Is the Carrier too weak on defense?

[Panag]

hi ,

"two of a kind , ......"

not how the there are some e2c small awacs ready for launch , the monment the pic was taken there where 8 above for protection , ....

have a nice day

[Panag]

hi ,

the good old Enterprise , not the planes on deck , ....

have a nice day

[Panag]

hi ,

a small part of the large hangars , ....

have a nice day

[Panag]

hi ,

the good old school ship Kitty Hawk , ...

the four heli's aboard are at that moment in the air

have a nice day

[Panag]

hi ,

and the list of what we have today and in a couple years , .....

have a nice day

[Panag]

hi ,

with a bit of luck there could be funds for maybe more , ....

have a nice day

[Panag]

The Future

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CTOL
Conventional Take Off and Landing
Aircraft STOVL
Short Take Off and Vertical Landing
Aircraft
Large Air Wing
(80 Aircraft) Conventional
Study 2B (Traditional FLT DK)
Study 2B1 (CVV Equivalent)
Nuclear
Study 2 (Traditional FLT DK)
Study 2A (Study 2-Alt FLT DK)
Conventional
Study 2C1 (STOVL FLT DK)
Nuclear
Study 2C (STOVL FLT DK)

Medium Air Wing
(60 Aircraft) Conventional
Study 3B (Study 3-Conventional)
Study 3B1 (CVV Equivalent)
Study 3D (Stealth Catamaran)
Nuclear
Study 3 (Traditional FLT DK)
Study 3A (Study 3-Alt FLT DK)
Study 3C (Stealth Monohull)

Small Air Wing
(40 Aircraft) Conventional
Study 4 (Traditional FLT DK)
Study 4A (Study 4-Alt FLT DK #1)
Study 4B (Study 4-Alt FLT DK #2)
Nuclear
Study 4C (Traditional FLT DK)

Conventional
Study 5 (Traditional FLT DK)
Study 5A (Study 5-Alt FLT DK #1)
Study 5B (Study 5-Alt FLT DK #2)
Study 5D (CVV Equivalent)
Nuclear
Study 5C (Traditional FLT DK )

hi ,

in light of 9/11 and further threads there is now a study with an XL airwing , 100 aircraft with at least 30 UAV's , ....

have a nice day

[Panag]

getting value for the buck , ......

NAVY AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
Cost-Effectiveness of Conventionally and Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carriers


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



MISSIONS GENERATED BY EACH
CARRIER WERE COMPARABLE FOR THE
REGIONS IN WHICH THEY OPERATED
--------------------------------------------------------- Appendix V:1

When Operation Desert Storm began on January 17, 1991, the Navy had
three conventional carriers, U.S.S. America (CV-66),
U.S.S. John F. Kennedy (CV-67), and U.S.S. Saratoga (CV-60),
positioned in the Red Sea and two conventional carriers, U.S.S.
Midway (CV-41) and
U.S.S. Ranger (CV-61), in the Persian Gulf. The nuclear-powered
U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), sailing from the Red Sea to the
Persian Gulf when hostilities began, did not begin to strike targets
until January 22nd. The Navy operated three carriers each in the Red
Sea and Persian Gulf for about 3 weeks until the America moved to the
Persian Gulf in mid-February 1991, shifting the number of carriers in
each operating area to two and four ships, respectively.

Navy fixed-wing carrier-based aircraft flew over 18,000 sorties
during the war, according to statistics developed by Center for Naval
Analyses in an analysis of Desert Storm carrier operations. Aircraft
from the Red Sea Battle Force flew nearly 6,200 sorties (one-third of
the sorties), while aircraft from the Persian Gulf Battle Force flew
nearly 11,800 sorties. We believe that the significant differences
in the operations of the two battle forces were largely driven by the
ranges to their targets. The Red Sea carriers were about 400 to 600
nautical miles away from their targets. Their aircraft had to fly
even greater distances to get to and from aerial tanker positions and
to use specific entry and exit corridors to reach the targets. The
Persian Gulf carriers, on the other hand, launched many missions to
the coastal region and were generally closer to their targets than
the Red Sea carriers. As a result, the Persian Gulf carriers
generally launched more sorties of shorter duration. As the war
progressed, the Persian Gulf carriers moved further north in the
Gulf, reducing strike ranges even more. The shorter distances
allowed the carriers to shift into cyclic operations and generate
many more sorties in the same span of time. In addition, the
America's move to the Persian Gulf increased the number of carriers
to four and added further to the total sorties generated by those
carriers.

Because of the extended ranges involved during attacks on Iraq,
carrier-based aircraft required refueling from land-based tankers.
Aircraft from the Red Sea carriers relied on land-based tankers for
the duration of the war. In the Persian Gulf, the carriers were
initially positioned about 280 nautical miles southeast of Kuwait
City. As the war progressed and the threat of Iraqi air and missile
attacks on the Persian Gulf carriers diminished, the carriers moved
farther north, reducing their dependence on land-based tankers. By
the start of the ground war in late February, the carriers were
positioned about 185 nautical miles southeast of Kuwait City. After
the carriers' arrival in the northernmost operating areas, Navy
refueling aircraft provided all refueling for Persian Gulf naval air
strikes.

The total sorties generated by each carrier, as well as the average
number of sorties flown during the war, are shown in table V.1. The
Kennedy and the Saratoga operated in the Red Sea during the entire
period, while the Midway, the Ranger, and the Roosevelt operated in
the Persian Gulf. The America began the war in the Red Sea but moved
to the Persian Gulf in mid-February for the final stages of the war.



