Prominent American military theorist Rear Admiral Alfred Mahan once said that the navy influences politics by the very fact of its existence. This statement is hard to argue. For several centuries England was the most powerful maritime power in the world, the borders of the British Empire were drawn by the outposts of its warships. However, in the 20th century, the Royal Navy gradually lost its hegemony, giving way to the strongest sea power to the United States of America.
After the end of the last world war, the United States began to develop the naval forces in the most active way, and today this country has the largest and most efficient grouping of warships. The basis of the American naval power are carrier strike groups, the core of each of them is an atomic aircraft carrier. US aircraft carriers are the subject of American national pride and a symbol of the military power of this state. American aircraft carriers took part in almost all conflicts that led this state in the past and this century.
The first nuclear aircraft carrier of the USA, the Enterprise, was launched on September 24, 1960, this giant was withdrawn from the fleet only in 2012. In general, it should be noted that the American naval commanders were very serious about the capabilities that the nuclear power plant gives ships. For several decades, many warships with nuclear installations were built: frigates, submarines, destroyers, and aircraft carriers. However, most of these ships were scrapped before the beginning of this century. The US Navy leadership concluded that only submarines and new aircraft carriers made sense to equip with nuclear reactors. It can be added that the equipment of NI warships has made a real revolution in military affairs, which can be compared with the invention of a steamboat, a propeller and a metal hull.
How many aircraft carriers are in service at the moment? In what parts of the oceans are they located, what are the characteristics and capabilities of these floating airfields?
The evolution of the American carrier fleet
The idea of using aviation in the naval business appeared almost immediately after the creation of the first aircraft. Already in 1910, for the first time an American pilot took off from a ship’s deck. Naval aviation, as a type of Navy, appeared already during the First World War. At that time, combat aircraft usually took off from the deck of the ship, and made landing on the water, for this they were equipped with floats. In 1917, the British built the first aircraft carrier - a specialized ship for the basing and take-off of warships.
In the interwar years, it was the United States that was most actively engaged in the development of aircraft carriers and the development of tactics for the use of aviation at sea.
The historic attack on Pearl Harbor was carried out using aircraft based on six Japanese aircraft carriers. It should also be noted that during the attack, the US aircraft carriers did not suffer, as they were not in the harbor at that moment. This fact had a significant impact on the further course of the war in the Pacific. It can be said without exaggeration that naval aviation and aircraft carriers played a crucial role in this conflict.
After the end of the war, it became clear that the carrier ships pressed the battleships and became the main striking force at sea. It is because of the large number of aircraft carriers built, as well as the vast experience of their use, the United States has become the world's leading maritime power.
The first post-war decade was marked by the emergence of jet aircraft, helicopters and bombers carrying nuclear weapons. The existing US Navy aircraft carriers were no longer suitable for the take-off and landing of these heavy and high-speed vehicles, so the United States began to develop projects to build "supercarriers" with a displacement of more than 60 thousand tons. However, after the end of the war, the financing of the fleet was sharply reduced, part of the aircraft carriers under construction were cut into metal, and the United States super-plane project was never implemented.
However, the Korean War very quickly sobered up the hot heads of the supporters of the reduction of the fleet. Already at the end of this conflict, the Navy received additional funds for the development of the carrier fleet. An ambitious program to upgrade aircraft carriers such as Midway and Essex was launched. At the same time, four ships of the new project, the Forrestal, were built.
In 1954, the world's first nuclear-powered warship appeared - the American submarine "Nautilus". The idea to equip the aircraft carrier with a VU was in the air, and in 1961 it was implemented - the nuclear giant Enterprise, the nuclear giant, entered operation, it remained in operation until 2012. Since the new aircraft carrier was not very cheap, after its commissioning three non-nuclear aircraft carriers of the Kitty Hawk type were built. The last aircraft carrier ship with a boiler-turbine installation was accepted into the US Navy in 1972.
In the post-war period, all American aircraft carrier ships were divided into several classes: amphibious assault carriers (LPH), light aircraft carriers (CVL), strike aircraft carriers (CVA), anti-submarine (CVS), atomic attack (CVAN) and auxiliary air vehicles (AVT), which performed functions of training ships in peacetime.
In the early 60s, Essex-type ships gradually began to be decommissioned, the last of them was in service until 1976. Aircraft type "Midway" served much longer, the last of these ships was decommissioned in the mid-90s. Forrestal-class aircraft carriers were in service a little longer; the last two ships of this series were decommissioned in 1998.
