CVN-78 will be named USS Gerald R. Ford

They were through deck cruisers, the nomenclature had as much (if not more) to do with their design lineage than any desire to hide their true capability.

Yes, they had cruiser hulls, the Air defense capabilities of a destroyer and a through deck to carry helicopters for ASW Ops, you could probably point them out to be a more role optimized successor to the Tigers and to the Centaur class CVL’s which were overkill in the ASW role.

They were through deck cruisers, the nomenclature had as much (if not more) to do with their design lineage than any desire to hide their true capability.

Do you think Japan and/or South Korea have Aircraft Carrier ambitions???

The reason by the way that this nomenclature wasn’t applied to the Invincible class was political as by giving the lead ship a cruiser name it might slip under the anti-carrier lobby’s nose

Indeed they were originally refered to as “Through deck cruisers”.

They were through deck cruisers, the nomenclature had as much (if not more) to do with their design lineage than any desire to hide their true capability.

The reason by the way that this nomenclature wasn’t applied to the Invincible class was political as by giving the lead ship a cruiser name it might slip under the anti-carrier lobby’s nose

Indeed they were originally refered to as “Through deck cruisers”.

Well, the Invincible Class “Through Deck Cruisers” of today will be replaced by the CVF’s (Aircraft Carriers) of tomorrow! Looks like Japan and South Korea are taking a similar path………..

The reason by the way that this nomenclature wasn’t applied to the Invincible class was political as by giving the lead ship a cruiser name it might slip under the anti-carrier lobby’s nose

Indeed they were originally refered to as “Through deck cruisers”.

See USMC carriers of the America class, LHA-6 ff.

In principal operating the B version on CVNs wouldn’t be impossible, they just need to land and take off from the angled deck. But especially the new Ford class has that “pit stop” deck ops concept, and the B wouldn’t be compatible with that.

(Of course my view is to cancel everything but the C and kill the MCAir fastmovers).

Well, I doubt they will cancel the F-35B or take the USMC from USN Carriers. A possible solution could be Marines just flying from USN Squadrons.

I would add that it is still up in the air. If, the USMC will operate F-35B’s from Large American Super Carriers? As it stands right now the USN only wants F/A-18E/F Super Hornets or F-35C Lightnings operating from its decks. So, with the USMC only flying STOVL F-35B’s there seems to be a dilemma…….:(

See USMC carriers of the America class, LHA-6 ff.

In principal operating the B version on CVNs wouldn’t be impossible, they just need to land and take off from the angled deck. But especially the new Ford class has that “pit stop” deck ops concept, and the B wouldn’t be compatible with that.

(Of course my view is to cancel everything but the C and kill the MCAir fastmovers).

I would add that it is still up in the air. If, the USMC will operate F-35B’s from Large American Super Carriers? As it stands right now the USN only wants F/A-18E/F Super Hornets or F-35C Lightnings operating from its decks. So, with the USMC only flying STOVL F-35B’s there seems to be a dilemma…….:(

cheers. Do the USMC squadrons ‘only’ do ground attack or do they share the fleet air-defense in the routine course of events? Also, do USMC have Super-Hornets yet?

USMC Squadrons operate the same missions as there USN Counterparts when based on Carriers. As for Super Hornets the USMC doesn’t operate the type nor does it plan to do so. At the moment the Marines plan of replacing AV-8B Harriers and F/A-18 Hornets with the forthcoming STOVL F-35B Lightning……

cheers. Do the USMC squadrons ‘only’ do ground attack or do they share the fleet air-defense in the routine course of events? Also, do USMC have Super-Hornets yet?

thanks Totoro. So a typical air wing right now is something like:

12 x F-18E Super-Hornet
12 x F-18F Super-Hornet
24 x F-18C Hornet
___
48 Hornets in total

Does that include USMC squadrons deployed on the carriers or should they be added to the list for the typical air wing?

The numbers would be the same if USN or USMC Squadrons……..

thanks Totoro. So a typical air wing right now is something like:

12 x F-18E Super-Hornet
12 x F-18F Super-Hornet
24 x F-18C Hornet
___
48 Hornets in total

Does that include USMC squadrons deployed on the carriers or should they be added to the list for the typical air wing?

Currently, USN has some 150 E and 190 F models in its inventory. Currently, pretty much all of the USN carrier air wings are comprised of one E model squadron (12 units), one F model squadron (12) and two C model squadrons (10-12 units). There’s two examples (Truman and Roosevelt) where instead of a C model squadron a modernized A model squadron still flies.

Starting with FY09, E/F squadrons will start becoming a majority, so i believe in the next couple of years we can see 3 E/F squadrons and just 1 C squadron on each carrier. Though, unless E/F production is extended beyond the current contract, there should remain one C squadron on a carrier with total of 4 squadrons. If there’s a war and more planes need to be carrier, additional squadron is also very likely to be a C model squadron.

Realistically, Gerald Ford will probably fly just E/Fs and F-35s, as delays are more than likely, even more so than in F35 programme. By the time it enters service there should be enough F-35c models going around…

Unless f-35c buy for usn is increased, even when all the aircraft are built and in service there should be, on average, 2 squadrons worth of E/F models and 2 of f-35 models, with most of the additional squadrons beyond that being E/F models.

What mix of F-18C/Ds and F-18E/Fs will it have? Like are all Hornet squadrons already flying Super-Hornets or are the carriers still going to sea with a mix of Hornets and Super-Hornets.

Another question; obviously the Hornets are multi-role but do different squadrons specialise in say strike and air-defense? If so, what’s the mix on a typical voyage?

