to play a little game of "cat and mouse" with the SSNs that are definetly there.

cheers

This exercise was obviously ment to impress the Chinese observers. Great photos!

Sea Dog said:

Thanks Jeff. Great pics. The most amazing thing about this display is that it's not even complete. Just think, there are SSN's, SSBN's, and quite possibly an SSGN operating near these groups. Plus the AEW, EW, ELINT, SIGINT, and space based surveillance network that is ever present yet unseen here.

Awesome!

Click to expand...

It is awesome. The exercise of combined arms, including the air force units able to deploy quickly from the US mainland (the B-2's deploying directly to fight from the mainland) sends a very strong and clear message. Doing this in the Western Pacific, with Chinese observers along, is clearly meant to send that message of the USNs capabilities and this administrations resolve.

Hell, I wouldn't need a demonstration to see USAF and USN surperiority.

Replaced the pictures with medium sized so the page loads faster and no browser hang-ups.

Note to new members..this forum does not allow one line responses. We want to keep things on the highest level possible. I know some new members have introduced but I invite all new members to read the forum rules and introduce themselves before posting. Thanks!

http://www.sinodefenceforum.com/showthread.php?t=20

http://www.sinodefenceforum.com/showthread.php?t=1831&page=16

As for the excersise. After spending 20 years in the USN I never tired of this sort of operation. It is just awesome to be a part of.

I've been reading that the USN's capabilities are declining. I think I read coffee: ) this in the NY Post (I read it beacsue they have the best sports section!). The number of submarines will be declining (Are the Los Angelos-class subs being retired soon?), Congress is cutting down the budget for many future Navy programs, and many ships won't be ready for another 15 years. Can the USN still be capable to take on the world with somewhat of an aging fleet?