March 3, 1975 was commissioned "Nimitz" (CVN-68), which became the first representative of a new class of American aircraft carriers. At the moment, all American nuclear attack aircraft carriers in service are of the Nimitz type. The last of them - George H. W. Bush (CVN-77) - was commissioned in early 2009. The total number of these ships is ten units.
Currently, the construction of a new type of aircraft carrier ships - Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) is at the final stage; it is expected to be adopted by the fleet in April 2018 and will give rise to a new series of ships of this class. It is already called the "aircraft carrier" of the XXI century. And although, in its appearance, it is not much different from the last aircraft carriers of the Nimitz series, but its “filling” will be much more modern. This ship has already become one of the most popular topics for discussion among naval specialists from different countries.
In recent decades, the American fleet is rapidly changing its appearance. Currently, there is a radical upgrade of the naval fleet. The F-14 "Tomcat" universal pet has already been taken out of service, its fate was shared by the anti-submarine aircraft S-3 Viking. They were replaced by the F / A-18E / F Super Hornet, and in the coming years, the American fleet expects to receive the latest F-35C - the ultra-modern fifth-generation strike aircraft. It is also expected that the EW EA-6 Prowler aircraft will be completely replaced, it should be replaced by EA-18G. Significant modernization awaits the E-2 “Hokai” control plane, the operation of which began in the mid-seventies.
Another direction for the development of naval aviation will be the wider use of unmanned aerial vehicles. A few years ago, the X-47B UAV first made a successful landing on the deck of an aircraft carrier.
Modern American aircraft carriers
Today, the US Navy has ten nuclear aircraft carriers of the Nimitz class; in April 2018, the eleventh ship of this class is expected to be adopted - aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford, which is the lead ship of the new series. It is planned that in the future aircraft carriers of this type will partially replace the Nimitz.
Nimitz (CVN-68). This ship was the first aircraft carrier of the same series, he received the name in honor of the American admiral, who commanded the US fleet in the Pacific during the war. "Nimitz" was introduced into the US Navy in 1975. The ship was manufactured by Newport News Shipbuilding (Virginia). The home port of the ship is Kitsap, WA.
The aircraft carrier Nimitz has a standard displacement of 98,425 tons, and the Westinghouse A4W two nuclear reactors are part of the power plant. The crew of the ship - 3200 people. Maximum speed - more than 31 knots.
The aircraft carrier’s armament consists of two Sea RAM air defense missile systems and two Sea Sparrow air defense missile systems. The structure of the aviation group "Nimitz" includes 90 helicopters and airplanes.
Nimitz is a real veteran of the American fleet, he took part in many operations, including combat. This aircraft carrier was involved in both Iraqi campaigns.
Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69). The Dwight Eisenhower became the second ship in the Nimitz nuclear aircraft carrier series. It was commissioned in October 1977. The aircraft carrier displacement is 97 thousand tons, the ship is equipped with two reactors and four turbines. Its maximum travel speed is 31 knots. The number of the ship crew is 3200 people.
The aircraft carrier’s armament consists of the RIM-7 Sea Sparrow and RIM-116 anti-aircraft missile systems (two units each). Aviation grouping of the ship has 90 helicopters and airplanes.
The aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower was involved during the first Iraqi campaign (1991).
Carl Vinson (CVN-70). The third ship of the Nimitz series, he was accepted into the US Navy in May 1982. The main duty station of Carl Vinson is the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
The displacement of the aircraft carrier is 97 thousand tons, the crew of the ship has 3,200 people, another 2,480 people are part of the wing. Thanks to two nuclear reactors and four turbines, the aircraft carrier can reach speeds of 31 knots. On board the ship are 90 combat aircraft and helicopters.
The aircraft carrier Carl Vinson was involved during the US operation in Afghanistan, as well as in the second Iraq campaign (2003).
Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71). The fourth aircraft carrier of the series, he was commissioned in October 1986. The cost of building the ship was 4.5 billion dollars.
A large number of improvements have been made to the design of the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, and it is quite significantly different from the first three ships of its series. Some experts believe that it would be logical to separate this ship and all subsequent aircraft carriers into a separate group.
The ship’s displacement is 97 thousand tons, the crew size is 3200 people, 2480 people are part of the wing. The maximum speed of the ship is 30 knots, the power plant consists of two nuclear reactors and four turbines. The composition of the naval aviation group includes 90 aircraft.