Considering its many years until the USS Gerald R Ford enters service. Its likely Air Wing should be 2-Squadrons of Super Hornets and 2-Squadrons of Lightnings. Maybe even a few CUAV’s to boot………:diablo:

I’ve met Gerald R Ford a few times over the years and hope to attend the Commissioning. GREAT MAN 😀

What mix of F-18C/Ds and F-18E/Fs will it have? Like are all Hornet squadrons already flying Super-Hornets or are the carriers still going to sea with a mix of Hornets and Super-Hornets.

Another question; obviously the Hornets are multi-role but do different squadrons specialise in say strike and air-defense? If so, what’s the mix on a typical voyage?

Might I sugest they name it “Jefferson Davis”?

I wouldn’t be surprised if Gerald Ford agreed with you? Regardless, my point wasn’t to defend the naming of USN Ships after Presidents or any other Politician. Just that Gerald Ford was a good man and that gave much to his country…………….:o

Yeah, ol’ Jerry was a nice guy with a family and a cute doggie. He seemed like a nice normal guy who could heal the country after the turmoil of the 60’s an dearly 70’s. But let’s not forget that:

In the 1930’s he was a America First’er and attended Bund events. He attended Yale Law school and began a Skull and Bones association that winds its shadowy way through the highest levels of US government.

In the 1950’s his personal friendship with Richard Nixon led to Ford leading the effort to persuade Eisenhower to keep Nixon on the 1956 ticket. In 1963 Richard Nixon and Bebe Reboso were in Dallas the day before JFK was killed. Ford later sat on the Warren Commision that could find no organized conspiracy in the Kennedy killing.

Nixon’s Vice President Spiro Agnew resigns from office and was later convicted of accepting bribes while serving in public office. Nixon taps his old buddy Ford to become VP. Ford then succeeds Nixon and gives him a pardon without any review of Nixon’s transgressions.

While President, Ford and war criminal Henry Kissinger gave Indonesia the go ahead to invade East Timor. 200,000 were slaughtered. Let’s not forget the botched attempt to rescue the freighter seized by Cambodia that cost 20 Marines their lives needlessly.

In retirement, Ford spent his time whoring whatever presitge his Presidency ever had by performing like a trained seal at corporate events.

No, do not name a CV after him.

Scott

Interesting read…………thought far from the truth!:p

Might I sugest they name it “Jefferson Davis”?

In the 1930’s he was a America First’er and attended Bund events.

This is news to me? Weren’t those fascist, pro-Nazi organizations? Yikes!

Ford then succeeds Nixon and gives him a pardon without any review of Nixon’s transgressions.

Oh no, not another reference to “Watergate.” Elderly reporters love to talk about Nixon, Watergate and bunch of other boring stuff that only matters to the media.

The whole Watergate scandal just seems silly today. Would anyone really care if that sort of thing happened 30 years later?

It all comes down to the fact that Nixon was an ugly, unlikeable, paranoid, foul mouthed guy. So what? It is not as if he took bribes or murdered someone.

So, by todays standards, Richard Nixon wasn’t all that much of a bad guy – and he probably was a far better president that either Ford or Carter – the two failed presidents who followed him.

While President, Ford and war criminal Henry Kissinger gave Indonesia the go ahead to invade East Timor. 200,000 were slaughtered.

The situation in East Timor was very odd. There were three factions: Pro-Portuguese, Pro-Indonesia and Communist.

When the socialist junta in Portugal decided to walk away from the colonies, there was still strong pro-Portuguese sentiment in East Timor. Oddly, Portugal favored the communists for ideological and practical reasons – they just wanted to get out as quickly as possible.

The Indonesian invasion forestalled another communist takeover, and in the wake of Vietnam, it is easy to see why that seemed like a good thing at the time.

There is plenty of blame to go around for East Timor.

Let’s not forget the botched attempt to rescue the freighter seized by Cambodia that cost 20 Marines their lives needlessly.

Actually, Ford’s popularity soared after the rescue attempt. Go figure?

Compared to the “Desert 1” disaster that Jimmy Carter personally planned, this is only a footnote in history.

No, do not name a CV after him.

I would agree, as most posters do.

It is isn’t an issue of Republican vs. Democrat.

Few people would disagree that there are more deserving former presidents.

Yeah, ol’ Jerry was a nice guy with a family and a cute doggie. He seemed like a nice normal guy who could heal the country after the turmoil of the 60’s an dearly 70’s. But let’s not forget that:

In the 1930’s he was a America First’er and attended Bund events. He attended Yale Law school and began a Skull and Bones association that winds its shadowy way through the highest levels of US government.

In the 1950’s his personal friendship with Richard Nixon led to Ford leading the effort to persuade Eisenhower to keep Nixon on the 1956 ticket. In 1963 Richard Nixon and Bebe Reboso were in Dallas the day before JFK was killed. Ford later sat on the Warren Commision that could find no organized conspiracy in the Kennedy killing.

Nixon’s Vice President Spiro Agnew resigns from office and was later convicted of accepting bribes while serving in public office. Nixon taps his old buddy Ford to become VP. Ford then succeeds Nixon and gives him a pardon without any review of Nixon’s transgressions.

While President, Ford and war criminal Henry Kissinger gave Indonesia the go ahead to invade East Timor. 200,000 were slaughtered. Let’s not forget the botched attempt to rescue the freighter seized by Cambodia that cost 20 Marines their lives needlessly.

In retirement, Ford spent his time whoring whatever presitge his Presidency ever had by performing like a trained seal at corporate events.

No, do not name a CV after him.

Scott