Table V.1

Average Sorties Per Day Per Carrier
During Desert Storm (43 days)

Sarato Roosev
Midway ga Ranger Americ Kenned elt
(CV- (CV- (CV9- a (CV- y (CV- (CV-
41) 60) 61) 66) 67) 71) Total
------------------------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Total sorties 3,019 2,374 3,329 2,672 2,574 4,149 18,117
================================================== ==============================
Daily average 70.2 55.2 77.4 62.1 59.9 96.5 421.3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Our analysis of Center for Naval Analyses data.


NUMBER OF SORTIES GENERATED BY
INDIVIDUAL CARRIERS WERE
PROPORTIONAL TO THE SIZE OF
THEIR AIR WINGS
--------------------------------------------------------- Appendix V:2

The number of aircraft assigned to each carrier varied considerably
and had a direct impact on the sorties generated by each carrier.
When the average number of sorties per assigned aircraft are
compared, there is little difference between carriers operating in
the same area (see
table V.2). Although the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71)
launched the most sorties of any carrier (4,149), the ship, along
with the
U.S.S. John F. Kennedy (CV-67), had the most aircraft assigned--78
aboard each carrier. Since the Roosevelt operated in the Persian
Gulf, considerably closer to assigned targets than the Kennedy in the
Red Sea, it was able to generate more sorties. On the other end of
the spectrum, the World War II-vintage U.S.S. Midway (CV-41) had
only 56 aircraft assigned (nearly 30 percent less than the
Roosevelt), the least of any carrier, followed by the U.S.S. Ranger
(CV-61) with 62 aircraft.

When sorties are compared based on the number of aircraft assigned,
the sortie generation rates are nearly identical between the
carriers. The significant differences are between the Red Sea and
Persian Gulf carriers. When carriers in the same region are
compared, their sortie generation rates are also almost identical.
The Kennedy and the
U.S.S. Saratoga (CV-60), which operated in the Red Sea for all of
Desert Storm, each averaged 33 sorties per aircraft. The three
full-time Persian Gulf carriers, Midway, Ranger, and Roosevelt, each
averaged about 53 sorties per aircraft.



Table V.2

Comparison of the Average Number of
Sorties Generated By Each Carrier

Midway Saratoga Ranger America Kennedy Roosevelt Tota
(CV-41) (CV-60) (CV-61) (CV-66) (CV-67) (CVN-71) l
-- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ====
================================================== ==============================
To 3,019 2,374 3,329 2,672 2,574 4,149 18,1
t 17
a
l
s
o
r
t
i
e
s

Aircraft
assigned:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
F- 0 20 20 20 20 20 100
14
F/ 30 18 0 18 0 19 85
A-
1
8
A- 14 14 22 14 13 18 95
6E
A- 0 0 0 0 24 0 24
7
E- 4 4 4 4 5 4 25
2
EA 4 4 4 5 5 5 27
-
6
B
KA 4 4 4 4 3 4 23
-
6
D
S- 0 8 8 8 8 8 40
3B
================================================== ==============================
To 56 72 62 73 78 78 419
t
a
l
================================================== ==============================
Av 53.9 33.0 53.7 36.6 33.0 53.2 43.2
e
r
a
g
e
s
o
r
t
i
e
s
p
e
r
a
i
r
c
r
a
f
t
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Our analysis of Center for Naval Analyses data.


CARRIERS OPERATED ON A ROTATING
BASIS
--------------------------------------------------------- Appendix V:3

Although Navy aircraft flew sorties every day throughout Desert
Storm, none of the carriers operated around-the-clock. Instead, they
rotated on an operating schedule that enabled them to have intervals
of off-duty time. According to the Center for Naval Analyses data,
the three carriers initially operating in the Red Sea, the U.S.S.
America (CV-66), the
U.S.S. John F. Kennedy (CV-67), and the U.S.S. Saratoga (CV-60),
followed a rotating schedule with two carriers conducting flight
operations while the third stood down for 2 days. When the America
departed for the Persian Gulf on February 7th, the remaining two
carriers continued to operate with periodic stand-down intervals. In
the Persian Gulf, the
U.S.S. Midway (CV-41), the U.S.S. Ranger (CV-61), and the
U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) also followed a rotating
operating schedule. Each carrier conducted air operations for
approximately
15 hours during a 24-hour interval. During the remaining 9 hours of
a 24-hour interval, one carrier suspended air operations. The
Ranger's and Roosevelt's on-duty periods occurred during opposite
portions of the 24-hour interval--with 3 hours of concurrent
operations during turnovers. The Midway's on-duty period was roughly
centered on one of Ranger's and Roosevelt's turnovers. The Center
for Naval Analyses reported that there were only 6 days during the
war when all six carriers operated. The rest of the time usually
four or five carriers were on line while others stood down.


AVERAGE SORTIES PER OPERATING
DAY WERE NOT SIGNIFICANTLY
DIFFERENT AMONG THE CARRIERS
--------------------------------------------------------- Appendix V:4

When daily sortie rates were based on the number of days each carrier
operated, there was a significant increase in average sorties. As
shown in table V.3, the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) led all
carriers, averaging about 106 sorties per day. The smallest and
oldest carrier, the
U.S.S. Midway (CV-41), averaged about 89 sorties, 17 less than the
Roosevelt, but did so with 22 fewer aircraft. When we factored in
the number of assigned aircraft to average number of sorties per
operating day, the Midway led all carriers. The Midway averaged 1.59
sorties per aircraft per operating day, followed by the U.S.S.
Ranger (CV-61) with an average of 1.41 sorties, and the Roosevelt
with 1.36 sorties.



Table V.3

Average Sorties Per Operating Day
Generated By Each Carrier

Midwa Sarato Range Ameri Kenned Roosev
y ga r ca y elt
(CV- (CV- (CV- (CV- (CV- (CVN-
41) 60) 61) 66) 67) 71)
------------------------- ----- ------ ----- ----- ------ ------
Total sorties 3,019 2,374 3,329 2,672 2,574 4,149
Aircraft assigned 56 72 62 73 78 78
Operating days 34 33 38 31 31 39
Average sorties per 88.8 71.9 87.6 86.2 83.0 106.4
operating day
================================================== ====================
Average operating day 1.59 1.00 1.41 1.18 1.07 1.36
sorties per aircraft
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Our analysis of Center for Naval Analyses data.