The aircraft carrier "Theodore Roosevelt" took an active part in the first Iraqi campaign, more than 4.2 thousand combat sorties were made from its side. In 1999, this ship participated in an operation against Yugoslavia.
Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72). The fifth aircraft carrier of the Nimitz series, it was launched in early 1988 and was put into operation one year later.
The aircraft carrier has a displacement of 97 thousand tons, two nuclear reactors allow the ship to reach speeds of up to 30 knots, the crew size is 3.2 thousand people.
On board the "Abraham Lincoln" can be 90 aircraft and helicopters. This aircraft carrier took part in the second Iraq campaign, more than 16 thousand sorties were flown from its deck. And this ship was the first aircraft carrier on which it was allowed to serve women.
George Washington (CVN-73). This aircraft carrier type "Nimitz" was put into operation in July 1992.
The aircraft carrier displacement is 97 thousand tons, two nuclear reactors and four turbines allow it to develop a course of up to 30 knots, the crew size is 3200 people, another 2,480 people are part of the wing.
On the aircraft carrier is based 90 helicopter gunships and aircraft.
John C. Stennis (CVN-74). This is the seventh aircraft carrier of the Nimitz series, it was laid down in March 1991 and became part of the American fleet at the end of 1995. Ship's registry is Kitsep, WA.
The displacement of the aircraft carrier is 97 thousand tons, the crew size is 5,617 people, up to 90 aircraft can be placed on board. The nuclear installation of the ship allows it to reach a speed of up to 30 knots.
Harry S. Truman (CVN-75). The eighth ship of the Nimitz series, laid down in 1993 and accepted into the fleet in 1998. It cost $ 4.5 billion for American taxpayers. Home Port - Norfolk.
The displacement is 97 thousand tons, the power plant consists of two nuclear reactors and four turbines, the speed is 30 knots. The number of the team is 3200 people, another 2480 people are part of the wing. On board can be based up to 90 aircraft.
In 2018, this aircraft carrier was brought to operation against the Islamic state (banned in Russia) in Syria and Iraq.
Ronald Reagan (CVN-76). Ninth Nimitz, founded in 1998 and adopted by the US Navy in 2003. The home port of the ship is San Diego.
This aircraft carrier has some differences from the previous ships of this series, but in general, its characteristics correspond to the predecessors. The speed of 30 knots is provided by two nuclear reactors, the displacement is 97 thousand tons, the size of the team is 3200 people. On board the ship can accommodate 90 aircraft and helicopters.
George H. W. Bush (CVN-77). The last aircraft carrier of the Nimitz series. It was founded in 2003 and accepted into the Navy in 2009. Compared to other ships of this series, significant changes were made to the design of the aircraft carrier George Bush. The project cost was 6.2 billion dollars.
The aircraft carrier received an "island" of new design with enhanced armor, new communication systems and more modern radars. Compared to its predecessors, the ship has a more advanced system for the distribution and storage of aviation fuel, and aircraft refueling is carried out in semi-automatic mode. The overall level of automation of ship systems has been increased, new gas chippers have been installed on the deck. The most important areas of the ship are protected by Kevlar armor. The team received vacuum latrines. They often fail, so the ship has already received the nickname "dirty" aircraft carrier.
The main characteristics of the aircraft carrier do not differ from the previous ships of the series: displacement - 97 thousand tons, speed - 30 knots, air force grouping - 90 airplanes and helicopters.
Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78). This is the lead ship of the new series, laid down in November 2009. The aircraft carrier was launched in November 2013, currently the construction of the aircraft carrier is at the final stage, in April 2018 it should be accepted into the fleet.
This aircraft carrier is equipped with a new electromagnetic catapult, which allows you to accelerate aircraft more smoothly and launch them much more often. The number of possible departures from the deck of the ship increased to 160.
The ship’s two nuclear reactors produce a quarter more electricity than power plants of the Nimitz type aircraft carriers. Due to the unique degree of automation, operating costs will be significantly lower than that of the ships of the previous generation. Also significantly improved the seaworthiness of the aircraft carrier. The visibility of the ship for enemy radar is somewhat reduced. This ship will be able to function without refueling with nuclear fuel for 25 years, that is, almost half of its planned service life.
The displacement of "Gerald Ford" is more than 98 thousand tons, the maximum speed is 30 knots, up to 75 aircraft and helicopters can be based on its deck. The composition of the naval aviation group will include: F-35C, F / A-18E / F, EA-18G, E-2D, C-2A and MH-60R / S.