VMA 223 Posted on 05/23/2012 10:56:53 AM PDT by Jeff Head
Its capabilities are impressive, but I’m surprised at the relative slow speed of this class. Are they not expected to operate with the rest of the fleet?
VMA 223 The Bismarck was only
41,700 t (41,000 long tons; 46,000 short tons) standard 50,300 t (49,500 long tons; 55,400 short tons) full load
and the HMS Hood
46,680 long tons (47,430 t) deep load
Bismarck;
HMS Hood
*RIP all brave sailors lost.
Can't keep up with the fast carriers and their escorts...but they get the job done.
Also,unlike the Wasp Class ships (of which there are eight) these do not have a well deck so the LCACs and Landing Craft cannot dock inside there. They will be dependent on Air Assault when working by themselves.
It's likely in any big operation you would have one or two San Antonios Class LPDs which do have a well deck, and maybe a Wasp with them for assaults.
You are not going to get me to believe that it is slow. Not with that hull design. I think they just aren't telling us everything.
Amazing. Glad it’s ours.
I guess it wouldn’t make sense to broadcast exactly when the marines might be landing.
Those Tarawa class vessels were great. I believe they decommmisioned them too early, should have been able to get 40-50 years out of their hulls.
As it was, the Nassau was decommissioned 31 March 2011 after being commissioned in 1979, so only 32 years. But that’s the Obama admin and their cohorts for you.
They’re keeping her in reserve and the only Tarawa class left is the USS Peleliu (LHA-5). She will probably be decommissioned once the America is commissioned, leaving nine large Amphibious ready groups. (Eight Wasp class and the One America).
The Belleau Wood (LHA-3) was decommissioned in 2005 and has already had a SINKEX completed on her. Saipan (LHA-2 )was decomm’ed in 2007 and already sold for scrap.
All of them getting about 32 years in.
Anyhow, sad to see them go.
And that's okay. She will fulfill carrier duties in her sea control role, and when she is, shel'll have a bunch of F-35Bs aboarrd.
I'd love to see them build an AEW variant of the V-22, an EV-22 AEW, and an ASW vaiant of the V-22, the SV-22, specifcally for these vessels (they would also be purchased by a lot of our allies).
And that's okay. She will fulfill carrier duties in her sea control role, and when she is, shel'll have a bunch of F-35Bs aboarrd.
I'd love to see them build an AEW variant of the V-22, an EV-22 AEW, and an ASW vaiant of the V-22, the SV-22, specifcally for these vessels (they would also be purchased by a lot of our allies).
Just so as it is not re-christened the UNS America.
Well, 24 knots is about 28 miles per hour. Listed top speed is 24 knots, so she will probably do 28-30 when necessary...in a pinch, maybe a little more.
I know that the nuclear carriers, which are listed at 30+ will do over 45 for short periods if necessary...like to avoid a torpedo...or outrun it.
They will flat leave their escorts behind if they have to, because all of them are non-nuclear these days and they are listed at 30 knots but can max out at 38 or so.
Me too!
I have a very good friend that was a comm officer on a nuke carrier back in his day that told me just what you did. He said that they got minor structural damage every time they did it.
Also compare her to the Essex class carriers of WW2: 27,500 tons standard displacement, 34,000 tons full load.
I don't think that will be possible with this vessel. Have to be a full navy crew aboard...they do that with non-cobatant supply vessels usually.
And, IMHO, for the fast supply AOE vessels and the like, it's a mistake. They have to run with the big task forces and will come into harms way. Those vessels need their self defense armament added back on, IMHO, and be manned by full US Navy crews.
And they are retiring the USS Enterprise now...
Yep, these flat tops, particularly the new America class, are larger than the WW II “Fast Carriers”. And, they are being built with a clear fixed wing role for sea control, meaning only a few helos and mostly fixed wing aircraft. As such, they are really US Marine Corps carriers.
You could easily use one of these and a normal PhibRon group built around a Wasp class, and eliminate the need to have a full blown nuclear carrier supporting the landing and inland operations of the Marines because this type carrier could do that with attack helos and attack aircraft of its own, and in sufficent numbers..
I mean a Wasp with six strike aircraft and four attack helos, and then an America with 24 strike aircraft and 6 attack helos, means you have 30 strike aircraft and 10 attach helos to support the landing.
If you already have air dominance over the battlefield, then an America class is all you need.
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