LOGISTICS SUPPORT WAS
COMPARABLE FOR ALL CARRIERS
--------------------------------------------------------- Appendix V:5

The Navy committed about 40 percent of its Combat Logistics Force
ships--combat stores ships, oilers, ammunition supply ships, and
multicommodity fast combat support ships--to Desert Storm. Each of
the carrier battle groups was assigned its own dedicated support
ships, to the extent possible, that remained on station with its
battle group and enabled frequent replenishment of fuel and ordnance.
According to Center for Naval Analyses, all carriers were replenished
at about the same frequency, approximately every 3 to 3-1/2 days.
The Center for Naval Analyses concluded that the increased capacity
for ordnance and aviation fuel in the nuclear design was not
sufficient to untether the battle force from the logistics pipeline.
It also concluded that the hoped for increase in freedom of
operational employment for nuclear carriers was restricted by the
fossil fuel dependence of their accompanying surface combatants.


FUEL REPLENISHMENT DURING
DESERT STORM WAS COMPARABLE FOR
NUCLEAR- AND CONVENTIONALLY
POWERED CARRIERS
--------------------------------------------------------- Appendix V:6

According to the Center for Naval Analyses, which published several
studies related to Desert Storm, the frequency that aviation fuel was
replenished was essentially the same for all carriers, including the
U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), even though nuclear-powered
carriers have about 1.7 million more gallons of aviation fuel storage
capacity. Table V.4 shows that aviation fuel was replenished about
every 3 days for the carriers operating in the Persian Gulf.



Table V.4

Frequency of Aviation Fuel Replenishment
by Persian Gulf Carriers During January
and February 1991

Roosev
Midway Ranger Americ elt
(CV- (CV- a (CV- (CVN-
41) 61) 66) 71)
-------------------------------------- ------ ------ ------ ------
Number of replenishments 19 41 6 12
Days in Persian Gulf 59 46 16 40
Replenishment frequency (days) 3.1 3.1 2.7 3.3
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Our analysis of Center for Naval Analyses data.

Similarly, in the Red Sea, the conventionally powered carriers
operating also received aviation fuel every 2 to 3 days. The Center
for Naval Analyses stated that, ¹In practice, ships are topped-off
whenever other operational demands make it possible.º It reported
that from February 17-27, 1991, the peak period of the air campaign,
aircraft from the Roosevelt consumed an average of over 4,930 barrels
(207,060 gallons) of fuel daily, while
U.S.S. America (CV-66) aircraft consumed about 4,990 barrels
(209,580 gallons) daily. The amount of aviation fuel consumed daily
represented only a small percentage of each carrier's JP-5 capacity.


ORDNANCE WAS ALSO REPLENISHED
FREQUENTLY
--------------------------------------------------------- Appendix V:7

According to Center for Naval Analyses, ordnance expenditures by the
Persian Gulf carriers averaged about 49 tons per day per carrier
during the entire war. This rate increased to 116 tons per day
during the 4-day ground offensive. Each Red Sea carrier averaged
about 43 tons per day during the war and 59 tons per day during the
ground war. The smaller Red Sea expenditure rates were probably due
to the smaller number of sorties flown as a result of the longer
distances these aircraft had to fly to reach their targets. Like
fuel, ordnance was also replenished about every 3 days for the
Persian Gulf carriers and about every 1 to 2 days in the Red Sea,
even though the ordnance expended over a 2- to 3-day period was only
a fraction of the ships' storage capacities. For example, according
to Center for Naval Analyses, the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71)
was rearmed seven times during the last 20 days of February 1991,
receiving over 1,600 tons of ordnance. During this period, the Roosevelt
expended an average of about 2 percent of the capacity (by weight) per day.
The U.S.S. Ranger (CV-61) was also rearmed seven times over this
interval, even though only about 5 percent of its ordnance capacity
was consumed daily. Similarly, the U.S.S. Midway (CV-41) was
rearmed nine times between January 16 and February 16, 1991, even
though only about 5 percent of its ordnance capacity was expended
daily.

[Panag]

NAVY AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
Cost-Effectiveness of Conventionally and Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carriers

COMPARISON OF THE TRANSIT TIME OF
CONVENTIONALLY AND NUCLEAR-POWERED
CARRIERS RESPONDING TO SELECTED
CRISES
Appendix IV

We examined the movement of carriers that responded to several crisis
situations in this decade to compare the transit times of
conventionally and nuclear-powered ships. The crises examined were
Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, U.N. operations in Somalia in
1993, threatening Iraqi troop movements toward Kuwait in 1994, and
operations in Bosnia in 1995. We also examined the transits of
carriers responding to the crisis caused by Iraq's violation of the
¹no-fly-zoneº over southern Iraq in October 1997 and actions taken in
January 1998 to maintain a two-carrier presence in the Persian Gulf.


OPERATIONS DESERT SHIELD/DESERT
STORM
-------------------------------------------------------- Appendix IV:1

When Iraq invaded Kuwait on August 2, 1990, the nuclear-powered
U.S.S. Eisenhower (CVN-69) was in port in Naples, Italy. The
carrier traveled about 1,040 nautical miles to Port Said, Egypt, from
August 3-7, a period of 5 days, and later moved through the Suez
Canal into the Red Sea. The conventional powered U.S.S.
Independence (CV-62) was operating near Diego Garcia in the Indian
Ocean when the invasion began. The Independence arrived in the Gulf
of Oman on August 5th, covering about 2,200 nautical miles in 3 to 4
days. Considering the time taken to travel this distance, the
Independence would probably have made the voyage at a sustained speed
of between 24 and 32 knots.

