[Teacher317]

With what? A carrier today has just a few escorts, maybe 3 or 4 ships. On paper 8 helicopters for ASW, in reality half that. They might have an SSN too, then again maybe not...

Exactly what would you require of a carrier strike group beyond the usual cruiser, 1-2 destroyers/frigates, 1-2 nuclear attack submarines, and a full complement of aircraft? We have 11 such CVBGs, and the rest of the world has only 10 combined... and I'm thinking that Italy, India, Egypt, Spain, Thailand, and South Korea all have battle groups juuuuuuust a bit less impressive than our.

So again, what more would you require of each group, above and beyond a CVN, a CG, 2 DDs, 2 SSNs, and 75 F-18s? What exactly do you expect them to be matched against? Should the entire US Navy sail together as a single group?

[SandRat]

Just a couple of Sea Wolf Class Subs in our group.

[Snickering Hound]

So again, what more would you require of each group, above and beyond a CVN, a CG, 2 DDs, 2 SSNs, and 75 F-18s? What exactly do you expect them to be matched against? Should the entire US Navy sail together as a single group?

Very good for bombing terrorists and airstrikes against surly regimes.

ASW is almost gone. There are no more S-3 Vikings. FFG's are gone. It's up to MH-60 helicopters.

On paper they are supposed to have an SSN to help with ASW but there are not enough to go around.

F-18's aren't going to help much unless a sub decides to surface...