Launch of Second Canberra-Class light carrier for Australia

Royal Australian Navy ^ | July 05, 2012 | Royal Australian Navy

[moonshot925]

Same displacement as a WW2 Essex class CV.

[rmlew]

Looks Spanish.

[SandRat]

Details of the Canberra Class

[doc1019]

From the photo I see the upshot bow characteristic of most British carriers, why has the US not adopted this profile ... or, why have the British chosen this over the flat deck of the US carriers? Is it because it is smaller then most US carriers and thus the need for the upthust in deck design?

[jmacusa]

It’s because they use the Sea Harrier Jump Jet which requires that shape bow. I don’t think you can use a steam-launch catapult and send a twenty ton F-18 Hornet from zero to 130 mph in two seconds with a bow like that.

[doc1019]

Thanks for your input ... makes sense. Sounds like they have chosen to use this type of Jet for years to come otherwise a flat deck may be more prudent for future consideration, what with the cost of a carrier and all.

[Secret Agent Man]

They need the ramp because they take off at lower speed than US jets, that use steam catapults or now the new electromagnetic catapults.

[Aussiebabe]

These are very small ships,not meant for jet aircraft. There is a better photo at this wiki site:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canberra_class_Landing_Helicopter_Dock

[doc1019]

Something like WWII jeep carriers ... makes even more sense. Thanks for the education.

[JerseyanExile]

Why would the Australian Navy have designed it with a ski-jump ramp unless they wanted to have the option of flying Harriers or F-35s off them in the future?

[doc1019]

Electromagnetic Catapults? Please elucidate. Or at the least, give me a link. I have never heard of such a technology.

[rottndog]

EMALS: Electro-Magnetic Launch for Carriers

[doc1019]

Thank you.

[spokeshave]

Electromagnetic Catapults...Rail Guns all powered by loads of electricity from the nuclear reactors.

Info here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEOXScdv3FE&feature=related

[doc1019]

Thanks.

[Secret Agent Man]

The newest carriers will have them. Just Google it. Steam is being replaced.

[doc1019]

Thanks.

[Secret Agent Man]

Also there are changes to the arrestor cables too, in the way they work. The new carriers have larger nuke engines and have a lot more power to deal with launches and new em weapons that will be coming online.

[naturalman1975]

They came with the ski jump as part of the existing design and keeping it gives the RAN more future options than getting rid of it. There's no current plans to fly fixed wing aircraft off the Canberra's, but it would be a huge mistake to lose the capability when there's no reason not to keep it.