Table IV.1 summarizes the transit times of six other carriers that
sailed from ports in the United States and Japan and participated in
Desert Storm.



Table IV.1

Steaming Time/Speed of Carriers
Deploying to Desert Shield/Storm

Depart Arrive Days
-------------- --------------- -------------
Net
Distan Elaps Underw speed Rema
From Date At Date ce ed ay \a rks
Carrier ------- ----- -- -------- ----- ------ ----- ------ ----- ----
Midway Yokosuk 10/ Gulf of 11/ 6,495 30 24 11.3 3-
(CV- a, 02/ Oman 01/ day
41) Japan 90 90 port
visi
ts
at
Subi
c
Bay
and
at
Sing
apor
e

Saratog Mayport 08/ Red Sea 08/ 5,867 15 14 17.5 Assu
a (CV- , Fla. 07/ 22/ mes
60) 90 90 a 1-
day
dela
y to
tran
sit
Suez
Cana
l

San 12/ Strait 01/ 11,666 38 33 14.7 5-
Rangers Diego, 08/ of 15/ day
(CV- Calif. 90 Hormuz 91 port
61) visi
t at
Subi
c
Bay;
assu
mes
no
othe
r
stop
s in
rout
e

Norfolk 12/ Red Sea 01/ 5,527 18 17 13.5 Assu
America , Va. 28/ 15/ mes
(CV- 90 91 a 1-
66) day
dela
y to
tran
sit
Suez
Cana
l

Red Sea 02/ Persian 02/ 3,450 7 7 21.1
07/ Gulf 14/
91 91

Norfolk 08/ Red Sea 09/ 5,527 30 27 8.5\b 2-
Kennedy , Va. 15/ 14/ day
(CV- 90 90 port
67) visi
t to
Alex
andr
ia,
Egyp
t,
also
assu
mes
a 1-
day
dela
y to
tran
sit
Suez
Cana
l

Rooseve Norfolk 12/ Red Sea 01/ 5,527 17 16 14.4 Assu
lt , Va. 28/ 14/ mes
(CVN- 90 91 a 1-
71) day
dela
y to
tran
sit
Suez
Cana
l

Red Sea 01/ Persian 01/ 3,540 7 7 21.1
14/ Gulf 21/
91 91
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a Net steaming speed was derived from the total elapsed days minus
days spent in port and/or awaiting to transit the Suez Canal,
multiplied by 24 (hours), divided into the distance.

\b The Kennedy spent about 7 days in the Virginia Capes operating
area conducting battle group training and carrier landing
qualifications before proceeding eastward. If this time is not
counted as days underway toward the Red Sea, then the ship's transit
speed was 11.5 knots.

Source: Our analysis of Navy data.



COMPARISON OF THE VOYAGES OF
THE LINCOLN AND THE AMERICA
SUPPORTING U.N. OPERATIONS IN
SOMALIA (1993)
Appendix IV:2

The U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) operating in the Persian Gulf
supporting Operation Southern Watch was ordered to move to the coast
of Somalia to support U.N. operations on October 7, 1993. The
Lincoln moved through the Straits of Hormuz on October 8 and arrived
off the coast of Mogadishu, Somalia, 4 days later, on October 12th.
We estimate that the Lincoln would have traveled at a sustained speed
of 19 knots to cover the approximately 1,800 nautical miles from the
Straits of Hormuz to Somalia in 4 days. The Lincoln operated off the
coast of Somalia until November 4, 1993.

The U.S.S. America (CV-66) was operating in the Adriatic Sea
supporting U.N. peacekeeping operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina, when
ordered on October 27, 1993, to relieve the Lincoln operating off the
coast of Somalia. The America traveled from the Adriatic Sea to the
Mediterranean Sea entrance to the Suez Canal, in about 2 days,
covering a distance of about 1,040 nautical miles, which equated to a
sustained speed of about 22 knots. The America completed the Suez
Canal transit on October 30th and reached the coast of Somalia on
November 4th. We estimate that if the America traveled about 2,400
nautical miles from the Suez Canal to the coast of Somalia in about 5
days, it could have done so at a sustained speed of about 20 knots.
We estimate that the America would have completed the total trip with
about 60 percent of its propulsion fuel remaining if no refueling had
taken place.


COMPARISON OF THE TRANSIT OF
THE WASHINGTON IN OCTOBER 1994,
AND A TRANSIT OF SIMILAR LENGTH
BY AMERICA IN DECEMBER 1995
-------------------------------------------------------- Appendix IV:3

When Iraq moved two divisions of the Republican Guard south of the
Euphrates River, toward Kuwait, in early October 1994, the President,
faced with the imminent possibility of another Iraqi invasion of
Kuwait, directed that U.S. forces be dispatched to the region. This
effort was called Operation Vigilant Warrior. Included among those
forces was the
U.S.S. George Washington (CVN-73), the closest American aircraft
carrier to the Middle East, operating in the Adriatic Sea. Two other
carriers were also deployed at sea at that time but were much farther
away; the
U.S.S. America (CV-66) was operating near Haiti, and the
U.S.S. Kitty Hawk (CV-63) was operating near Korea.

The George Washington battle group was ordered to move to the Persian
Gulf on the evening of October 7, 1994, and arrived in the Red Sea on
October 10th.\1 The George Washington, with one escort, continued to
proceed around the Arabian Peninsula, arriving in the Persian Gulf on
October 14th.\2 According to a Center for Naval Analyses study,\3 the
George Washington averaged about 25.6 knots, excluding the time spent
waiting to transit the Suez Canal and actually transiting the canal.

By comparison, the U.S.S. America made a similar voyage, but in the
opposite direction, from the Persian Gulf to the Adriatic Sea in
December 1995. The America began the voyage on December 2nd,
transited the Suez Canal on December 9th, and was in position in the
Adriatic Sea on December 11, 1995, in time for the signing of the
peace agreement between the fighting Balkan factions. Assuming that
this voyage took 8 full steaming days, excluding the time associated
with transiting the Suez Canal, the America would have covered the
nearly 4,200 nautical miles at a sustained speed of about 22 knots.
If the America had steamed at the same sustained speed (26 knots) as
the
George Washington did during Vigilant Warrior, a speed within its
capability, it would have arrived with about 33 percent fuel
remaining if there was no refueling during the voyage. With one
refueling, the
U.S.S. America would have taken about 2 hours longer than the
George Washington to cover the same distance but would have arrived
with full fuel tanks.


--------------------
\1 Once in the Red Sea, attack aircraft from the U.S.S. George
Washington, or any other carrier, could have reached targets in
southern Iraq with refueling by aerial tankers. Also, on October
10th, Saddam Hussein announced that the Republican Guard divisions
would withdraw, and they began to move northward soon afterwards.

\2 Several dozen Air Force tactical aircraft arrived in the theater
about the same time as did the
U.S.S. George Washington. On October 8th, Air Force units at
Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, and Pope Air Force Base, North
Carolina, were alerted to deploy, but their aircraft were held at
their bases pending final basing arrangements with Saudi Arabia. The
Langley fighters arrived in Saudi Arabia on
October 11th, while the Pope aircraft arrived on October 13th and
15th, after completing approximately 17-hour flights.

\3 Exploring Alternative Paths for Future Sea-Based TACAIR Platforms,
Report CAB 95-62, July 1995.


COMPARISON OF THE TRANSIT OF
THE
NIMITZ IN OCTOBER 1997, AND A
SIMILAR TRANSIT BY THE
INDEPENDENCE IN
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1998
-------------------------------------------------------- Appendix IV:4

On October 1, 1997, after Iraqi aircraft had violated the southern
¹no-fly-zone,º the U.S.S. Nimitz (CVN-68) was ordered to proceed to
the Persian Gulf at best speed. The carrier had completed a port
visit to Hong Kong and was scheduled to visit Singapore before
heading for the Persian Gulf. According to the Navy, the Nimitz
completed this 5,500 nautical mile transit in 11 days at an average
speed of advance of about
21 knots. Our review of transit data indicated the carrier spent
about 39 percent of the voyage at 27 knots and above. The carrier's
longest sustained steaming period at or above 27 knots was one 9-hour
period. The Navy reported that the Nimitz was able to conduct flight
operations on 6 of the 11 transit days. The carrier arrived in the
Persian Gulf on October 11, 1997.

On January 23, 1998, the U.S.S. Independence (CV-62) was ordered to
transit from Japan to the Persian Gulf to replace the Nimitz, which
was scheduled to return to the U.S. for a scheduled comprehensive
refueling overhaul. Our analysis of transit data for the
Independence indicated the carrier averaged over 24 knots during the
voyage and spent over 70 percent of the time at 27 knots and above.
During various parts of the transit, the ship sustained speeds of 27
knots and above for several lengthy periods of time, including 42,
31, and 27 continuous hours. Our review of transit data indicated
that aircraft flew on at least 5 days of the transit, the last period
ending late in the evening of February 4, 1998, the night before the
ship entered the Persian Gulf. The ship slowed down to speeds of 14
knots or less to conduct fuel replenishments and make periodic course
and speed changes to conduct flight operations.


OPERATIONS OF CARRIERS IN THE
PERSIAN GULF WAR
================================================== ========= Appendix V

An October 1995 report on the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program
Classification Review included a discussion of the impact of nuclear
propulsion in the Gulf War. The report stated:

"During this war the U.S. had unchallenged use of the oceans.
Over 85 percent of the war supplies were transported by ocean,
halfway around the world. Accomplishing this required complete
control of the sea. A few enemy nuclear-powered submarines
could have significantly disrupted our supply lines.
Nuclear-powered submarines with their covert capability provided
platforms for launching cruise missile strikes without concern
for detection prior to launch. The nuclear-powered aircraft
carriers provided U.S. Commanders with platforms for aircraft
strikes that could be located for sustained periods in areas of
the Middle East not available by land. If Iraq had obtained
access to nuclear propulsion technology and had developed
nuclear-powered submarines, it would have significantly impacted
the course of the war."

Our analysis of carrier operations and support during Operation
Desert Storm did not reveal any significant differences between the
nuclear-powered carrier U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) and five
conventionally powered carriers, including the World War II-vintage
U.S.S. Midway (CV-41), that could be attributed to nuclear
propulsion. Although aircraft from the Roosevelt flew more missions
than any other Desert Storm carrier, this was due to several factors
independent of the propulsion system, including the distance to
targets and the number and mix of aircraft aboard each carrier. When
the number of assigned aircraft is considered, the number of sorties
generated by each carrier is almost identical.

Our analysis also indicated that the Navy supported all six carriers
in essentially the same manner. Despite the nuclear carrier's
greater jet fuel and ordnance capacity, and its reduced reliance on
logistics support, the Roosevelt did not operate for longer intervals
between replenishment actions than the conventional carriers.
Instead, all of the carriers were replenished at about the same
frequency, well before fuel and ordnance reached critical levels.

[Patroklos]

Love the info, Panag. Very accurate. However, I am in the Navy and can tell you we have plenty of F-14s and will for some years yet (in diminishing numbers). Take into account that the Navy and DoD's finacial commitments will change considerably in the next year when Iraq goes up in smoke. I would expect the retirement schedule for the F-14 to go through some changes.

[Panag]

Originally posted by Patroklos
Love the info, Panag. Very accurate. However, I am in the Navy and can tell you we have plenty of F-14s and will for some years yet (in diminishing numbers). Take into account that the Navy and DoD's finacial commitments will change considerably in the next year when Iraq goes up in smoke. I would expect the retirement schedule for the F-14 to go through some changes.

hi ,

thanks , the F-14 info is a bit up , ...

have a nice day

[Panag]

Italian Carrier

ANDREA DORIA (NUM) AIRCRAFT CARRIER, ITALY
On 22 November 2000, a contract was drawn up between Fincantieri and the Ministry of Naval Defence to supply an aircraft carrier vessel, better known as a "new major vessel", to the Italian Navy. The order is worth approximately Lira 1,750bn, of which 140bn has been set aside for the integrated logistic Support.

Building work on the new vessel which will be named the Andrea Doria, began at Fincantieri's shipyards in Riva Trigoso and Muggiano in July 2001 and the ship will be delivered in 2007.

DESIGN

The ship will have a standard displacement of about 22,000t, an overall length of about 235m and a speed of no less than 29 knots; it will be able to accommodate up to 1,290 people on board comprising a maximum landing force of 450.

The event constitutes great satisfaction for the shipbuilding industry, the National Defence Industry and for the Italian Navy as finally this highly important programme, which falls within the framework of the renewal of its fleet, reaches its conclusion.

PLANNING AND DESIGN OF THE NEW MAJOR VESSEL
Preliminary planning and design took almost two years. The negotiations with the Navy were long and demanding, and over the past months, the project has been the subject of a number of interventions aimed at defining its best configuration.

The contract – which covers the construction of the ship system and the part of the combat system already defined – will now have to pass the scrutiny of the controlling authorities before becoming operative, in all likelihood early next year.

The ship will have a standard displacement of about 22,000t, an overall length of about 235m and a speed of no less than 29 knots; it will be able to accommodate up to 1,290 people on board comprising a maximum landing force of 450.

The ship's strongest features will be its high flexibility in operational terms, its capacity to carry out the functions of an aircraft carrier and the transport of wheeled and tracked vehicles for both military and civil defence missions.

AIRCRAFT CARRIER FUNCTION
In order to carry out these functions, the vessel will be equipped with a flight deck suitable both for operations with helicopters and with short-launch, vertical take-off fighter planes and a hangar/garage of approximately 2,500m². In this way the ship will also have an amphibious capacity through rapid transport via helicopter even at considerable distances from the landing force. The ship could support eight VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) aircraft such as AV-8B Harrier or F-35 joint strike fighter VTOL variant, or 12 helicopters, such as the EH101, AB-212, NH 90 or SH-3D, or a mix of platforms.

In view of the long operating life foreseen for the vessel, the ship was conceived to be able to accommodate new generation aircraft. For the purposes of moving aircraft and vehicles embarked, two elevators will be installed for aircraft and there will be two access ramps to move vehicles from the quayside to the hangar/garage.

Further features of the ship will be a hospital facility with three operating rooms, wards for hospitalised patients, X ray and CT equipment, a dentist's surgery and a laboratory.

The carrier will be armed with the Eurosam (jointly owned by MBDA and Thales) SAAM/IT missile system which fires Aster 15 missiles from the Sylver eight-cell vertical launch system. The Aster 15 missile has a 13kg warhead and a range of 30km. The missile’s guidance is inertial with data uplink and active radar terminal homing. For increased manoeuvrability in the terminal phase, the missile uses a 'PIF-PAF' direct thrust control system with gas jets. Primary sensor for the SAAM/IT is the AMS Empar G-band multi-function phased array radar, which provides simultaneous surveillance, tracking and weapons control. First ship-launched missile firing of the SAAM/IT system took place in December 2002.

The vessel will be equipped with two Oto Melara 76mm Super Rapid guns and three 25mm anti-aircraft guns.

COMBAT SYSTEMS

Alenia Marconi Systems (AMS) will be the integrator for the vessel’s combat system and will also supply systems including RAN 40L 3D D-band long range radar, RASS surveillance radar, IFF and navigation system. Other members of the combat system team include Elettronica, Galileo Avionica and Oto Melara.

PROPULSION SYSTEMS
The Andrea Doria will have combined gas turbine and gas (COGAG) propulsion. GE Marine engines will supply the LM2500 gas turbines. The four turbines will drive two gear units each providing 60,000shp.



hi ,

this should be reflected in the game as a baby carrier or helicoter carrier or large amph assault vessel , ....

have a nice day

[Panag]

Italian carrier ; the GARIBALDI

GARIBALDI AIRCRAFT CARRIER, ITALY
The flagship of the Italian Navy is the aircraft carrier MM Garibaldi, built by Fincantieri of Genoa and commissioned in 1985. Garibaldi (C551) is classed as a CVS – Aircraft Carrier ASW (Anti-submarine Warfare). The ship is capable of carrying 18 helicopters or an air squadron of vertical or short take-off and landing (VSTOL) aircraft.

The carrier can carry out anti-submarine warfare, command and control of naval and aero-naval forces, area surveillance, convoy escort, commando transportation, and fleet logistic support.

COMBAT SYSTEMS

The ship's command and control system is the IPN 20 supplied by Alenia Marconi Systems. IPN 20 gathers information from the ship's sensors and from the communications and data networks in order to compile and display the tactical situation. Communications systems include satellite communications, Link 11 and Link 14.

MISSILES
The ship's long-range surface-to-surface missile system, the MBDA (formerly Alenia) Otomat, is installed on the gun decks at the stern of the ship, two launchers on the port and two on the starboard side. The missile has active radar homing, is armed with a 210kg warhead and has a range of 120km.

The MBDA Albatros surface-to-air missile system provides short-range point defence. The Albatros eight-cell launchers are installed on the roof decks at the forward and stern end of the main island. The system uses the Aspide missile. Aspide has a semi-active radar seeker and a range of 14km. Forty-eight Aspide missiles are carried. Fire control for the Albatros is provided by three AESN NA 30 radar/electro-optical directors, which include infrared camera and laser rangefinder as well as the Alenia RTN 30X fire control radar.

GUNS

The ship is armed with three 40/70mm twin guns from OTOBreda. The guns have a firing rate of 300 rounds/min to an airborne target range of 4km and a surface target range of 12km. The guns’ weapon control system comprises three Alenia Marconi Systems NA 21 systems.

TORPEDOES

Two ILAS 3 triple tube torpedo launchers from WASS (Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subaqua) are fitted. The 324mm tubes are capable of firing the Honeywell Mark 46 or the A290 torpedo.

AIRCRAFT

The ship's flight deck is 174m long and 30.5m wide, and the forward 15m of the flight deck rises to a ski ramp of about 4°. The ship can accommodate up to 18 helicopters, for example the Agusta Sikorsky SH-3D Sea King or the Agusta Bell AB212. Alternatively the ship can accommodate 16 AV-8B Harrier II aircraft, or a mix of helicopter and Harriers.

COUNTERMEASURES

The ship's radar warning receiver and jamming system is the Elettronica Nettuno SLQ-732. The torpedo decoy is the SLQ-25 Nixie.

The ship has two OTOBreda SCLAR Naval Decoy Launcher Systems, which deploy chaff dispensers, infra-red decoys or illuminating flares. SCLAR is a 20-barrel 105mm system and provides confusion, distraction and seduction mode jamming.

The aircraft carrier will also be fitted with a SLAT anti-torpedo system being developed by Euroslat, a consortium consisting of WASS (Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subaqua), DCN and Thales Underwater Systems (formerly Thomson Marconi Sonar).

SENSORS

The ship's long range air search radar is the Alenia Marconi Systems MM/SPS-768 (RAN 3L) operating at D band, which has a range over 200km. The 3D long-range surveillance radar, the Raytheon AN/SPS-52C operates at E band and range is over 400km. The Alenia Marconi Systems SPS-774 medium range air and surface search radar operates at E and F bands and has a range over 150 km. SMA supplies the surface search and targeting radar MM/SPS-702, the navigation radar MM/SPN-749, and the aircraft control radar MM/SPN-728, all operating at I band.

The DE 1160 LF bow-mounted active search sonar is supplied by Raytheon.

PROPULSION

The ship's propulsion system is a combined gas turbine and gas turbine (COGAG) arrangement. The system is based on four LM2500 gas turbine engines developed by FiatAvio of Turin under a licence agreement from the U.S. company General Electric (GE). The LM2500 are rated at a sustained power of 81,000hp. The propulsion system provides a maximum speed of 30 knots and, at an economical speed of 20 knots, the range is over 7000 nautical miles.

hi ,

well its better then nothing , .....

have a nice day

[Panag]

Landing Platform Dock

LPD SAN GIORGIO CLASS LANDING PLATFORM DOCK, ITALY
The three San Giorgio class amphibious transport dock ships in service with the Italian Navy were built by Fincantieri at their Riva Trigoso shipyard. The three ships are: MM San Giorgio (L9892) commissioned in 1987, MM San Marco (L9893), commissioned in 1988, and MM San Giusto (L9894), commissioned in 1994. The ships are based at the Brindisi naval base on the Adriatic coast.

The ships provide roll-on/roll-off landing capability for land embarkation; air lift through the use off high capacity aircraft such as Chinook-type helicopters; and transportation by sea to shore, using the ship's own systems and landing ships for landing on unprepared shores.

DESIGN
The San Giorgio class ships can lift a battalion of troops, with up to 30 medium tanks, or 36 tracked armoured vehicles. The stern floodable dock can accommodate three LCM (or MTM) landing craft, each capable of transporting 30t of material. Three davits on the main deck are provided for the deployment of three LCVP (or MTP) landing craft and a patrol boat.

San Giusto has a full load displacement 300t higher than her sister ships. The ship has no bow doors for beach landings. The three davits for the deployment of landing craft and the patrol boat are relocated to a sponson installed on the port side of the ship instead of on the flight deck.

San Giorgio and San Marco are to be modified to increase the flight deck for helicopter operations. The 76mm gun mount and two port side davits for LCVP's will be removed, giving space for a new central flight deck. This will allow two EH 101 helicopters and two medium helicopters (NH 90 or AB 212) to be launched at the same time. The LCVP's are to be moved to below the sponson and the bow doors will also be removed.

A 30t lift and a two-hook travelling crane, each hook rated to carry 40t, are installed on the ship providing the capability of autonomous loading and unloading operations completely independent of harbour facilities.

AIRCRAFT
The main flight deck which runs almost the length of the ship, has three helicopter landing spots. The ship can accommodate three Sea King SH-3D helicopters or five Agusta Bell AB-212 helicopters.

COMBAT SYSTEM
The ship has the IPN 20 combat data system and the NA 10 fire control system, both from Alenia Marconi Systems. It is also equipped with a telecommunications system from Elmer MAC.

WEAPON SYSTEMS
An OtoBreda 76/62 gun is installed on the gun deck at the bow of the ship. The gun fires 6kg rounds at a firing rate of over 80 rounds/min to a target range of 8.5 nautical miles.

The ship is also armed with two Oerlikon 20mm machine guns for close defence.

The ship's electronic warfare system comprises an electronic countermeasures and electronic support measures (ECM/ESM) suite supplied by Elettronica SpA of Rome.

SENSORS
The ship's radar suite includes the SMA MM/SPQ 702 search radar and the SMA SPN-748 navigation radar both operating at I band, and the RTN-10X fire control radar from Alenia Marconi Systems, operating at I and J bands.

PROPULSION
The ship is powered by two GMT A 420.12 diesel engines supplied by the Diesel Engine Division of Fincantieri. The engines provide 16,800hp, delivered to two shafts with constant pitch propellers. The ship is equipped with four Fincantieri GMTB 230.6 diesel generators supplying 3,080kW. The propulsion system provides a maximum continuous speed of 21 knots. At the economical speed of 16 knots the maximum range of the ship is 7,500 nautical miles.



hi ,

, this is really something we need in the game , .....

have a nice day

[Panag]

CHARLES DE GAULLE NUCLEAR POWERED AIRCRAFT CARRIER, FRANCE
The 38,000t, nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle was constructed at the DCN Brest naval shipyard in Brittany. The ship was launched in May 1994 and commissioned in September 2000, following sea trials which began in January 1999. As a result of trials the landing deck has been lengthened by 4.4m to enable the E-2C to land and clear the deck quickly. The carrier was due to enter service in December 2000, but, following the breakage of a propeller blade during long-distance trials, this was delayed to April 2001. In June 2001, the carrier took part in exercises in the Mediterranean and in December 2001 left to take part in Operation Enduring Freedom where it was stationed in the Arabian Gulf. It returned to its home port of Toulon in July 2002. Super Etendard and Hawkeye E-2C aircraft carried out a number of sorties but the ship's seven Rafale fighters did not take part in operations, although they did take part in exercises with the US Navy.

The French Navy has plans to build a second carrier to enter service around 2012. This may be in the same class as the Charles de Gaulle or it may be a conventionally-powered version.

AIRCRAFT
The ship can operate a fleet of up to 40 aircraft: Rafale M (range 3,340km), Super Etendard (range 1,682km) and three E-2C Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft. The ship will also support the AS 565 Panther or NH 90 helicopter.

The main deck consists of a main runway angled at 8.5° to the ship's axis and an aircraft launch area forward of the island. These are each equipped with a USN Type C13 catapult, capable of launching one aircraft per minute. The runway is 195m long and the whole deck measures 260 x 64m. The carrier is fitted with the EADS Systems & Defence Electronics DALAS laser landing aid.

SATRAP COMPUTERISED STABILISATION SYSTEM
The carrier is fitted with the SATRAP computerised, integrated stabilisation system designed to maintain stabilisation to within 0.5° of horizontal, allowing aircraft to be operated up to Sea State 5/6. As well as the carrier's two pairs of active stabilising fins and twin rudders, the system has two computer-controlled compensation units which consist of two rail tracks for trains carrying 22t of deadweight. These tracks run transversely below the flight deck. This system is designed to compensate for wind and heel and control roll, yaw and surge.

COMBAT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
The ship's weapons are managed by a Senit Combat Management System, which has the capacity to track up to 2,000 targets. The weapon control system consists of two Vigy 105 optronic directors supplied by Sagem. The ship also has two Sagem Vampir search and track systems.

SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES
The SAAM (Surface Anti-Air Missile) system, developed by Eurosam (set up by MBDA and Thales), provides defence against hostile aircraft and anti-ship missiles. The system uses the Aster 15 surface-to-air missile and entered operational service in November 2002, with the first firing of the missile from the Charles de Gaulle. The Aster missile has a 13kg warhead and a range of 30km. The missile's guidance is inertial with data uplink and active radar terminal homing. For increased manoeuvrability in the terminal phase, the missile uses a 'PIF-PAF' direct thrust control system with gas jets. Two eight-cell Sylver vertical launch systems are installed on the starboard side forward of the bridge and two on the port side aft of the bridge. The system uses the Thales (formerlyThomson-CSF) Arabel radar, which is a multi-function three-dimensional radar with a range of 70km for a target area of 2m².

The ship has two six-cell Sadral launching systems for the MBDA (formerly Matra BAe Dynamics) Mistral anti-aircraft and anti-missile missile. Mistral has an infra-red seeker and a range of 4km.

GIAT 20F2 20MM GUNS
The ship is equipped with eight Giat 20F2 20mm guns, which fire 0.25kg shells at 720 rounds/min to a range of up to 8km.

COUNTERMEASURES
Four EADS Systems & Defence Electronics Sagaie 10-barrel trainable decoy launchers are installed. The system fires chaff to 8km and infra-red flares to a range of 3km. Two Thales ARBB 33 jammers, mature versions of the Salamandre, are installed to jam I-, H- and J- band radar signals. Electronic support measures include the Thales ARBR 21 radar warner. The aircraft carrier will also be fitted with a SLAT anti-torpedo system being developed by Euroslat, a consortium consisting of WASS (Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subaqua), DCN and Thales Underwater Systems (formerly Thomson Marconi Sonar).

RADAR SENSOR SUITE
The suite of radar sensors installed on the carrier are: Thales DRBJ 11B three dimensional long range air search radar operating in the E- to F- bands; Thales DRBV 26D Jupiter medium/long range air search radar operating at D-band; Thales DRBV 15C Sea Tiger Mark 2 air and surface search radar operating at E- and F-bands; two Thales (formerly Racal) Model 1229 navigation radars operating at I-band; and the Thales Arabel fire control radar operating at I-to J-band.

PROPULSION AND POWER PLANT
The Charles De Gaulle is equipped with two nuclear pressure water reactors, PWR Type K15, which provide a speed of 27 knots. The 61MW turbines are from Alsthom. The propulsion system has the capacity to provide five years continuous operation at 25 knots before refuelling.


hi ,

the French punch , ......

the only one with four steam catapults and nuclear power outside the United States , .....

have a nice day